Bahrain promising regional media training hub

Manama, Oct. 21 (BNA): Information and Parliament Affairs Minister Isa bin Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi underscored ongoing organisation of training programmes to boost professional competence of the media staff and tap on their potentials in projecting Bahrain's achievements brought about by the reform project of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He was speaking as he inaugurated today the Comprehensive Training Programme, launched in collaboration with the Journalists' Professional Training Centre (CFPJ), the National Audiovisual Institute (INA) and the Royal University for Women (RUW), and support of Tamkeen and the Bahrain Development Bank. The inauguration ceremony was held at the Information Affairs Authority premises, in the presence of Tamkeen Board Chairman and Acting Chief Executive Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, RUW President Dr. Mazen Juma'a and France's Cultural Attache to Bahrain Dominique Chastres. The minister expressed delight at the inauguration of the integrated and comprehensive programme to groom Bahraini press and media competencies so as to obtain the professional certificate in activation of the two memoranda of understanding he had signed with the French side on the sidelines of HM King Hamad's visit to France last September. The two MoUs were also concluded in line with the Information Affairs Ministry's keenness to enhance cooperation with national institutions and prestigious international media training and development centres and institutes, he said. Under the two agreements, the RUW will launch, in cooperation with CFPJ and INA, two joint training programmes to grant the professional certificate for many Bahraini journalists, media personnel and graduates, he added. Al-Hammadi explained that the first programme, held in cooperation with CFPJ, will grant the professional certificate in multi-media journalism for 24 journalists and media persons, divided into two groups. Under the programme, trainees will acquire the skills of writing field reports, and others related to radio, television and electronic press. Meanwhile, 32 journalists and media persons, divided into four groups, will benefit from the second programme aiming to grant the professional certificate in the "production of news reports". Beneficiaries of the second programme, organised in cooperation with INA, will acquire the skills required for preparing news programmes, as well as sound and lighting techniques, narrative style and direct interviews. The minister expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to the RUW for its efforts to implement the two MoUs. He also paid tribute to Tamkeen, the Bahrain Development Bank and the French Embassy in Bahrain for their constant support to human resources development and rehabilitation programmes. He affirmed that such training programmes are part of a long term ambitious project to make Bahrain a promising and influential regional centre for training in the information and communication sector.