Rabat – The Higher Institute of Communication and Information (ISIC) in Rabat in partnership with the Al Jazeera Media Institute provides training workshops for journalism students from both bachelor’s and master’s programs. The workshops are currently underway from March 13-17 and are being hosted on the ISIC campus.
The cooperation between Al Jazeera and ISIC, one of the leading institutions in the field of media and communication in Morocco aims to equip journalism students with the essential skills that are not typically covered in academic programs and that are essential for modern journalism practice. As the media landscape continues to rapidly evolve, it is vital for future journalists to have solid skills in the field.
The training program offers instruction in diverse areas of journalism led by professionals, such as journalists, researchers, and producers, from Al Jazeera Media Institute and Al Jazeera Digital Network. The workshops include investigative journalism training led by expert Musab AL-Shawabkeh, an investigative journalist and instructor. Podcast production is led by Abdulkareem Aouir, a podcast producer in the digital Al Jazeera Network, and fact-checking by Lahssan Sekour, a monitor in Al Jazeera’s verification unit among 10 others.
During an interview with Morocco World News, Aroua EL Kaali, a trainer at Al Jazeera media institute and a professor of data journalism at the Institute of Journalism and News Sciences in Tunis emphasized the importance of providing students with such opportunities.
El Kaali explained that the objective behind these workshops “Is to provide students with the opportunity to learn new skills that are not really taught in the institute such as data journalism from experienced trainers and not just from their academic professors.”
She added that this training could be a great opportunity to build a professional network: “I also think this is a great networking opportunity for journalism students to interact with Al Jazeera trainers and to meet the coordinators, to be noticed, to ask for internships or even work opportunities within al Jazeera.”
Student perspectives
The trainees expressed their eagerness for the opportunity to receive training from Al Jazeera experts. Hiba el Kadiri, a graduate student majoring in Digital and audio-visual Production at ISIC, described what the program means for her:
“I believe that the Al Jazeera training program is highly advantageous. I am in the Data journalism workshop and so far, I have gained a clear understanding of the concept, as well as the various open sources that can be used to access structured data.”
El Kadiri noted the overwhelming amount of data in today’s world recalling “It is essential for journalism students to learn and master how to access data and work with it, it allows us to uncover meaningful insights and tell data-driven stories.”
Abdellah Assil, a master’s student majoring in political and public communication, emphasized that such training programs complement the education received at the institute and are essential for success in the workplace.
The master’s student described the program as an “excellent complement to the academic courses we are taking at our institute.”
He stated that thanks to the program the students have been “exposed to new perspectives and have learned modern skills that are crucial in the journalism industry today whereas the courses we take at our institute provide us with a more academic and basic set of skills.”
The program’s objectives
The institute is actively engaged in updating its educational program to match the dynamic media industry. To achieve this goal, the institute is prioritizing new courses and training programs that are not only taught by academic professors, but also by trainers who possess practical experience in the field.
The head of internship and training service at ISIC stated to Morocco World News that ISIC is establishing national and international partnerships for the benefit of the students to expand their professional experience in the journalism domain.
Head of Internship and Training Service at ISIC Aziddine Himit, talked about how the institute embodies this type of training.“We (ISIC) don’t hesitate to invite professionals as well as teachers to lead workshops and supervise practical activities,” he said.
Himit listed international collaborators that the ISIC has, from Sweden, Belgium, and Bahrain. “This allows our students to broaden their horizons and exchange with other students,” he enthused.
Himit also highlighted the importance of keeping up with technological advancements and announced the upcoming launch of a new well-equipped television studio on the institute campus, in just a few days.
The realm of journalism involves more than just relaying current events, as it involves a set of ethics and obligations too. In recent times, there has been an increased emphasis on instructing aspiring journalists on the significance of ethical and responsible journalism.
The ISIC is reputed for providing high-quality academic programs in the fields of communication and information studies, which include ethical and deontological aspects of journalism.
To further promote ethical journalism, the Al Jazeera Media Institute partnered with Abdel Wahab Arami, a professor at ISIC and a researcher in media and communication, to produce a manual on journalism ethics under the theme “A journalist is not excused for ignoring professional ethics.” This guide has been distributed to all participants enrolled in the ongoing Al Jazeera training program and can serve as a dependable resource for journalists seeking to adhere to the most elevated principles of ethical journalism.
Building a future
By incorporating practical experience alongside academic expertise, ISIC is equipping students with a well-rounded education that prepares them for success in their workplace. Through guest lectures, internship conventions, and mentorship programs, students can gain valuable insight and guidance from seasoned journalists, which can help them refine their skills and develop their own voices as writers and reporters.
