‘ITHMAR’ AIMED AT IDENTIFYING PROMISING MEDIA TALENT AND ENCOURAGING YOUTH TO CHOOSE JOURNALISM AS A CAREER
The Sharjah Press Club of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau organised, from June 29 to 30 a series of training workshops at Al Majaz Amphitheatre as part of the fourth edition of the "Ithmar" media training programme for young people, in partnership with the Job Shadow Programme, of the Sharjah Government with the participation of 23 male and female students.
The workshops focused on a number of aspects of journalistic and media work, through training courses to enhance and refine the skills and media aptitude of young people.
Asma Al Juwaied, Manager of the Sharjah Press Club, reviewed the goals and objectives of the "Ithmar" initiative and its future agenda, stressing the Club's keenness to promote and spread media culture in young people and motivate them to join journalism and media professions. The Ithmar programme aims to build media competencies and encourage young people to choose media as a career in accordance with the guidelines and directives of the Emirate’s visionary leadership, she added.
Al Juwaied said: “The Ithmar program is one of Sharjah Press Club’s flagship initiatives, aimed at identifying and grooming promising media talents from the younger generation between the ages of 10 and 17 through an interactive approach that mixes training and knowledge with fun. The current version of the programme is unique, as a result of our partnership with the Job Shadow Programme, which represents a qualitative addition to the initiative, and raises the quality of the materials provided to young trainees.”
Aisha Al Kaabi, an executive at the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, presented an overview of the Job Shadow Programme and its objectives and various modules of training expressing confidence that the programme would help in enhancing and developing the skills of the participants. It is conducted and supervised by a group of specialists and experienced members of the SGMB staff, to share their years of media experience and insights with the participating students.
Hussain Al Mulla from the SGMB presented a workshop on the media presentation skills and commentary focusing on the differences between television and radio broadcast mechanisms using various tools and methods according to the different texts and content of the media material. He also touched on the method of recording and delivery of videos as well as presentation and delivery in front of the camera in the studio underlining the importance of mastering language skills in radio broadcasting.
Matar Al Hosani from the SGMB presented a training workshop titled "Using Smartphone for Media Coverage", during which he discussed the best ways and techniques of reporting live on a smartphone or shooting videos and pictures for media coverage.
The "Talents Cinema" section showcased the progressive observations of the participants' talents, and the mistakes they made.
The training sessions also included a field visit to the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority building, with the aim of acquiring practical experience and learning on the job how television programmes are made, news is presented and broadcasters prepare for their programmes.
It is worth noting that this is the fourth edition of the Ithmar programme by the SPC. The programme which has been receiving huge response from school students who have a passion for media. The programme targets students between 10 and 17 years old, and is organised in cooperation with many partners and senior media professionals and journalists.