JMI Conducts Study on Assessing Training Needs of Jordanian Media Sector

Amman, 23 January (JMI) -- The Jordan Media Institute (JMI), UNESCO, and Canal France International (CFI) launched a study on &quot;Training Needs of Media Sector in Jordan,&quot; conducted as part of the project &quot;Supporting Media in Jordan,&quot; which is implemented with the support of the EU.&nbsp; The study aimed at providing comprehensive preliminary information about the level of engagement of journalists in training in the last two years and identifying their training needs on the various professional levels and according to the type of media outlets and the regions in which they operate. It also aimed at identifying the key obstacles to media training and the degree of satisfaction with the current training. The study concluded that there were several factors that largely limit improving the quality of media training, including the repeat and similarity of topics, discontinuation of the training, modest allocations, and the fact that the training does not integrate theoretical and practical aspects. Also, many courses are held at inappropriate times.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> The methodology of the study depended on reviewing previous local and international studies and reports, besides the survey study that included a general questionnaire targeting journalists and another targeting managers, chief editors, and section heads at media establishments. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> The results of the study, which included 250 male and female journalists who took part in training courses in the last two years and 40 managers and chief editors, showed that there were indications of similarity and repetition in training programs and lack of coordination between the entities that offer training. Sometimes, the training might not meet the actual needs of journalists and the media sector. On other occasions, it does not keep up with the fast development in communication technology. This confirms the need for conducting a periodic assessment of training needs and another assessment of the impact of training on journalists.<br /> <br /> The study recommended holding seminars and training sessions for the first and second tier leaders at large and medium media establishments on certain issues, such as quality standards in management, building successful economic models in the media, and planning and managing contemporary media establishments. &nbsp;As for training programs targeting journalists and media persons, the study recommended that the training be in the following areas: Data journalism; specialized media; skills of research, collecting information, and verification in the digital media environment; comprehensive TV journalist; working in integrated newsrooms; &nbsp;telling the TV news story; video journalism; social media for journalists; investigative journalism; IT applications for media persons; mobile journalism; and moderating live interactions online.<br /> <br /> On the general training needs of journalists, according to the study, data journalism came first by 91%, followed by verification of information and news, coverage of wars, coverage of humanitarian affairs, and managing integrated newsrooms. Meanwhile, the need for training on managing change and media came last by 62%. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> As for the general training needs of media leaders, the first place included: Quality standards in managing media establishments, public opinion polls, building successful economic models in the media, by 100% for each. These were followed by: Coverage of international affairs, planning and managing media establishments, media legislation, coverage of humanitarian affairs, and managing integrated newsrooms, followed by data journalism and international codes in the media by 87%.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Regarding the training needs in the press for journalists, 86% said they needed training on skills of research and gathering information. This need came first, followed by: Managing newsrooms, photojournalism, press interviews, editing news, and investigative journalism. Press layout came last in terms of priorities by 52%.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Media leaders identified the training needs of journalists as follows: Skills of research and information collection and skills and methods of writing news analyses came first by 97%, followed by investigative journalism, preparing news stories, and writing and editing news. Press interviews came last by 84%.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Priority for training needs in the field of radio and television for journalists came as follows: A program for funding and sustaining local radios came first by 98%, followed by software for managing news, production skills, telling the news story, and rules for managing newsrooms. The need for training on sports commentary came last by 68%.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> However, the need for training on rules for managing newsrooms came first in terms of the view of media leaders of the training needs of media persons in the field of radio and television by 97%, followed by production skills, voice focus and presentation skills, comprehensive TV journalist, software for managing news, production of television programs, preparing programs, editing video and montage, producing documentaries, planning and managing special television coverage, investigative programs, and managing radio stations.<br /> <br /> Six programs came last in terms of the priorities of training for media leaders in radio and television and by an equal percentage of 81%. These are: Writing after filming, television correspondent, scriptwriting for television, digital broadcasting, and building radio news bulletins.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> As for training needs in the field of digital media for journalists, verifying sources on the Internet came first for journalists by 91%, followed by an introduction to digital media, mobile journalism, moderating live interactions online, and advanced data journalism. Social media came last by 50%.<br /> <br /> Media leaders were unanimous on the need of digital journalists for training on IT applications and multimedia by 100% for each, followed by: Introduction to digital media, writing for the Internet, verifying sources on the Internet, advanced data journalism, and skills of using social networks for journalists by 97%. The need for five training programs for leaders came third. These are: Managing electronic sites, moderating live interactions online, mobile journalism, social media, and advanced video journalism.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> JMI has conducted, through the Media Research and Survey Unit, which it established in 2014, many specialized media studies in the field of training, capacity building, media monitoring, content analysis, and analyzing media discourse.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;