“Today, Sunday, the College of Media at the University of Baghdad launched the second series of the ‘Innovative Journalism in Iraq’ project in collaboration with the French Media Academy, with direct support from the French Embassy in Baghdad.
This series revolves around electronic education on the foundations of journalism, encompassing both theoretical and practical aspects of the golden rules of journalism. It includes advice from senior officials and correspondents from France 24 channel, distributed across 25 training episodes.
The goal of these videos is to enhance the skills of those practicing or aspiring to practice journalism, which is considered one of the noblest professions, according to Antoine Cormarie, the supervisor of the ‘France Media Monde’ academy program.
Cormarie added that ‘this project is supported by the French Embassy in Baghdad, CFIA, and the France Media Monde Academy, in collaboration with the College of Media at the University of Baghdad and the Iraqi Media Network.’
Dean of the College of Media, Dr. Amar Taher, stated that ‘the joint educational program between the college and Media Monde Academy, sponsored by the French Embassy, has achieved remarkable successes in developing professional performance for both lecturers and students.’
He continued, ‘the previous stage of the program witnessed the production of educational materials in media studies, which were transformed into booklets and CDs distributed to media colleges and departments in Iraqi universities. The current phase, celebrated today, represents continuous progress in the program and reflects the development of participants in training, their keenness to produce modern scientific and educational content in line with the advancements in the new communication environment.’
Taher concluded by expressing gratitude to the French Embassy for overseeing the program, and to all those involved in translating collaborative ideas into practical programs in line with educational and professional mechanisms aimed at enhancing the curricula from the University of Baghdad’s presidency to the French Embassy and France Media Monde Academy.
Meanwhile, the cultural advisor of the French Embassy, Pascal Ross, praised the trainees’ commitment and their eagerness to learn new skills and benefit from the experiences of international trainers. He expressed hope for ‘continued collaboration with the College of Media as a leading college in the Middle East in the field of communication and media.’
Several lecturers and staff from the College of Media and the Iraqi Media Network underwent a year-long professional program designed by the French Academy. The program included various courses such as digital techniques, detecting fake images, news editing, report writing, social media handling, and video content production.
The first series of the program was launched on March 5, 2023, consisting of 25 training episodes covering different essential aspects a journalist should possess, whether ethical, sources, information verification tools, editing and various forms of writing, preparing for interviews and managing them, digital and investigative journalism.
France Media Monde is a state-owned organization that oversees and coordinates the activities of major public media institutions broadcast or published internationally from France. These include Radio France Internationale, Monte Carlo International, and the TV news channel France 24, along with its holding of around 12.5% of the shares in the news and entertainment network TV5 Monde.”
