Digital Identity is the New Press Card: Media Workshop Transforms Journalists at PACC
Journalists in Karachi step into the future of media with digital tools, resumes, and personal websites.
A powerful workshop was conducted at Lincoln Corner Karachi where journalists, freelancers, and students learned how to build their digital identity and brand.
KARACHI: In an era where your online presence speaks louder than your press card, a powerful and interactive workshop titled “From Bylines to Brand – Build Your Digital Identity” was conducted at Lincoln Corner PACC, Karachi.
The workshop focused on empowering journalists, freelancers, media students, and aspiring content creators to evolve with the fast-changing digital media landscape. The session was attended by a diverse group of participants, including working journalists, media students, and freelancers, all eager to learn how to present themselves as a personal brand in today’s competitive media world.
Rehan Hyder, a renowned media expert, journalist, and entrepreneur, led the session. He emphasized that in today’s digital-first world, “Your byline is no longer enough. You must be visible, searchable, and relatable online.”
Rehan guided participants through:
- Creating impactful online profiles
- Writing ATS-friendly resumes using keywords
- Launching personal websites or digital media outlets
- Strategically using social media platforms
He explained how many resumes get rejected even before reaching human eyes due to ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and taught attendees how to make resume content searchable and scannable, using industry-relevant keywords.
“Every journalist must learn Digital Marketing, own a domain, and manage their digital reputation just like they manage a story,” Rehan said. He also discussed Machine Learning, 360° journalism, and future trends like the Metaverse, urging the audience to think beyond just making videos with AI tools.
He strongly emphasized, “It’s important to accept change as early as possible — or you risk becoming irrelevant. The future belongs to those who start learning today what will be essential tomorrow, no matter your age or how senior you are.”
Hamid Ur Rehman, senior journalist and media trainer, also shared his inspirational journey — from print to electronic and then to digital media.
“It wasn’t easy,” he said. “But change is the only constant. It’s time to upgrade, adopt digital tools, and start owning your content.”
He emphasized the importance of choosing a niche in the vast digital space.
“Don’t try to be everything for everyone. Find your strength — politics, climate, sports, business — and master that beat,” he advised.
Hamid also introduced participants to the power of short-form content and explained how to tell a compelling story in under 60 seconds.
In a world of reels, shorts, and quick scrolls, he said, “If you can’t engage in the first 10 seconds, you’ve already lost your audience.”
He provided practical tips for creating short videos, including scripting, framing, and maintaining journalistic ethics while delivering high-impact messages quickly and effectively.
Babar Ali, a digital media expert and educator, delivered a detailed session on dos and don’ts of social media for journalists.
He talked about:
- Choosing the right platform (X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube)
- Post timing and visibility
- Media sharing ethics
- Privacy and platform policies
“One careless post can damage your reputation, but one smart post can open doors,” Babar highlighted. He encouraged attendees to treat their social profiles like live portfolios.
Babar also emphasized the need for journalists to adopt and experiment with digital tools like Canva, CapCut, scheduling platforms, and analytics dashboards to produce, plan, and evaluate content professionally in the digital era.
The event ended with a Questions session and commitment to continue this journey.
This workshop marked the first step toward a complete digitization drive for journalists. More sessions and training programs will follow soon, aiming to prepare media professionals for the future of storytelling in Pakistan and beyond.
Want to build your digital brand as a journalist?
Stay tuned for upcoming workshops and training series.
