On 23 April 2026, Shehri – Citizens for a Better Environment (Shehri-CBE) successfully organized a Knowledge & Capacity Building Workshop under Component 2: Voices of Democracy – A Civic Media Fellowship at the Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ), IBA City Campus, Karachi. The workshop brought together students from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi to strengthen their understanding of civic media, ethical journalism, and digital storytelling as tools for civic engagement and democratic participation.
The workshop commenced with a welcome address by Shahzeb Jillani, Director of the Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ), followed by an overview of the fellowship programme presented by Farhan Anwar, Urban Planner and Project Manager, and Hawwa Fazal, Coordinator of the Media Voices Component. The introductory sessions highlighted the objectives of the Voices of Democracy fellowship and the importance of responsible media in addressing civic issues and promoting informed public discourse.
A comprehensive training session was facilitated by Shahzeb Khalid, filmmaker, educator, and curriculum strategist. Participants explored key aspects of concept development, storytelling techniques, idea generation, technical production skills, micro-scene filming, and ethical considerations in media production. Through practical exercises and interactive discussions, students developed a deeper understanding of how to transform civic research into compelling, accurate, and socially impactful media content.
The workshop emphasized the importance of media literacy, civic journalism, and digital advocacy in strengthening democratic values and encouraging active citizenship. By combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on learning, participants gained practical skills to produce videos, blogs, podcasts, and other forms of digital content that raise awareness about public issues and encourage constructive community dialogue.
As part of the broader Youth Empowerment for Engaged Citizenship initiative, the Knowledge Workshop reinforced Shehri-CBE’s commitment to empowering young people with the skills needed to become ethical communicators, responsible journalists, and informed civic leaders. The training equipped students with the confidence to use media as a powerful tool for social change, public participation, and inclusive democratic engagement in Pakistan.
