The National Press Club Islamabad, in partnership with Google and Tech Valley Pakistan, held a certified training session focused on digital journalism, information verification and AI-powered reporting tools. Journalists from across the capital attended practical sessions designed to strengthen newsroom skills in the digital era.
CEO of Tech Valley, Umar Farooq, highlighted why training in emerging technology is essential for today’s reporters and emphasized the role of continuous learning in maintaining journalistic standards. Project Manager Sameen Aziz led hands-on demonstrations of Google AI resources including Gemini NotebookLM, Pinpoint and Google Trends, along with established verification tools to help reporters confirm sources and data quickly and reliably.
PFUJ President Afzal Butt said workshops like this are crucial for equipping journalists with the latest digital journalism skills, while NPC President Azhar Jatoi reiterated the club’s commitment to improving the professional capacity of its members. Secretary Nayyar Ali and RIUJ President Tariq Ali Work stressed that adopting new technologies will boost both reporting quality and career growth for media professionals.
Senior journalist Haji Nawaz Raza reflected on the broader shift from traditional methods to digital tools, urging colleagues to embrace continuous learning. NPC Senior Vice President Ehtisham-ul-Haq noted that AI is fast becoming a necessity in the newsroom and will play a vital part in the future of journalism in Pakistan.
At the close of the workshop, Google certificates were presented to participants by Parliamentary Secretary for Cultural Heritage Farah Naz Akbar, Ambassador of Türkiye to Pakistan Dr. Irfan Neziroğlu, Tech Valley CEO Umar Farooq, PFUJ President Afzal Butt, NPC President Azhar Jatoi and Secretary Nayyar Ali. Attendees described the training as highly beneficial and called for more such programmes to strengthen digital journalism capacity nationwide.
