Islamabad:
The National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad, in partnership with Google and Tech Valley Pakistan, held a certified training workshop aimed at strengthening journalists’ skills in digital reporting, fact-checking, and the use of modern AI tools that are rapidly reshaping global media practices.
During the session, Tech Valley CEO Umar Farooq highlighted the growing need for journalists to adopt emerging technologies to stay relevant and competitive in a fast-evolving digital landscape. Sameen Aziz, Project Manager at Tech Valley, led interactive training sessions on Google’s latest AI-powered platforms including Gemini, NotebookLM, Pinpoint, Google Trends, as well as online verification tools crucial for authentic and responsible journalism.
President of PFUJ Afzal Butt praised the initiative, stating that equipping journalists with advanced digital skills is essential in the current era. NPC President Azhar Jatoi reaffirmed the club’s commitment to offering professional development opportunities to its members. NPC Secretary Nayyar Ali and RIUJ President Tariq Ali Work also stressed the importance of embracing technology for accurate and timely reporting.
Senior journalist Haji Nawaz Raza noted the media’s shift from traditional workflows to digital-first practices, emphasizing that continuous learning is no longer optional. NPC Senior Vice President Ehtisham-ul-Haq added that AI tools have become indispensable for modern journalism and will play a defining role in the industry’s future.
At the end of the workshop, Parliamentary Secretary for Cultural Heritage Farah Naz Akbar, Türkiye’s Ambassador Dr. Irfan Neziroğlu, Tech Valley CEO Umar Farooq, PFUJ President Afzal Butt, NPC President Azhar Jatoi, and NPC Secretary Nayyar Ali distributed official Google certifications to the participants.
The training was attended by NPC and RIUJ office bearers along with a large number of journalists, who termed the workshop highly beneficial and called for more capacity-building initiatives in the future.
