JPF, Al Rai join forces with Bridgewater State University to develop training programme for journalists

AMMAN — The Jordan Press Foundation (JPF) and the Massachusetts-based Bridgewater State University (BSU) have agreed to develop a training programme for journalists.

JPF Chairman Ayman Majali held talks with BSU officials last week on developing a partnership to support the newly-established Al Rai Centre for Studies and Training in Amman.

“This programme will provide training and development opportunities for Jordanian journalists. It will start with four journalists in July 2019 and the level of participation include up to 15 journalists in 2020,” a BSU statement said.

BSU Provost and Vice President Karim Ismaili said, “We should proceed methodically, intentionally, strategically, deliberately. But we must act to seize the opportunity. This is a vital and vibrant set of relationships for the university,” the statement said.

As part of his visit, Majali met with BSU President Frederick W. Clark and Ismaili, as well as college deans and chairs of the university’s academic programmes, according to the statement.

Clark commended the JPF-BSU partnership, highlighting “the potential for deepening our relationship with Jordan and its people and culture”, according to the statement.

International partnerships such as the one between the JPF, Al Rai newspaper and BSU are integral to today’s globally connected world. Such partnerships promote close cooperation in the areas of digital media and journalism, professional development for faculty and staff, joint research and survey projects and internships and fellowship programmes, the statement  said.

The statement also said that the partnership between the JPF, Al Rai and BSU “will lead to the creation of intensive training courses in core aspects of media engagement and journalism, including digital media, information analysis, multimedia, storytelling, journalism writing skills, ethics, law and public relations. In addition, this training programme will help expand participants’ writing skills for social media and specialised press, radio programmes and media management”.

This proposed partnership is the first step towards developing professional certificates between BSU, Al Rai Centre for Studies and Training and Yarmouk University, according to the statement.

Recent trends in Jordan indicate the continued importance of journalism to local and regional communities, Majali said, adding, “Firstly, newspaper readership will upsurge again if we enhance and diversify written content with storytelling, background and analysis, secondly, the use of mobile devices has exploded and with it the use of these devices to access information and, lastly, listening to radio is on the rise.”

During his visit to the university, Majali also took part in the annual Middle East Educational Week, organised by Bridgewater’s Centre for Middle East Studies.

Majali also voiced Jordan’s keenness to help establish just and lasting peace in the region, highlighted His Majesty King Abdullah’s role in supporting the Palestinian people’s pursuit to regain their rights towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Majali also underlined Jordan’s role in keeping Middle East peace prospects alive as well as in the global anti-terror war.