Aga Khan University signs training deal

The Aga Khan University on Tuesday signed an agreement with a German academy to improve training for journalists.

The training, to be held at the university’s Graduate School of Media and Communication, will range from one week to a year, depending on the journalists’ needs.

The agreement was signed by the university’s president, Mr Firoz Rasul, and Deutsche Welle Academy Director-General Peter Limbourg in Nairobi.

Mr Rasul said the university was pleased with the deal, which he said will produce world class professionals in media and communication.

He said more than 200 professionals had been trained in the last one year, with a target of 500 by the end of next year.

Mr Limbourg stressed the importance of a free press, saying many people rely on the media for information.

“We are very pleased to join efforts with Aga Khan University. Strengthening human rights through media development is at the core of the undertaking,” he said.

He said his academy has played a key role in training journalists in the Africa for years and will continue to do so.

NEW AREAS

Nation Media Group Editor-in-Chief Tom Mshindi said the initiative will go a long way in improving editing, production and reporting skills.

“We have new areas to report on such as terrorism and the extractive industry and we have to equip our journalists with skills to cover them effectively,” he said.

Mr Mshindi emphasised the need for the media to embrace digital or convergence reporting, saying media outlets not investing in this field were making a huge strategic mistake.

“We will support our staff in getting this training and expect the institutions to support those who are keen to learn,” he said.