For the first time in Georgia 6 universities will soon offer specialized courses on agricultural journalism.
The universities in Batumi, Kutaisi, Gori, Telavi, Akhaltcikhe and Caucasus International Universities in Tbilisi who already offer academic programmes on journalism, mass communications and agricultural education will now add agro journalism. The course prospective tutors have just had Training of Trainers for two days.
Follow the link of Imedi TV news on the event http://imedi.ge
Head of the Department of Journalism Caucasus International University in Tbilisi Nino Chalaganidze stated:
“Journalism departments have talked about developing sector specific journalism leading to the creation of qualified media professionals for years. The Journalist Resource Centre (JRC) and Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters (GRMA) have now started the development of agro journalism facilitated by Mercy Corps ALCP programme funded by SDC. Today we had a discussion regarding the integration of a new agro-journalism module and amendments in the electronic manuals and curricula. The CIU Journalism Program has positively assessed the work done”-she said
The new course will last one semester with a total 15 credit hours. The first to start the course will be Gori’s State University which will start from February. The others will start from September, 2016.
Heather Briggs, agronomist, agro-consultant on plant productivity, international expert on cheese and journalist visited Tbilisi to hold the training for agro-journalists last week. "Batumelebi" newspaper interviewed her.
For the first time in Georgia a training on agro journalism was conducted for media representatives wishing to report specifically on rural issues and news. The main purpose of the training was to fill knowledge gaps of media practitioners in crops, livestock husbandry and agriculture management and to introduce the basics of agro journalism. Heather Briggs, an international expert and member of British Guild of Agricultural Journalists - was invited to lead a 5 day training from January 26th to February 2nd. About 50 representatives of regional, national broadcasters and printed media participated in the event. The training was organized by the Georgian Regional Media Association and facilitated by the Alliances Lesser Caucasus Programme.
By Helen Bradbury: Team Leader, Alliances Lesser Caucasus Programme
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