MOGADISHU, Somalia, 9 August, 2019 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) in partnership with Somali Digital Media Academy (SODMA) on Thursday 8 August 2019 concluded a two-week course on Documentary Video Storytelling in Mogadishu.
The course which benefited 26 journalists from various mediums of the local media contained practical sessions enabling the trainees to produce four short TV documentaries showcased during the closure of the training on Thursday. All four groups who produced the films made brief presentations about stages of their productive work including brainstorming, development and sharing story ideas and the post production activities.
The trainees, who recieved certificates, picked and produced four TV documentaries on the following thematic areas:
1- Young Media trainees
2- Entrepreneurship in poultry
3- Amusements at Lido Beach
4- The vegetable and fruit market in Hamarweyne
Asma Yasin Osman, a camerawoman and producer at Som News TV expressed confidence in getting back to her workstation with additional skills after the two-week training course.
“I am very grateful to the organizers and the trainers- especially Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and SODMA for this great opportunity. As a woman camera operator and producer, today I feel that I have more power and skills to produce my own work,” Asma said during her remarks at the closing day of the training.
Guled Salad, a senior cameraman from Universal TV also highlighted how the training changed his profession adding more expertise to his career.
“I used to work as a cameraman for a long time but what I have learnt here makes my work a quality one,” Guled adds “Now I can initiate the storyline and produce the nicest shots with all angles and thanks to Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Somali Digital Media Academy for allowing me and my colleagues to have this training.”
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The trainer, Abdulkadir Haji Hassan Zubeyr, a professional trainer and camera journalist who works international news media noted the course development during the two weeks training sessions.
“This was on-job training like course where we had the opportunity to attend the class session and then do a practical work outside. Trainees had been given the time, equipment and advice. Today as you see, they have presented their works which makes this course first in its kind,” trainer Zubeyr said.
Abdulrahman Yusuf Hassan, the director of Somali Digital Media Academy (SODMA) has encouraged the trainees to incorporate what they have learned during the two weeks into their daily reporting tasks.
“The number of trainees at a time will always be limited but if you share the lessons you have learnt, that will make a great number of trainees with the same expertise,” director Hassan noted “SODMA thanks Somali Journalists Syndicate ( SJS) and we will continue partnership with them towards enhancing the capacity of our Somali journalists.”
Meanwhile, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) emphasized the objectives of the training course on the documentary storytelling were to change the face of Somali media by training journalists to produce a quality journalism in Somalia.
“When we initiated this training, we knew one thing: journalists who have training will get skills and those who get skills will produce a quality and ethical journalism. That is why we started this training and that is what Somali media and its people need,” Mr. Mumin adds.
The Secretary General further noted that SJS will work tirelessly in reaching to young career journalists who make majority of today’s Somali media personnel.
“Our findings show that about 80% of media personnel in Somalia are young career journalists who brave the dangers only in informing the public, therefore we have decided to reach out to them and educate them.” Mr. Mumin said.
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