Yahya Alawad A Adam

DOHA • Qatar's pioneer media institute Darinfo, Dar Al Sharq Centre for Information Studies and Training, in coordination with noted media expert Professor Martha Steffens of University of Missouri, US, will organize a workshop on "Government and Investigative Reporting". The three-day workshop will start on January 27, 2008, at 5.30 pm.

Yahya Alawad A Adam, Director, Darinfo told The Peninsula that the event is being organized as part of Dar Al Sharq Corporation's future plans to equip journalists in Qatar to cover the upcoming Shura elections in a democratic way.

"Darinfo played a critical role in the recent elections to municipal councils, Central Municipal Council (CMC) and the office-bearer elections of various organizations including Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI)", Yahya said.

He hoped the three-day journalism workshop will give exposure to the participating journalists to the international standard of election covering. Prof Steffens will explain various facets of election covering ranging from the run up to the elections, covering problems and solutions, giving people chance to express their voice, promoting democracy and human interesting stories from the election front and planning post-election stories, Yahya said.

The workshop will also have its focus on investigative reporting, data analyzing and putting stories together and tips for interviewing celebrities and experts; and covering special events.

Professor Steffens will speak in English and there will be simultaneous translations in Arabic, Yahya said.

The three-hour workshop will start at 5.30 pm on January 27-29, 2008. Certificates will be given away to the participants at the end of the three day course.