A Catholic television network has launched a summer electronic media training course at St. Francis Church in Lahore. Catholic TV began the three-month program yesterday at a studio set up on the church’s balcony, with about 50 students attending the opening session. Capuchin Father Morris Jalal, parish priest at St. Mary’s and executive director of Catholic TV, said it was the first training of its kind in the country. “We need a professional and specialized crew for our team,” he told the attendees. “[The training] will help you further enhance your careers.”

1. Catholic TV launches media training www.ucanews.com

2. Catholic network aims to train new crop of highly qualified media professionals. A Catholic television network has launched a summer electronic media training course at St. Francis Church in Lahore.

3. Catholic TV began the three-month program yesterday at a studio set up on the church’s balcony, with about 50 students attending the opening session.

4. Capuchin Father Morris Jalal, parish priest at St. Mary’s and executive director of Catholic TV, said it was the first training of its kind in the country.

5. “We need a professional and specialized crew for our team,” he told the attendees. “[The training] will help you further enhance your careers.”

6. The program offers courses in script writing, sound editing, video editing, acting, set designing, lighting and video production.

7. Catholic TV charges 1,000 rupees (US$11.60) per month for the training sessions, which are held for two hours twice a week at the church.

8. Twenty-two Catholic students aged between 20 and 30 are currently registered for the courses. Jackson Anwar, a school administrator, said he hopes the program will help him expand the media company where he works.

9. “We make documentaries for a Church ministry as a side-business,” he said, adding that he wanted to learn how to be a still photographer.

10. Father Jalal said Catholic TV plans to engage some of the program’s graduates as producers and program developers for the network. “Most of the Christians in this field comprise technical staff. Very few are highly qualified.”

11. Catholic TV, a 24-hour cable channel, was founded in 2009 and broadcasts programs on youth issues, the family, liturgy, scripture quizzes, human rights and musical talent shows, among other issues, that can presently be viewed in 12 Christian localities across the archdiocese.

12. Full story at http://www.ucanews.com/2011/06/21/catholic-tv-launches-media-training/ http://www.ucanews.com/