Conference on Innovation Journalism @ Stanford University
Watchdog journalism at its innovative best – Presentation by Meher Bokhari
Just recently I had the honour of representing both Pakistan and Samaa Tv by speaking at the Sixth Conference on Innovation Journalism in Pakistan. Together with a brilliant team we showed to the world why Pakistan is at the forefront of innovation journalism and how innovation journalism is in fact the driving force behind the forward thinking and dynamic vision that Amir Jahangir, CEO of Samaa Tv, has for his channel.
The Innovation Journalism Conference was attended by leading international journalists, industry, policy-makers in media and innovation, PR, academic researchers, faculty and students in related areas of study and other professionals connected to the news industry, as well as individuals with a special interest in journalism and innovation.
While Pakistan today is considered the hotbed of disruption – it is also one of the fastest emerging markets for innovation. Scarce resources, poor business and governance conditions, low educational levels and mediocre infrastructures which mark developing economies, also in fact, go on to create chances and opportunities to respond to emerging or long-denied needs at the grass root levels. These are needs that Samaa Tv has pioneered in addressing. There are brilliant endeavors being undertaken in Pakistan, unfortunately most of which tend to remain unacknowledged.
I was present at Stanford University to highlight one such ground breaking accomplishment of Samaa Tv: initiating a Polio Control Cell which is easily the biggest public health initiative in the history of the country, with over 335,000 employees that scan the length and breadth of the country after every 60 days and have access to each and every house in the country. Regarding Samaa’s Polio Control Cell, Bill Gates during one of his maiden visits of Nairobi said, “Pakistan model will be used as a benchmark to extend any grants for polio eradication initiatives around the world.” In February 2009 Mr. and Mrs. Bill Gates along with the global head of polio eradication at WHO Bruce Alward used this model as an example for other four polio endemic countries of the world: Nygeria, India, Afghanistan and Sudan.
In describing the polio control initiative undertaken by Samaa Tv, this opportunity was fully exploited to explain the dynamics of our country, including the challenges and opportunities it represents- a dire necessity in a world which is fast changing its view of our country and its people. Similarly this conference was a wonderful opportunity to understand where the rest of the world is going with innovation and how journalism is both covering and managing innovation.
Quoted press release:
“During the various presentations, one of the most applauded initiatives among the participants was SAMAA TV’s innovative health communication programme for the Pakistan Polio Programme, the “Polio Control Cell”. The presentation was given by Ms. Meher Bokhari, Senior Producer of SAMAA TV.”
For more details visit:
http://ij6.innovationjournalism.org/
For Speaker Profiles, including mine, visit:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfhgzb56_4dpxwzzdh#Bokhari_Meher