IBA launches Center of Excellence in Journalism

The prestigious institution joins the new star in the realm of higher education

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) launched its Center For Excellence in Journalism (CEJ) on 27 Feb 2016 in a ceremony graced by the media big wigs and the American ambassador. The latter, David Hale, was the chief guest since the facility was established with the assistance of International Center for Journalism and Medill School of Journalism, both American institutions of high repute. The US State Department has provided $4 million in funding to construct the centre and establish a curriculum and training programs.

Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Hale said that a free and professional press was a cornerstone of democracy. “This center, Center for Excellence in Journalism aims to help journalists gain and improve their skills so they can play their indispensable role in the public discourse of their country,” he said.

Consul General Brian Heath, CEJ Board Chairperson Kamal Siddiqui, CEJ Acting Director Christie-Marie Lauder, International Center for Journalists Vice President Patrick Butler, Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism Professor Craig Duff and State Department consultant Larry Pintak also attended as did a number of media personalities, including but not limited to media managers Azhar Abbas of Geo and Zulfiqar Ali of FM 105, journalists Afia Salam, Imran Shirvanee, Quatrina Hosain, Mobashir Zaidi, and Fahad Hussain, and Lubna Jerrar Naqvi.

Dr Ishrat Hussain, in his speech, spoke briefly on the IBA’s history of leading higher education in Pakistan and said, “I am very pleased to add yet another component to that prestigious portfolio with the launch of the Centre for Excellence in Journalism.” With media education becoming yet another profitable field, a number of institutions that had no business being here have decided they too should get the slice of this larger small pie. As one of the guests aptly asked, “Where are all the graduates from all these universities going?”

Definitely, not necessarily in the field of the media.