Srinagar, Jul 27: Five journalists from Kashmir are among 40 journalists from across the country selected to participate in an 11-day National Security Journalism workshop being organised by Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) at Gandhinagar, Gujarat under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The capacity building programme commenced on Monday and will continue till August 6. It aims to equip journalists with the knowledge and practical skills required to report on national security issues with accuracy, responsibility and strategic understanding.
The participants from the Valley are KNO’s Waris Fayaz, Editor Kashmir Convener Sheikh Saleem, GK Correspondent Syed Rizwan Geelani, Suhail Khan and Muneeb ul Haq.
The inaugural day, organizers said, featured expert sessions focusing on the evolving landscape of national security journalism and its relevance for journalists reporting from conflict affected and sensitive regions. The discussions also covered the media’s role in addressing contemporary national security challenges.
Addressing the inaugural session, RRU Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Kalpesh H. Wandra said the programme has been designed to develop journalists capable of reporting on India’s national security with professionalism, contextual understanding and factual accuracy.
He said the training combines expert lectures, interactions with security practitioners, case based learning, practical reporting tools and structured field exposure to strengthen participants’ understanding of security related issues.
The workshop will cover subjects including defence, internal security, terrorism, border management, coastal security, cyber incidents, public order, disaster response and protection of critical infrastructure.
The participants will also visit key national security institutions to gain first hand exposure to operational aspects of the country’s security framework.
The Vice-Chancellor said national security reporting has become increasingly important in the digital era, where misinformation and hostile narratives can spread rapidly. He said the programme seeks to enhance journalists’ domain knowledge, verification skills and contextual understanding to ensure responsible reporting that strengthens democratic discourse—(KNO)
