Finding Accountability

In 2024, Thomson’s Total Turnout project played a pivotal role in elevating ethical election reporting and strengthening journalist safety in Pakistan.

With a fellowship of 65 journalists, including 14 women, the initiative trained media professionals to deliver conflict-sensitive reporting and increase representation of marginalised communities. Through safety workshops and post-election accountability reporting, the project empowered journalists to ensure the public had access to diverse and accurate election coverage.

One of the standout features of the project was the Virtual Newsrooms, a unique editorial space where journalists collaborated across provinces, receiving real-time editorial guidance while sharing experiences from their respective regions. Participants praised this initiative, noting that it bridged gaps between communities and allowed them to exchange knowledge on ethical reporting practices. And despite government-enforced internet shutdowns and political instability, journalists remained committed to providing accurate coverage, even when faced with access restrictions.

Post-Election Investigations

Between July and October 2024, 60 investigative reports were produced by project fellows, examining the performance of elected officials and assessing whether campaign promises had been upheld. These reports highlighted governance challenges, including the exclusion of women from political leadership roles and the lack of representation for Pakistan’s minority groups in decision-making spaces.

“The biggest challenge following-up politicians’ promises is that after they are elected, they stop speaking to journalists”, says project participant Shafiqa Gul, who writes under a pseudonym for her security. A freelancer journalist in the Swat District of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Shafiqa published an in-depth report for TheReporters.pk website on how poor the media coverage of unmet promises to marginalised communities actually was. “Many campaign promises were made, particularly to the transgender community and vulnerable women,” she said, “but the changes never materialised.”

Shafiqa Gul

Safety First

Recognising Pakistan’s status as one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists, the project placed a strong focus on safety. Four in-person safety workshops were held across Pakistan, gathering 68 journalists, including 21 women, to receive specialised training on risk assessment, self-protection, and digital security.

Conducted by security expert Syed Kaleem Imam, the workshops covered journalist safety in conflict zones, techniques for avoiding surveillance and first aid protocols. Participants learned how to protect themselves from targeted attacks and how to navigate hostile reporting environments while maintaining professional integrity.

For Shafiqa, that was the most important takeaway from the Total Turnout project: “Staying alive in Pakistan, especially if you’re a woman journalist, is your number one priority,” she said. “If we are alive, we can cover all the stories, but if we are dead, there’s nothing we can do.”

The Total Turnout project was funded by Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations, ifa) and delivered by Thomson in partnership with Pakistan Press International (PPI) and the Tribal News Network (TNN).