In 2007, SAFMA, a network of South Asian journalists and media practitioners, aware of the political nuances of the region and sensitive to the demands of the new media age, felt the need to cultivate a new generation of South Asian media persons. With this in mind, the South Asian Media School was set up at South Asian Media Centre, a hub of media activity.

Following an academic curriculum along with interactive sessions, exercises and practical activities, SAMS's philosophy is that the region's journalists should be equipped with the knowledge and awareness of the region with reference to its economy, culture, politics, interstate relations and conflicts, gender and human rights issues and the role of media as an agent of social change.

After an initial orientation in the political, social and cultural dynamics of the region, the trainees are taken to the next level of specialisation in the selected media disciplines of print, radio and television, prepared and tested under the guidance of international experts. This leads to a final project due at the end of the session, incorporating both research skills and practical production. The courses are formulated to motivate, re-orient, prepare and polish the trainees to understand the basics and essentials of practical television, radio and print journalism. A SAMS certificate is issued, accredited by world class media professionals, which will help as a good reference for an appropriate job in any media organisation.

The Television and Video Production course at SAMS is designed to give the trainees an extensive working knowledge of the TV and film process so that they can fill a number of positions at television stations, production houses, film studios and corporations. The subjects offered by the school include:

• Aesthetics of production
• Camera/Lighting/Sound
• Non-linear/Linear editing
• Hosting/Anchoring
• Documentary making
• Investigative reporting
• Interviewing
• Language as a means of communication
• Creative Writing/Writing to Pictures
• Conflict reporting
• Drama

The Radio Broadcasting Course offers hands-on training and live broadcasting, with different practical training exercises ranging from news bulletins, radio programming, radio talk shows, commercial production, vocal coaching, radio features and magazine programs. The topics covered include:

• Illustrated bulletin
• News order
• Reading news
• Voice exercises
• Reporting disaster
• Vox Pops
• Live shows
• Digital audio techniques
• Digital editing
• Writing for radio
• Radio features

Conducted by renowned journalists from the region, the Print Journalism Course offered at SAMS aims to introduce trainees to the world of newspaper publishing by covering subjects such as:

• Reporting (Investigative/Crime/Disaster/War/Economic)
• Online journalism
• Editing
• Feature writing
• Page making
• Editorial writing
• Gender in the media
• Peace journalism
• Censorship and Ethics

All courses include orientation sessions since the diversity of the students means they need to be introduced to regional issues in order for them to communicate effectively with their peers during the course and afterwards. This orientation makes sure that future media persons are aware of South Asia's political and social issues and are able to report without bias. The presence of resource persons from different South Asian countries and Europe ensures neutrality and diversity in the courses and the point of views that will be put across.

The course is heavily subsidised by SAFMA and candidates are to pay a nominal fee per month, which includes very comfortable boarding and lodging in the beautiful city of Lahore. Fully covered scholarships are available for international students and those from the under-privileged regions of Pakistan. We particularly encourage women to apply for our training courses.

We offer you a chance to study under some of the best names in academia and media in the South Asian region and Europe. The school is facilitated by Deutsche Welle Acadamie (DW), Germany and by the faculty of Thomson Foundation (UK). We have also had instructors from YATV (Sri Lanka) and BBC Radio (UK), and are also in the process of finalising further collaborations with other media training institutes around the world, such as Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, and Goldsmiths College, London.
Among others, our faculty has included:

• Christopher Frederick, Media Practice Associates, UK
• Helen Scott, Thomson Foundation, UK
• Arjumund Wajid, BBC Radio, UK
• Sharmini Boyle, YATV Sri Lanka
• I. A. Rehman, HRCP Pakistan
• Salima Hashmi, BNU, Lahore
• Hina Jilani, AGHS
• Khaled Ahmed, The Friday Times
• Dr. Akmal Hussain, Economist
• Dr. Hasan Askari Rizvi, Political analyst
• Najam Sethi, Editor, Daily Times

The training takes place at South Asian Media Centre, boasting newly built state-of-the-art facilities, including lecture rooms with audio/visual facilities, television and radio studios, print and electronic library, auditorium and cafeteria. Our international students are guaranteed comfortable lodging, transport for all course related travel and meals.

• Post-graduate degree in any of the following disciplines: Journalism/Mass Communication, Political Science, International Relations, English Literature OR one year work experience as a media practitioner.
• Proficiency in the English language is essential.

177-A, Shadman-II, Lahore, Pakistan.
Tel: 0092-42-7555621-8, 7555629
Fax: 0092-42-7555630
E-mail: samspak@gmail.com www.southasianmedia.net