[Journalists] First Blind Journalist Of Pakistan Needs Some Information About Radio Training In USA

[Jean Parker]

Dear Mr. Pirzada:

I am glad you are interested in radio.  I have been a radio journalist for 
the past fifteen years.  I have worked for NPR, CBC, Radio Netherlands and 
other networks.  For the last ten years I have lived and worked in India.

There are many good schools and institutes both in Europe and America that 
offer audio production and radio journalism training.  Both Radio 
Netherlands and Deutsch Welle have training programs that are high quality. 
They are geared to people in developing countries in that if you get into 
their programs they will cover all, or at least most expenses.  Other 
students in these programs will be dealing with the same types of 
journalistic and logistics issues people in America don't have to consider.
Before attending a "mainstreamed" training in this area, I would highly 
suggest arriving at the training already confident and practiced with how to 
edit audio on your computer using a screen reader.  Instructors in these 
programs will have no idea how this is done and might even be skeptical 
about whether it is even possible.  Therefore, it is best to deal with the 
access aspect first.

There is no easy answer to how you can get this training.  However, if you 
are very serious about this, one possibility would be for you and I to do 
some work together in an intensive seminar format.  I did this recently with 
a student who is studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  He 
wanted to take a radio class at MIT and his instructor contacted me to work 
with him so that when he began in the class he would be on the same playing 
field as the other students.  He was from India and coming here on holiday 
for the Christmas break.  He did very well in the class and will probably do 
something in radio in the future.

Again, if you are definitely serious about this, I would be interested in 
exploring a similar arrangement with you.  Although we live in the same 
neighborhood of the world, there is of course a huge wall between us. 
However, these logistical barriers can possibly be managed.

If you want to communicate further about this, you can write to me at:
radioforever at gmail.com
You can also give a call at:
+ 91 9890 436 033

Best of Luck,

Jean Parker
Pune, India

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sardar Pirzada" <sardar.pirzada at gmail.com>
To: <journalists at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 10:18 PM
Subject: [Journalists] First Blind Journalist Of Pakistan Needs Some 
Information About Radio Training In USA


Dear Friends



I am the First Blind Journalist of Pakistan. I have been a member of this
group for many years. I belong to Radio and Print Media. I am hosting a live
talk show in a FM Radio and writing regular column in a national daily. It
is my desire to excel and emerge in the field of Radio. There is no radio
training facility of any kind for a blind person here in Pakistan.  I need
some information from your side.



1)      In the USA what institutions are present in which a blind person can
take Radio Training ?

2)      How can I receive complete training in radio production, editing and
live broadcast from that Institution?

3)      What is the schedule of admission in that institution and what are
the fee charges?

4)      What are the boarding facilities and what are its expenses?

5)      What are the training courses and their lengths that they provide?


Can this group help me in admission in any of the above institutions?

PS: If there are any other countries except USA in which i can get training,
please kindly mention them.

My Detailed Information is Provided Below:





Brief Introduction



The First Blind Journalist of Pakistan

My name is Syed Sardar Ahmed Pirzada. I am the first blind journalist of
Pakistan. I belong to Jauharabad, a small but well planned city in district
Khushab. I received my primary, secondary and college education from
Jauharabad. Being partially sighted and then becoming visually impaired has
never been a hindrance to my will for learning and moving ahead. Throughout
my educational career, I have not only received education from inclusive
institutions without any special facility but pursued my studies with full
involvement in co-curricular activities. While at college, I not only
carried out the responsibilities of class representative in the student
union and editor of the college magazine but also held the offices of the
secretary, ''Iqbal Philosophical Society'' and president ''Social Work
Society''. In 1986 I obtained my Masters degree in Journalism from the
University of the Punjab as a regular student in First division, securing
distinction in the university.
After completing my post graduation I worked as a ''Reporter'' and
''Sub-Editor'' in many credible dailies and weeklies such as Jang, Jasarat,
Mashriq Istaqlal, and Nawa-i-Waqt. I have also been Editor of English
monthly for the diplomatic community entitled. ‘The Diplomat'' which brought
me in close interaction with the foreign community.

In 2001, I established a media Organization with a new idea, namely ''
Research and Information Services Emporium (RISE 24)''. This organization
employed the services of dedicated media experts and a highly professional
technical staff who worked round the clock, scanning, sorting, classifying,
analyzing and arranging information from a wide range of print media, thus
providing its prestigious customers with a ''Press Clippings folder''
professionally prepared according to their specific needs and areas of
interest and sent to them on daily basis by courier in shape of hard copy or
by fax or e-mail.

In 1988 I joined a government Organization ''National Language Authority,
Islamabad, Pakistan'' as a public relations officer, handling press and
publicity matters for the organization. I worked as Editor ''Akhbar-e-urdu’’
the monthly research journal of the said organization from February 2003 to
February 2010. During this period I compiled a reference book entitled
''Pakistan mien Urdu'',(Urdu in Pakistan) which is a comprehensive research
study of the evolution, promotion and development of the Urdu Language in
the four provinces of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.

Apart from my regular Job, I have always remained in touch with mainstream
Journalism. I am the first blind journalist in Pakistan who has such a close
association with the press on a professional level. I am a regular columnist
and analyst on social and political issues. Presently I am writing for
''Daily Nawa-i- Waqt under the logo of ''Saaf Saaf''. My articles contain
solid historical facts and figures related to current affairs. These
publications are a source of historical knowledge as well as current
affairs. I have also worked with the electronic media and hold experience as
anchor person for radio and television. I am currently hosting a talk show
''Sunrise ke Mehman'' on radio FM 97 Sunrise Pakistan. This is a weekly
program which goes on air live from all parts of the country presenting
conclusive debates and interviews of prominent personalities on social
issues.

Communicating with people has always been my greatest passion and I satisfy
this passion by being a member of the visiting faculty of many reputed
institutions and universities and try to impart my knowledge to others
through effective communication and modern tools. I used to work with the
assistance of a reader and writer as I have no command over Braille. However
now I have attained computer skill and work through a screen reader program
JAWS (Job Access with Speech).

Syed Sardar Ahmad Pirzada
• Columnist Nawai-e-Waqt, ''SAAF SAAF''
• Anchor Person Radio FM 97 “SUNRISE KE MEHMAN”
• Research Officer, National Language Authority, Islamabad

Email: sardar.pirzada at gamil.com, saafsaaf at live.com

Cell: 092 3335203905
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