Not every day do you wake up and go through a moral crisis that shakes you to your core. For journalists, it is often a regular issue. As a student, I started my career in journalism to earn few extra bucks. My choice left a bigger impact on me, having me make decisions across complex realities.
Future News Worldwide brings together 100 student journalists, common in their passion for journalism and aiming to make a career here. The programme helped 2018 cohort navigate the murky waters of the challenging sector, from processing information, detecting fake news to crafting stories that connect the audience. The limited seats at the program allowed effective interaction among speakers and participants, enabling rigorous QnA sessions. While it is easy for an outsider to conclude journalism as merely reporting, FNW went the extra step to address empathy in storytelling, one that required important perspectives.
FNW opens the door to further opportunities for its participants. In 2019, I attended the Global Conference for Media Freedom in London full funded. My friend Urooj Tarar from Pakistan became a fellow at the Centre for Human Rights at the University of York. Because of Covid 19, FNW 20 was held online. The organizers were kind enough to accommodate interested alumni in some sessions.
The alumni network actively engages and collaborates, overcoming geographical borders. Some of the connections I have made at this program have continued walking along with me on my journey. Looking back, I have become a more grounded professional, developing a more nuanced understanding of issues.
There are very few opportunities that concern the issues of a young journalist. The fully-funded program ensures diversity among participants, speakers who bring so much to the table, making it a rare opportunity any student journalist should not miss to avail.