Internews to Honor Pakistani Journalistin Washington
Washington , DC: A Pakistani media director who has been a driving force behind promoting gender equality and highlighting human rights issues will be honored at the Internews Media Leadership Awards in Washington, DC.
Tasneem Ahmar is the director of the Uks Research Center, a research, resource and publication organization focused on women and media in Pakistan. Disturbed by the negative portrayal of women in Pakistani media, Ahmar launched Uks in 1997 to sensitize the media on how to better report on women and human rights issues. Under Ahmar’s leadership, Uks has worked tirelessly to promote gender equality through sensitization workshops, mentoring, media advocacy and media monitoring.
Ahmar has also focused on ensuring that more women work in the Pakistani media. She formed the Pakistani Women’s Media Network, which is committed to bringing women working in the print and electronic media under one platform to encourage more positive portrayals and increased representation at all levels, as well as improved conditions for women working in media.
Ahmar will be in excellent company at the event to be held at Washington D.C.’s Newseum. Also honored that evening will be renowned war photographer James Nachtwey of TIME magazine for his work that has brought some of the world’s most devastating humanitarian disasters to light; Thepchai Yong, Managing Director of the Thai Public Broadcasting Service, Thailand’s first independent public service broadcaster; and RAMAK, a network of 41 community radio stations in Haiti that raises awareness of gender-based violence, migration, children’s rights, HIV prevention, environmental protection and civic education.
The evening event will feature veteran radio journalist Bob Edwards, host of “ The Bob Edwards Show” on Sirius XM radio and former host of NPR’s “ Morning Edition,” as the master of ceremonies.
Internews is celebrating its 27 th year of fostering independent media and access to information in 70 countries worldwide. A nonprofit based in Arcata, California with a program staff in Washington, DC, Internews works to empower people worldwide with the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.internews.org.
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