Twenty male and female graduates of the Ithmar training programme honed their media skills by conducting interviews with the participants and visitors to the 40th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). The Ithmar media training programme is conducted every year by the Sharjah Press Club (SPC), an initiative of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB).
In their media interviews, which will be broadcast on the social media accounts of the Sharjah Press Club and the YouTube channel of the SGMB, the Ithmar media trainees like true professionals interacted with the SIBF visitors and participants from around the world, posing a number of questions during these interviews held as part of their practical training.
The questions covered issues such as their experience of participating in the SIBF -- now the largest in the world, its importance as one of the leading global cultural events, and their impressions about Sharjah, the Cultural Capital of the Arab and Islamic world. The visitors were also asked about the books that they were keen to acquire, the role of reading in shaping awareness and positive thoughts in all segments of society, especially among young people, as well as their advice for the new generation.
Asma Al Juwaied, Manager of the Sharjah Press Club, stressed that the Ithmar training programme stems from the priority and importance accorded to young people by the Emirate of Sharjah under His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in order to build and develop creative skills and cognitive abilities of future generations, guiding their professional journey into various sectors, including media.
Al Juwaied pointed out that the media is one of the key pillars of society and sectors that are of critical importance because of their role in building awareness and knowledge. The keenness of the students participating in Ithmar reflects the new generation’s passion for media and it is important to invest in this passion and consolidate the concepts of media education in them, especially in the digital age, she noted stressing the need to employ modern media tools in a way that benefits young people and society.
The Sharjah Press Club has over the past three years managed to build the basic journalistic and media skills of 60 male and female young Emiratis, including the skills needed for print and visual media as well as the techniques of using social media platforms for mobile journalism, said Al Juwaied.
The Sharjah Press Club launched the Ithmar media training programme in 2019 with the aim of consolidating media awareness and concepts of journalistic work in young people, from 10 to 17 years old. The annual training plan includes professional workshops, interactive theoretical and practical training, and field visits to media institutions in cooperation with the leading experts and media organisations.