Jordan : launch of a digital media training program

This research has been carried out under the framework of the EU funded and UNESCO Amman Office implemented "Support to Media in Jordan" Project. It was coordinated by JMI with CFI methodology, and took place in 2016. CFI and JMI presented the main findings to a group of approximately 25 journalists, and local and international NGO representatives. The assessment identified the top needs for both journalists and media managers in Jordan, which include data journalism skills, quality standards, and building successful media economic models (for journalists) and quality standards, public opinion poll analysis, planning and managing media outlets, research and information gathering (for managers).

This presentation marks the launch of an ambitious training program for digital media training, which will take place over the next three months in several locations around Jordan. The training program for mid-career journalists will select 150 individuals (Jordanian or residing in Jordan) to attend training. Topics on data journalism, cross media information, collection and verification of digital information and cyber protection will be covered. The Masterclasses will train 50 media leaders or managers through four classes.

" We really want to develop the capacity of media. We have a comprehensive approach, targeting both the universities, the students and practicing journalists. By the end of this training, we hope that both the teachers and working journalists will be able to implement the skills developed throughout the training and really make a difference," said Louis Meunier, CFI project coordinator.

The training program is part of the broader "Support to Media in Jordan" Project component dealing with entry-level journalism education and systematic quality training for media professionals in which UNESCO Amman Office is partnering with CFI.

" This project component is at the heart of UNESCO's strategic objectives to reinforce capacities of journalists, journalism educators and their institutions, and it relates directly to our overall project objective to help in advancing the Jordanian media to further increase its freedom, independence and professionalism," said Costanza Farina, UNESCO Representative to Jordan at the event.

" We are very happy to work with UNESCO and the European Union on this. We strongly believe that the emergence of a strong and independent media sector is a prerequisite for democracy, and we are happy to contribute to supporting the media sector is Jordan," added Louis Meunier.

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