The Karachi Union of Journalists (Dastoor) successfully held a one-day workshop on “Digital Tools & Personal Branding for Journalists” at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday, aimed at equipping journalists and media workers with the latest digital skills and technology trends.
The training session was led by Rehan Hyder — a Digital Media Expert, journalist, and consultant — alongside Babar Ali, a Digital Media Expert actively engaged with multinational companies, bringing practical industry insights to the session, while KUJ Dastoor Secretary Rehan Chishti opened the event. Chishti emphasized the union’s mission to prepare members for the fast-evolving media industry.
“Today’s session is the first step of a journey. We aim to equip our members with the latest technology so they can remain relevant in the digital era,” he said.
Trainers Rehan Hyder and Babar Ali sharing insights and expertise during the KUJ workshop, empowering journalists with practical skills and knowledge.
The workshop drew a diverse audience, including men, women, and — for the first time — teenagers, showing growing interest in digital media skills across all age groups.
The Future of Journalism: Data & AI Rehan Hyder began by stressing that the future of journalism lies in data journalism and automation.
“AI is not magic — it’s smart algorithms using data to solve problems,” he noted.
He urged journalists to maintain a digital portfolio, online resume, and personal website, calling technology a tool to simplify and enhance journalism rather than a threat. He also discussed newsroom automation, especially in finance and sports coverage, with human oversight.
Hyder further guided participants on resume building, interview preparation, and launching media startups — from idea development to pitching to incubation centers.
Mastering Social Media Babar Ali delivered a comprehensive session on social media best practices for platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (Twitter):
YouTube: Publish consistently, use engaging thumbnails, and focus on niche-specific content.
LinkedIn: Maintain a professional tone, share industry insights, and network actively.
Facebook & X: Share timely updates, use visuals, and engage with followers to build trust and visibility.
He cautioned:
“Every trend is not worth adopting. Think wisely before you post — the wrong content can harm you as much as the right one can help.”
Closing & Participant Feedback KUJ Dastoor President Nasrullah Khan thanked both trainers and participants, announcing that the series of workshops will continue.
“One day is not enough — we will keep this momentum going to prepare our members for the digital future,” he said.
In the feedback session, participants highly appreciated the workshop, praising its relevance and content. They demanded that such sessions should not stop, insisting that the next workshop be held soon and that they be notified in advance.
The workshop was also attended by KUJ Dastoor’s President, Secretary, Vice Presidents, Joint Secretary, and governing body members.
