By Rashid Ali Siddiqui, Karachi – Pakistan, July 3, 2014: 20th World Sports Journalism Day was observed in Karachi with great enthusiasm and in this connection a workshop titled ‘working relationship between sports journalists and organizers’ was held by Sports Journalists Association Sindh (SJAS) at Sindh Boys Scouts Headquarters auditorium.
SJAS, an active affiliated unit of Pakistan Sports Writers Federation (PSWF) and International Press Sports Association (AIPS) has been observing the day each year for the last five years with great fervor.
On the occasion, senior sports journalists and organizers of different sports shared their experiences emphasizing the need to strengthen their relations for the promotion of sports and improvement of sports reporting.
Senior journalists and former Editor Sports Pakistan’s prime news agency APP, Anisuddin Khan, President, SJAS Rashid Ali Siddiqui, Secretary General Ubaid-ur-Rehman Awan, Vice President Tariq Aslam, Members Executive Committee: Asghar Azeem, Umer Shaheen, Irshad Ali, Arshad Wahab, Rafiq Ansari, Riazuddin, Khizar Azam, Secretary General Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) Akram Khan, National Bank sports consultant Ghulam Muhammad Khan, Director Sports Awareness Programme (SAP) Qudsia Raja, President Sports Lovers Forum Abid Ali, international cyclist Kaleem Awan, representative of National Bank Azmat Ali and many journalists from TV channels and Newspapers and sports organizers attended the workshop.
In his key-note address, Anisuddin Khan highlighted the importance of relations between organizers and journalists and said, “Organizers play a major role in architecting a player and transforming a player into a great player.” He advised the organizers to provide all relevant information regarding their events to the media.
Rashid Ali Siddiqui, President SJAS, advised the journalists to give due coverage to an event setting aside their personal interest. He said the purpose of holding the workshop was to discuss the problems being faced journalists during performing their duties and their solution.
Secretary General SJAS, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Awan stated that the objective of organizing the workshop was to bring journalists and organizers together and develop good working relationship among stakeholders. Vice President SJAS, Tariq Aslam, who covered two successive FIFA World Cups, shared his experience of covering a mega event and gave guidance to young reporters.
Akram Khan, Secretary General PBF, declared media a bridge between players and organizers and said in prevailing security situation caused great damage to sports in Pakistan. “It’s high time for both organizers and media to play their role in revival of sports culture,” he added.
Ghulam Muhammad, Sports consultant of National Bank, one of the major sponsors of sports in Pakistan, was of the view that sponsorship is very important for promoting the games. He demanded of the media to give due recognition to sponsors also.
Rafiq Ansari, Editor of weekly Sindh Sports, threw lights on the problems being faced by journalists and lamented that some organizers showed discrimination with low-category newspapers and channels and preferred to cater information to top media houses.
Later, Sindh’s traditional gift ‘ajraks’ were presented to guests and certificates were distributed among the participants. The workshop eulogized the services of former Secretary General, PSWF, S. M. Naqi who passed away few months back and offered prayers for the departed soul of father of Shahzad Malik, member executive committee of PSWF. —- By: Rashid Ali Siddiqui
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