Survey on journalism training needs in South Mediterranean countries released

The Permanent Conference of the Mediterranean Audiovisual Operators (COPEAM) has released the results of the survey on journalism training needs among the South Mediterranean broadcasters, which was conducted within the framework of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).

The survey was conducted in collaboration with the French National Association for the Professional Training of Adults (AFPA) with a view to improving the journalism training supply in the South Mediterranean region.

“115 responses to the questionnaires were received from the radio and TV broadcasters of seven countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria and Tunisia) and were analysed statistically,” UNESCO said in February.

Regarding the broadcasters from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, the survey highlighted that more than half of the journalists working in public service broadcasting are women; the majority of journalists (90%) have a bachelor’s degree in journalism or communication and do not have a professional degree in journalism; the alternate training (training centres/media organizations) is not a common practice in the Maghreb region, and partnership agreements between the universities/training centres and the media organizations barely exist.

It added that most public service broadcasters (70%) have a department of training but most journalists (78%) have never received any professional training within their institutions; 75% of journalists have never followed a training on gender mainstreaming but are interested in; 77% of journalists wish to have an English language training.

The survey also revealed regarding the competences, more than 40% of the journalists who participated in the survey do not consider neither the critical thinking nor the historical knowledge as essential prerequisites for journalists; 75% of journalists consider the knowledge of the technical environment and tools as important but only 60% consider time management as an important skill for journalists.

The results were discussed during a consultation meeting held in Casablanca in December 2010 with public service broadcasters and journalism training centres operating in the South Mediterranean region.

As one of the recommendations, participants of the meeting highlighted the need to professionalize journalism education programmes through the development of action training based on partnerships between schools and media.

Schools and media share the common responsibility to train young professionals in order to enhance their employment capacity, their practical competences and specialization.

Other recommendations of the meeting in Casablanca included the following: raising awareness of media organizations about the importance of professional training for their journalists; breaking the barrier between journalism and technical fields; developing critical thinking as an essential skill for journalists.

“Improving access to institutional information for journalists by creating a meeting space between communicators and journalists, and sensitizing communicators to the needs of journalists; increasing specialized training in the areas of sustainable development and economy.” The survey concluded. Source - APO