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LAHORE, Oct 28 (APP):Punjab Education Department, in collaboration with Google and Tech Valley, organized a two-day “Digital Sahafat” workshop aimed at equipping media professionals with advanced digital tools, improving reporting standards, and strengthening skills in fact-checking and information verification to counter misinformation and disinformation.
The training brought together reporters, producers, assignment editors, content creators, vloggers, podcasters, analysts, and bloggers, who received hands-on training in the practical use of Google’s latest tools to make their reporting more credible, data-driven, and research-based. Trainers from Google and Tech Valley introduced participants to emerging trends in digital journalism, information verification techniques, and the responsible use of digital technologies in modern newsrooms.
Participants were given practical guidance on tools such as Google Trends, Reverse Image Search, Google Lens, Google Advanced Search, and Gemini to enhance story accuracy and research quality.
On the occasion, Punjab Minister for Education Rana Sikandar Hayat said that the coming era belongs to skills, and the Punjab government is prioritizing skill development for youth, students, and journalists. He noted that field reporters often lack professional development opportunities and added that partnerships with global organizations like Google help bridge this gap by offering world-class training programs.
“These workshops will enable media professionals to meet the challenges of the digital age,” the Minister said. “They will be better equipped to verify information and strengthen the authenticity of their stories.”
He emphasized that the pursuit of truth and dissemination of accurate information form the essence of journalism. “In this age of artificial intelligence, journalists must master modern technologies to promote responsible and research-based reporting,” he added.
Rana Sikandar Hayat further said that the Punjab government, in partnership with Google and Tech Valley, plans to organize more such programs to promote transparency, skill development, and a culture of research in journalism.
Responding to journalists’ questions, the Minister said that the government has launched a recognition program for top-performing board students and is revising the curriculum to align with international standards. He added that the smart syllabus for grades 9 and 10 has already been made available online.
He further said that Punjab’s education reforms are being acknowledged by other provinces. “Those politicians posting old videos of schools to criticize us are invited to visit and see the real transformation taking place,” he remarked. “We are introducing reforms that will soon bring the Matric and O-Level systems to an equivalent standard, making government schools the first choice for parents.”