Yemenis benefited from training when in January 2009 the JTP conducted two concurrent workshops in investigative journalism in Yemen for 20 print and 10 broadcast reporters and editors as a part of a government campaign to combat corruption.

The journalists, from every corner of the country, were selected on the basis of balanced regional representation of the various governorates in keeping with political sensitivities.

The Yemenis, guided by JTP director Magda Abu-Fadil and co-trainer Sanaa El Jack, an editor with the pan-Arab daily “Asharq Al-Awsat,” tackled assignments on a number of subjects especially sensitive in a conservative, patriarchal society—rape, the smuggling of children, the prevalence of arms (increasingly among minors), financial corruption within government ranks, the proliferation of illegal medical centers, negligence in hospitals, the sale of expired medications, torture in prisons, and questionable construction standards.

In a proposal for tackling the issue of child nabbing in Yemen, workshop participants Yehia El Hazzar and Fahd Al Mahyoub wrote, “We aim to familiarize listeners with the danger of this social phenomenon, the reasons behind it, and appropriate solutions to deal with it.”

Kafa Al Hashli, an editor at “Al Ayam” newspaper, investigated the “rape of women by relatives and its social implications,” aiming at “outing” the subject and exposing its detrimental long-term effects on the country. She planned to familiarize Yemeni women in five provinces with their legal and social rights in order to win acceptance of them and their children through civil society organizations.

Web 2.0, audio and video editing, converged content and online media ethics were a few of the topics tackled in a five-day workshop on “Citizen/Online Journalism” that drew eager bloggers seeking to hone their skills in cyber publishing.

“The information was concentrated and important, so I suggest the organization of specialized training in photography, and audio and video editing separately,” said Hasan Al Mustafa a news producer at Lebanon’s LBC Satellite channel.

He was particularly pleased with the hands-on work during the training that allowed participants from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Iraq to set up their own blogs (web logs), shoot digital pictures and video, work with images and understand file resolution, integrate feeds into their blogs, and create multimedia packages for the Web.

“The basic question is how are we going to adapt? My aim is to help you find ways of adapting that work for you,” said trainer Jessica Dheere of the tips and exercises she presented, adding that there was no one way of producing online content, but rather that bloggers could customize it for their individual use.

Dheere reviewed the pros and cons of various blogging platforms and discussed case studies illustrating the magnitude of the impact citizen journalism tools like Facebook, YouTube and other social media were having on the reporting process regionally and globally.

She said mainstream media have often picked up on stories that first appeared in blogs and social media by shedding more light on them through in-depth coverage they would not have otherwise considered.

Mohammad Najm briefed the journalists on Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, tagging and social bookmarking to make their blogs more effective and more widely accessed.

“You’ll see the results as soon as I return to Baghdad,” promised Haidar Fadhel Jouda, whose work for the Iraqi civil society Al Amal organization was undoubtedly enriched by his enthusiasm and speed of learning all the latest citizen journalism techniques.

The workshop July 21-25, 2008 sponsored by the German Heinrich Boll Foundation, grouped 10 journalists representing LBC Sat, Iraqi-Lebanese Al Sumariya TV, Voice of Beirut Radio, pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat, Lebanese business website Nufooz.com, the Iraqi Al Amal organization, Lebanon’s Al Mustaqbal daily, Model Iraqi Youth media, and Saudi Arabia’s Al Riyadh daily.

According to BBC-Brasil.com Lebanon correspondent Tariq Saleh, most major international newspaper websites are providing more tools and multimedia options like video, audio, text and photos so that readers/browsers can have access to full reports.

Most readers browsing journalists’ blogs tend to believe their contents, Saleh said, referring to studies conducted in Brazil and the United States, noting that information available on such sites often surpassed that provided by traditional media.

“As a BBC reporter you don’t just write, you make videos, audio, report for TV, so you need the tools,” Saleh said, demonstrating the equipment he uses for producing his reports for the BBC’s Brazilian audio-visual and online service.

Participants roamed the AUB campus in search of stories, shot footage, took pictures, interviewed summer students and each other, and put together multimedia reports they produced, edited and uploaded onto their blogs as part of group projects that were shown and critiqued on the last day of training.

They were immersed in technical details and provided with tip sheets on the most effective ways of recording sound, holding cameras while shooting video, and linking to relevant websites.

JTP director Magda Abu-Fadil also provided the journalists with a healthy dollop of media ethics in a presentation meant to highlight the pitfalls of speed of online news publishing, questionable sources and unbalanced coverage. Also on tap was a discussion of cyber copyrights.

“When I shared what I’d learned with my colleagues at work, they thought it was very interesting,” said Carole Sabty, an executive producer for highly regarded talk and public affairs programs on LBC’s satellite channel.

She said journalists in Lebanon, particularly at LBC, lacked adequate knowledge and skills in online journalism.

Although well versed in broadcast media, Sabty said 90% of the workshop’s content was new to her while 10% was information she already knew but that needed updating. “I hope the next workshop focuses on ‘one-man show (TV) reporters’,” Sabty added.

Fifteen executives in print, broadcast and online outlets from across Iraq could not get enough of a three-day “Media Management” workshop organized by the Journalism Training Program (JTP) at the American University of Beirut and urged organizers to plan for follow-up events.

“The workshop was very useful and of great strategic importance but too short and requires a longer stretch,” said Wahd Ibrahim Mutlaq of Basra’s “Shanatel” AM Radio.

Marketing and communications expert Paul Boulos introduced participants to the Arab media landscape, reviewed regional and international media trends, spoke of global best practices, focused on consumer research and market analysis, highlighted the importance of building brands across platforms and zeroed in on how to cope with the digital world of multimedia.

”It was very positive and provided us with ample information, notably since we’re still learning to cope with free media in Iraq,” commented Mutammam Mohammad Ali of “Al Iraqiyya” TV.

Editor Nadia Hashem of the “National Media Center” said she wished the workshop had lasted up to 12 days, while Taleb Hanoweet of “Al Sabah” newspaper wished the workshop had focused more on Iraq’s current media landscape.

Overall, the participants recognized their need for more workshops and that Iraqi media lacked adequate training in how to manage their respective organizations.

The intensive course June 30-July 2, 2008 involved presentations, team projects and issues of leadership. It was funded by “Support for Independent Media in Iraq (SIMI).

The participants represented SIMI, “Al Mahaba” FM radio, “Al Hurriya” satellite TV, the National Media Center, “Al Furat TV,” “Noa” Radio, “Baghdad” satellite TV, “Al Hura” TV, “Al Takhayul” Media, “Shanatel” Radio, “Al Iraqiya” TV  and “Al Sabah” newspaper.

Trainer Boulos who spent years as an executive at the international advertising agency Leo Burnett and LBCI TV, founded his own consulting company, “Square One” and doubles as Middle East/North Africa business development director of “Drive Communication.”

The Journalism Training Program (JTP) attracted NGO members, government officials and journalists to two workshops it conducted on public health-related issues.

The first training course on Communications/Media Crisis Management drew participants from Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Affairs, the Hariri Foundation, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and the Population and Development Strategies Project.

JTP director Magda Abu-Fadil briefed trainees during the three-day event on how to deal with the media, how to cultivate contacts, pitching stories, preparing news releases for print, broadcast and online media, setting up a digital newsroom, the role of spokespeople, media ethics, visual identity and one’s corporate image.

The second workshop on Public Health Coverage helped 15 journalists better understand health matters by focusing on health programs and who runs them, identifying local/regional/international health organizations, media ethics in covering health issues, media’s role to report or advocate health matters, medical jargon, interviewing health officials, information gathering, contact lists, covering emergencies and safety for journalists.

Journalists from Lebanon’s “Tele-Liban,” “OTV,” “Al Hayat-LBC,” “Future TV,” “New TV,” “Al Manar TV,” “Radio Free Lebanon,” dailies “Assafir,” “Sada Al Balad,” “Nahar Ashabab” and “Annajat Magazine” bombarded Health Ministry spokesman Mohammad Yassine with questions on tackling emergencies and official dissemination of information.

“A very useful and effective experience that’s provided me with skills and a new way of dealing with the subject and that will undoubtedly benefit me professionally,” said Adelle Tohme, a producer for “Future TV’s” talk show “Sireh we infathet.”

Social Affairs Ministry expert Joumana Kadi spoke of the need to educate the media and society at large about reproductive health.

The daily “Sada Al Balad’s” Ali Hallawi said the workshop opened a new area for him to pursue research and write on topics that would serve society.

Both workshops, March 3-5 and March 12-14, were conducted in cooperation with AUB’s Faculty of Health Sciences.

Sixteen Arab reporters and editors delved into the intricacies of a four-day “Elections Coverage” workshop conducted by the Journalism Training Program in a bid to improve their skills in questioning candidates, tracking polls, monitoring legislation, observing vote counting, eyeing funding and maintaining ethical standards.

“The workshop enriched our experience and introduced us to colleagues from Arab countries,” said Ittihad Darwish, a legislative reporter for Lebanon’s state-run “National News Agency,” adding that she hoped more such workshops would be available to journalists.

JTP, which partnered with funder “IFES” February 5-8, 2008 drew enthusiastic journalists from Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Tunisia who were briefed by Dr. Arda Ekmekji, Haigazian University’s Arts & Sciences dean, who served on Lebanon’s Boutros Commission that is proposing new electoral legislation.

Also on hand were “UPI” Middle East bureau chief Dalal Saoud, “Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections” expert Yara Nassar, pollster Jawad Adra, “Asharq Al-Awsat” editor Sanaa El Jack, “IFES” researcher Chantal Sarkis Hanna, AUB professor Nabil Dajani and JTP director Magda Abu-Fadil.

“I am now aware that one’s voting right in secret is a holy right,” wrote Norma Khansa of “Middle East Reporter” in her post-workshop evaluation. Participants had been briefed on the importance of balloting secrecy and the need for elections to be conducted in an atmosphere of safety for all involved.

Participants represented Lebanon’s “National News Agency,” Lebanese dailies “Al Mustaqbal,” “Sada Al Balad” and “Al Sharq,” newsletter “Middle East Reporter,” magazine “Al Shiraa,” pan-Arab daily “Al Hayat,” Iraq’s “Al Iraqiyya” satellite channel, Saudi Arabia’s “Al Iktissadiyya” newspaper, “Monte Carlo Radio” in Riyadh, the “Kuwait News Agency,” and “Media Sat 1” TV of Morocco.

“A good, concentrated and brief workshop during which I learned a lot,” said Tunisian newsman Makki Helal. “I hope it is reflected in my future coverage.”

“IFES’” Lebanon representative Richard Chambers said: “This kind of workshop provides a timely opportunity for journalists to share best practices and to learn more about what constitutes a democratic election process.”

The workshop is part of “IFES’” electoral reform project in Lebanon and is funded by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. “IFES” was formerly known by its full name, the “International Foundation for Election Systems.”

Magda Abu-Fadil trains future investigative journalists

An investigative journalism workshop aimed at promoting a culture of accountability and media’s watchdog role grouped young reporters from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Jordan who kicked off a series of training courses at AUB.

Sanaa Diab of Lebanon’s “Al Balad” daily said: “This workshop demonstrated what real professional journalism means.”

The July 23-27, 2007 course organized by AUB’s Journalism Training Program (JTP) and funded by the Dutch Embassy in Lebanon introduced junior reporters to definitions of the genre, duties and responsibilities of investigative journalists, obstacles and legal limits to this type of reporting, ethics, ideas for reports and how to dig for information.

Elections coverage trainer Sanaa El Jack

“The workshop was a launching pad and opening to a wide and interesting area…I enjoyed delving into investigative reports and realize how much I’ve missed so far in my career,” said Mirna Seif of Lebanon’s “LBC” TV.

The reporters hailed from Lebanese dailies “Assafir” and “Al Balad,” pan-Arab dailies “Asharq Al-Awsat” and “Al Hayat,” the UAE’s “Al Imarat al Youm,” Lebanese “Al Shiraa” weekly, Lebanese monthly “Le Commerce du Levant,” “Laha” magazine, Lebanon’s “LBCI TV,” Iraq’s “Al-Soumariya TV” and “Elaph” website.

The second workshop August 27-30 focused on elections coverage, grouping reporters from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Lebanon and Iraq representing “LBCI TV,” “Al Soumariya TV,” Bahrain’s “Al Waqt” newspaper, Lebanon’s “Assafir” daily, Iraq’s “Al Taakhi” daily, Iraq’s “Al Iraqiya TV,” Lebanon’s “National News Agency,” and Saudi Arabia’s “Al Madina” daily.

Anwar Al Hamadani of “Al Soumariya” TV said: “The workshop was important for Arab, and particularly Iraqi, journalists.”

The third course September 18-20 was aimed at war coverage/safety for journalists and featured former CNN chief news executive and president of newsgathering Eason Jordan.

Former CNN news chief Eason Jordan on war coverage, safety for journalists

The training involved basic rules about dangerous assignments, recognizing danger and weapons, health and safety precautions, accidents, first aid tips and medical aid, bodyguards, escorts, translators and fixers, safety equipment and gear and dealing with civil unrest.

Trainees also learned about the risks involved in embedding with regular and irregular combat troops, coverage of children and families in conflicts, media ethics in war situations and the role of humanitarian organizations and NGOs in wars.

The first-ever such workshop in Lebanon grouped reporters from Lebanon, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia representing “Al Jazeera.net,” of Qatar, Lebanon’s “National News Agency,” Lebanese dailies “An-Nahar,” “Assafir,” “Al Balad,” and “L’Orient-Le Jour,” pan-Arab dailies “Asharq Al-Awsat,” and “Al Hayat,” “Al Arabiya.net,” Iraq’s “Al Soumariya TV,” Iraqi daily “Al Taakhi,” and U.S. Government-funded “Al Hurra TV” and “Radio Sawa.”

The fourth workshop, on newsroom management, targeted mid-to-upper-level decision makers in print, broadcast and online media with participants from Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia representing Lebanon’s “LBCI TV,” “Future TV” and “Tele-Liban,” U.S.-funded “Al Hurra TV,” “Dubai TV,” Lebanese website “Now Lebanon,” Iraq’s “Al Soumariya TV,” as well as “Assafir,” “Al Taakhi,” “Asharq Al-Awsat,” “Middle East Reporter,” “IREX,” Sudan’s “Al Ahdath daily,” “Greenpeace” and AUB’s Information and Public Relations Office.

Keen reporters from Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine added to the (JTP) earlier momentum during a workshop on how to cover the environment and health matters.

The five-day mini-course featured AUB’s Faculty of Health Sciences Professor Iman Nuwayhid who engaged participants in definitions of environmental health and involved them in practical exercises.

“The workshop provided us with a clear picture about pressing environmental issues,” said “Assafir” reporter Khaldoun Zeineddine.

Ministry of the Environment Director General Berj Hatjian tackled the government’s perspective and legislative concerns, while managing editor Raghida Haddad of “Al Bia’ wal Tanmia” (Environment and Development) magazine focused on methods of reporting environmental and health topics, using case studies from her publication.

“This workshop added new information that’s essential to every journalist’s work,” said Rania Nader of “Sada Al Balad” newspaper.

Health in complex emergencies was the topic of a presentation by Dr. Muna Khalidi during the November 26-30 workshop. Her presentation was validated in footage of environmental field coverage by veteran “LBCI TV” senior correspondent Tania Mehanna, notably during Israel’s July 2006 war on Lebanon.

Driving the point further was Ghalia Fayad, from her perspective as an activist for the NGO “Greenpeace”, who spoke on advocacy for the environment and how her organization attracts media attention regionally and worldwide.

“This was a new experience for me and equipped me with invaluable information on environmental problems,” commented Zahida Bader of “Palestine TV.”

Dr. Najib Nimah, a public health physician and expert, went through a detailed presentation and discussion of safety for journalists in times of complex emergencies and environmental disasters. His background in the field was added value to the workshop.

Not to be overlooked was the issue of media ethics in coverage of the environment, disasters and emergencies, emphasized in a session by JTP director Magda Abu-Fadil.

Adding depth to the workshop’s content was a documentary film produced by the “World Conservation Union” on the oil spill in Lebanon caused by the July 2006 war. “Union” representative Hala Kilani discussed production of the film and its impact in raising awareness about the disaster’s consequences.

Videos on global warming, protection of the earth’s ozone layer, conservation, desertification and reforestation, and, endangered species added dynamism to the course, as did writing exercises for the journalists from Lebanon’s “An-Nahar,” “Assafir,” “Sada Al Balad,” “Al Akhbar” newspapers, “Al Hayat-LBC TV,” “United Press International,” “Asharq Al-Awsat” daily, “Al Mirbad” radio in Iraq and “Palestine TV.”

Another hot topic drew print, broadcast and new media reporters from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Iraq to a five-day workshop on citizen/online journalism. Web and new media experts Jessica Dheere and Karina Rodriguez guided participants who took to blogging and cyber publishing like fish to water.

“I’d like to request supplementary workshops to follow up on the subject,” said Iraqi journalist/trainer Ubaidallah Hirory, adding that participants should create a database for further exchanges of information and experiences in cyberspace.

Participants represented “Al Hayat-LBC TV,” “Al Mustaqbal” daily, “Menassat” website, “Greenpeace” website, “Al Nour” radio, “The Middle East Reporter,” “Sada Al Balad” daily, “IREX Iraq,” Iraqi newspaper “Al Riyadh Al Jadid” and “Al Mirbad” radio and TV in Iraq.

They created a class blog – short for web log – as well as individual blogs on which they posted daily content produced during the workshop.

“We need an advanced level (workshop) in online journalism,” said reporter and fledgling blogger Norma Khansa who reveled in the ability to create and produce her own online content.

The training December 3-7 involved writing, photo, audio and video editing and production, linking to other sites, online ethics, podcasting, RSS feeds, packaging stories for multimedia and different platforms, and presentations of the final products.

Hadi Abdel Ghaffar of “Al Nour” radio said each of the workshop session topics merited a separate and specialized course. He also urged organizers to provide faster and more accessible Internet service to maximize journalists’ efforts.

The environment and online journalism workshops were the fifth and sixth in a series sponsored by the Dutch Embassy in Lebanon.