HEC-SAMAA ANNOUNCES SYED AZIZ AZMI SCHOLARSHIP; LATE JOURNALIST HONORED.

ISLAMABAD, 11th March – Higher Education Commission (HEC) and SAMAA have dedicated a media scholarship in the name of noted journalist and writer Syed Aziz Azmi, who passed away in Karachi on 21st February 2009.

HEC-SAMAA Scholarship Program, tailored for Mass Communication students at the Public Universities across Pakistan, targets those students, who lack financial resources to complete their education. SAMAA, which is providing funds for the education of 10 students under this program, decided to dedicate one scholarship to Mr. Azmi, who worked as its central assignment editor. Azmi, 38, was a prominent and popular member of SAMAA’s launch team.

“Syed Aziz Azmi was a prolific writer and an up-right and dedicated journalist,” said Mr. Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer of SAMAA. “For young journalists, he should be a role model. This scholarship is a small acknowledgement to his contribution and services to the electronic media industry in Pakistan.”

SAMAA Scholarship Program covers the tuition fee for two years of Master’s level degree in Mass Communications. To promote equal opportunities, the scholarship recipients will consist of five male and five female students from across Pakistan. On completion of education, successful candidates will be offered one-year job contract with SAMAA.

According to HEC representative, the first batch of shortlisted candidates has been selected and interviews are now being held to select the final 10 candidates by a selection committee, comprising representatives of the HEC, SAMAA, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists.

SAMAA TV is one of Pakistan’s leading private satellite channels, which takes pride in its fair, factual and independent news coverage through its on-the-hour bulletins, breaking stories, incisive political analysis and current affairs programs. The channel has also made a niche for itself through its programs on women and youth issues besides info-tainment. SAMAA TV, launched in December 2007 is the only Pakistani news channel, which is run as a corporate company rather than as a family owned business.