Najia Ashar
{{Short description|US based Former broadcast journalist of Pakistan Origin}}
{{Notability|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Najia Ashar
| image = GNMI-Najia Ashar.jpeg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|7|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Karachi, Pakistan
| nationality = Pakistani
| education = Master of Social Science in International Relations
| occupation = Development Professional, Journalist
| years_active = 2002 - Present
| organization = Global Neighbourhood for Media Innovation
| known_for = Media, Peace, Training
| spouse = Ashar Ali
| children = 2
}}
Najia Ashar (born 14 July 1978){{Cite web |title=Najia Ashar Newscaster and Host |url=http://www.woman.com.pk/najia-ashar.html |access-date=2021-07-15 |website=www.woman.com.pk}} is a broadcast journalist and media development professional{{Cite web |last=Hasan |first=Shazia |date=2019-04-13 |title='Harassment is an issue of human rights, security & economics' |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1475710 |access-date=2021-07-26 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hasan |first=Shazia |date=2019-12-11 |title='You need to be strong to handle male egos' |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1521615 |access-date=2021-07-26 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{Cite web |title='Social media help mobilise communities, voice concerns' |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/860891-social-media-help-mobilise-communities-voice-concerns |access-date=2021-07-26 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}} with more than 20 years of experience in Pakistan’s mainstream media. She is the founder & president of Global Neighbourhood for Media Innovation (GNMI),{{Cite web |title=Global Neighbourhood for Media Innovation |url=https://gnmionline.org/}} a Karachi-based nonprofit organization working for media development and peacebuilding in Pakistan.
Journalism
Najia started her news media career in 2002 at state-owned Pakistan Television as a writer and researcher.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-27 |title=Najia Ashar - biography and personal life |url=https://profilepk.com/najia-ashar |access-date=2021-07-27 |website=Profiles of Famous Pakistanis |language=en-US}}
As a media professional, she has hosted a number of programs on sensitive human rights issues which included influential stakeholders of the society and worked as a host of a news morning show at GNN TV and served as Editor News Strategy and Planning at Aaj News.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-12 |title=Guest speakers |url=https://newsroombythebay.com/guest-speakers-2020/ |access-date=2021-07-27 |website=Due to COVID, our summer program at Stanford is cancelled. Check back this fall for info on Summer 2022. |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2018-08-20 |title=GNN launches it's regular transmission from Today |url=http://mediabites.com.pk/2018/08/gnn-launches-its-regular-transmission-from-today/ |access-date=2021-07-27 |website=Media Bites News |language=en}} She also hosted a daily news show "News Hour With Najia".{{Cite web |title=Aaj TV Official - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/c/AajTVofficial/search?query=news%20hour%20with%20najia |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=www.youtube.com}} Prior to that she worked as a news presenter at Geo News for 12 years.{{Cite web |date=2020-02-01 |title=Seminar discusses role media can play in promoting tolerance |url=https://arynews.tv/seminar-pmc-promoting-tolerance/ |access-date=2021-07-27 |website=ARY NEWS |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Najia Ashar chosen for JSK Journalism Fellowship - Journalism Pakistan |url=https://www.journalismpakistan.com:443/Najia-Ashar-chosen-for-JSK-Journalism-Fellowship |access-date=2021-07-26 |website=www.journalismpakistan.com |language=en}}
Fellowships
She participated in a John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship to Stanford University from 2014 to 2015.{{cite news|last=Hasan|first=Shazia|date=2017-04-22|title=Journalists share gender, safety issues at NMC|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1328455|access-date=2021-07-26|work=Dawn}}{{cite web|date=2015-02-25|title=Najia Ashar: The Evolution of Electronic Media in Pakistan: Its Impact on Society and Challenges|url=https://sgs.stanford.edu/events/najia-ashar-evolution-electronic-media-pakistan-its-impact-society-and-challenges|access-date=2025-05-12|website=Stanford Humanities}} under which she dived deeply into journalism innovation and strategic leadership in Silicon Valley and developed a practical, user-friendly safety guide for Pakistani journalists.{{cite web|date=2020-07-22|url=https://www.globalstudentsquare.org/let-me-try-pioneering-journalist-najia-ashar-shares-backstory-of-becoming-a-broadcaster-in-pakistan/|last=Chohan|first=Marwa|title="Let me try" — pioneering journalist Najia Ashar shares backstory of becoming a broadcaster in Pakistan|access-date=2021-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717140030/https://www.globalstudentsquare.org/let-me-try-pioneering-journalist-najia-ashar-shares-backstory-of-becoming-a-broadcaster-in-pakistan/|archive-date=2021-07-17|url-status=dead}} In 2013, she participated in a fellowship from the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii,{{cite web|date=2013-02-27|title=Rising Violence in Pakistan: A Complex Challenge|url=https://www.eastwestcenter.org/events/rising-violence-in-pakistan-complex-challenge|access-date=2021-07-26|website=East-West Center {{!}} www.eastwestcenter.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717135853/https://www.eastwestcenter.org/events/rising-violence-in-pakistan-complex-challenge|archive-date=2021-07-17|url-status=dead}} whom she also entered into partnership with in 2021.{{cite web|date=2022-06-05|title=New Project Supports Influencers Promoting Peace in Pakistan|url=https://www.eastwestcenter.org/news-center/news-releases/new-project-supports-influencers-promoting-peace-in-pakistan|access-date=2022-09-30|website=East-West Center {{!}} www.eastwestcenter.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930082131/https://www.eastwestcenter.org/news-center/news-releases/new-project-supports-influencers-promoting-peace-in-pakistan|archive-date=2022-09-30|url-status=dead}}
Education
Najia holds a Master's (2000) and Bachelor's degree (1999) in International Relations from the University of Karachi.{{Cite web|date=2013-02-27|title=Rising Violence in Pakistan: A Complex Challenge|url=https://www.eastwestcenter.org/events/rising-violence-in-pakistan-complex-challenge|access-date=2021-07-15|website=East-West Center {{!}} www.eastwestcenter.org|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Bhutto|first=Rozina|date=2015-04-09|title='I won't stop making mistakes' says Najia Ashar|url=http://www.hipinpakistan.com/news/1146979|access-date=2021-07-26|website=HIP|language=en}}
Personal life
Najia was born in the Qasba Colony, a neighbourhood in Karachi housing diverse ethnic groups. She is married to Ashar Ali, a news executive.{{Cite web|title=Meet Beautiful Family Of Famous Pakistani Journalist And News Anchor Najia Ashar|url=https://www.healthfasiondesk.com/meet-beautiful-family-of-famous-pakistani-journalist-and-news-anchor-najia-ashar/|access-date=2021-07-15|website=Health Fashion|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715125345/https://www.healthfasiondesk.com/meet-beautiful-family-of-famous-pakistani-journalist-and-news-anchor-najia-ashar/|archive-date=2021-07-15|url-status=dead}} The couple has two children.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashar, Najia}}
Category:University of Karachi alumni