Awaz-e-Niswan, under the Project Jamhooriat aur Ba Ikhtiar Aurat (JAZBA) trained over fifty journalists from all over Pakistan in the year 2021-2022. The main purpose of the training was to sensitize the media on gender issues, and ethics and guide them through these journalistic ethical and sensitivity checklists on how to report on women voters in Pakistan. Furthermore, the training also delved into gender biases and prejudices. Furthermore, in order to keep them engaged with the JAZBA and to polish and utilize their newly learned reporting skills, AAN gave them an opportunity to showcase their talent by participating in a Reporting Contest. The contest was named “Azaadi-e-Awaz Awards”. The theme of the contest was women’s Civic and Political Participation, and women’s issues. Moreover, we encouraged journalists to send video reports of the events they have covered in their districts in the recent past.
In this regard, we received several entries from trained journalists across the country. In the first round, a few entries were rejected on technical grounds. The entries that made their way to round two were shared with reviewing committee which consisted of the following members;
- Ms. Risham Adnan (SAP-PK)
- Ms. Shumaila Tanvir (AF)
- Ms. Aliya Sethi (AAN)
Entries shared with reviewing committee were marked on the basis of written material, Ethics, and Sensitivity, Gender Sensitization etc. Certificates and cash awards were given under the categories of written articles and video documentaries.