Activity Details (ID# 12745)

Activity Synopsis

The aim of the meeting was to bring together journalism trainers from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine to share best practices with international experts on ways of teaching media ethics. In addition, the possibilities of European cooperation between journalist schools were to be explored. 

The presentations of all invited speakers were clear and with substance, stimulating feedback and contributions from the audience.

While the first session concentrated on general concepts for journalism training, the second put a particular emphasis on methods of teaching media ethics. On the morning of the second day, the possibilities of European cooperation for journalist trainers were discussed.

During the discussions, the following challenges for the training of journalists in the South Caucasus region were identified: graduates of traditional schools of journalism are rarely employed as journalists; journalists need more practical training on how to present information and opinions; training on-the-job is generally not offered to journalists; the economic situation of journalists (salaries, labour rights) and media (revenues, licenses, subsidies) makes them dependent on those with money/power.
 

The following conclusions were drawn for journalism training in the South Caucasus: professionalism empowers journalists; journalism training has to be more practical; further training has to be offered to journalists throughout their career; journalist trainers in the South Caucasus region and all over Europe should exchange more information on best practices of optimising training curricula; there has to be a greater emphasis on media ethics in journalism education; the professional rights of journalists have to be improved and more has to be done to guarantee their editorial and financial independence; international exchanges and cross-border contacts have to be increased.

All participants agreed that further seminars and other training activities would be needed and welcome. Foreign support (technical, financial) was needed in this respect.

The conclusions of the seminar were taken into account for the revision of the draft memorandum on a European Dimension in the Professional Education and Training of Journalists of the Sub-Committee on the Media.
 

journalists, editors, parliamentarians, academics and students 

Mr Rashid Hajili, Director, Media Law Institute, Azerbaijan
Ms Vera Illés, Programme Manager, Free Voice/The Management & Media Academy, Netherlands
Mr Wolfgang Mayer, journalist, Member of the Steering Committee of the European Federation of Journalists; Member of the German Press Council
Mr Laurent Passicousset, International Development Officer, Centre de formation et de perfectionnement des journalistes, France; Board Member, European Journalism Training Association
 

Mr Rüdiger Dossow, Secretariat, Sub-Committee on the Media, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly