KKKU VC addresses mental health and well being in journalism and academia at International Media Summit

Islamabad: Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tahir Khalily, Vice Chancellor of Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak (KKKUK), played a pivotal role in an international summit held today in Islamabad, calling for urgent attention to the psychological well-being of professionals in both the media and higher education sectors. The summit, titled “Bridging Media and Academia – Shaping Journalism of the Future,” was organized by DW Akademie, Germany’s leading organization for media development. The event brought together industry leaders, top academics, and policymakers to discuss the evolving landscape of journalism and education. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tahir Khalily featured as a key speaker in the high-profile panel discussion on “Mental Health and Well-being in Journalism and Academia.” During the session, the Vice Chancellor highlighted the often-overlooked psychological pressures faced by reporters and researchers alike. He emphasized that the relentless news cycle, exposure to traumatic events, and the high-performance demands of academic research are creating a mental health crisis that institutions must address. “Both journalists and academics are in the business of truth-seeking, but this pursuit often comes at a heavy psychological cost,” Prof. Dr.Muhammad Tahir Khalily stated during the panel. “We are seeing rising rates of burnout, anxiety, and secondary trauma. It is imperative that media houses and universities alike move beyond simple acknowledgment and start implementing robust psychological support systems for their workforce.” Staff Reporter