Tech Valley Pakistan, in collaboration with the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Rawalpindi Campus, has conducted a Digital Sahafat training session for students of the university’s Media and Communication Studies department. The session focused on practical digital journalism skills, including information verification and the use of artificial intelligence tools to support reporting and research. Students participated in interactive activities designed to introduce them to digital resources that can assist journalists in gathering information, checking claims and preparing news content. Google’s Gemini and Gemini Notebook were among the tools demonstrated during the training, giving participants an opportunity to explore how AI-based applications can be incorporated into journalism workflows. Certificates were also presented to participating students in recognition of their attendance and learning.
The training was organised under Digital Sahafat, a programme developed by Google in partnership with Tech Valley to help journalists, media students and educators build digital reporting and verification skills. The initiative focuses on the practical use of online tools to support research, assess information and produce accurate digital news content. Its training sessions combine demonstrations with hands-on activities, allowing participants to practise using technology rather than relying solely on theoretical instruction. The programme has expanded beyond working journalists to include students and journalism educators, reflecting the growing role of digital tools in media education. The NUML Rawalpindi session extends this training approach to university students preparing for careers in journalism, broadcasting, digital publishing and other media-related fields.
During the session, students explored Google’s Gemini and Gemini Notebook as resources for working with information and supporting research tasks. AI assistants can help users organise material, summarise documents and develop initial research questions, while notebook-based tools can assist with analysing information drawn from supplied sources. For journalism students, these capabilities may be useful when reviewing lengthy documents, preparing background research or organising information before writing a report. However, AI-generated responses still require verification against original documents and reliable sources. Journalists must also assess whether information is accurate, distinguish established facts from unverified claims and exercise editorial judgement before publishing. The emphasis on information verification is particularly relevant as digital platforms allow content to circulate rapidly, making it important for future journalists to understand both the benefits and limitations of AI-supported reporting.
The collaboration between Tech Valley and NUML Rawalpindi reflects the role universities and technology organisations can play in preparing media students for changing newsroom requirements. Digital journalism increasingly involves online research, multimedia publishing, data interpretation and the use of technology to assess information. Practical training can introduce students to these tools before they enter professional newsrooms, helping them understand how digital resources fit into responsible reporting practices. Through Digital Sahafat, Tech Valley and Google are extending access to digital journalism training across Pakistan, with sessions intended for journalists, media students and educators. The latest session at NUML Rawalpindi adds to these efforts by providing students with practical exposure to AI-assisted research and information verification. Tech Valley has invited other educational institutions to arrange Digital Sahafat training sessions, offering an opportunity for additional media departments to introduce students to digital reporting tools.
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