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Journalists enhance skills in basic journalism training |19 September 2019

Journalists enhance skills in basic journalism training

Mr Pinault conducting the training session yesterday

Eleven journalists from local media houses have since yesterday been enhancing their knowledge in a three-day basic journalism writing skills training, which is being held at the Citizens Education Platform Seychelles conference room, Orion Mall.

The training has been organised by the United States embassy based in Mauritius in collaboration with the Association of Media Practitioners of Seychelles (AMPS) and is being conducted by Franco-American digital media developer and trainer, Nicolas Pinault.

The training was launched by the US deputy ambassador, Judes DeBaeres, in the presence of AMPS chairman Rassin Vanier and other officials from the US embassy.

In her address to journalists attending the training, deputy Ms DeBaeres said the American people believe that a strong journalism core is beneficial to the country and that journalists bring useful information for people to use and also keep the authorities among others, accountable.

She said she hopes that with additional techniques and skills to be acquired, it will further add to the pride that media outlets in the country bring to viewers in Seychelles and also overseas.

Ms DeBaeres also took the opportunity to hand over to Mr Vanier some journalism resource materials for the media association

“We believe that training should be continuous and that this partnership with the Association of Media Practitioners of Seychelles has been a fruitful one and will continue to be a fruitful one,” she said.

Talking to the press, the public affairs officer at the US embassy, Nicolas Von Mertens, said that the United States government is very keen to help journalists in Seychelles to develop their skills as they provide incredible support to democracy.

“It’s vital for the country to have accurate information to understand what the government, the civil society and what the businesses are doing. And so journalists are a vital link to providing that information to citizens and it is important that their reporting is accurate and for that they have to be well-trained,” said Mr Von Mertens.

As for Mr Pinault, he said that with the reader’s attention being on the decline throughout the world, journalists need to come straight to the point.

He noted that to catch the attention of the readers, especially those online moving from one topic to another, it is important to give the important information right at the beginning of articles.

Nelson Esparon of Today in Seychelles said that as a learning journalist, the training has been very informative, while also acknowledging the lack of journalism training.

He said it is a commendable and welcome initiative that will help to enhance the way journalists report on the news.

AMPS spokesperson Tessa Henderson said the association has since 2014 been putting emphasis on providing training for journalists. She noted that it is important for journalists to be well trained in view of new developments happening in society and so it is important for journalist to keep abreast of what is happening.

As these sessions are always attended by few media practitioners, Ms Henderson took the opportunity to appeal to journalists to take the opportunities when they arise to further enhance their knowledge and to learn new skills so as to help them better deliver their work.

This is the second media training the US embassy has conducted in collaboration with AMPS for Seychellois journalists.

The training session continues today and will end tomorrow.

 

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