A new E-Learning platform targetting Egyptian journalists is to be launched on November, said Omar Mostafa, the project developer during a briefing session at Egypt Media forum 2018 on Sunday.
Masar is the first online platform to provide journalists and mass communication students with distance training on enhancing their career. It was initiated by the Danish Egyptian Dialogue Institute (DEDI) Media Club.
“The platform will be the first of its kind in Egypt. It is free of charge for all Egyptian journalists and mass communication students,” Mostafa told Daily News Egypt. He added, “even Egyptians abroad could apply for Masar’s trainings.”
The new platform targets reaching from 400 to 600 trainees in the first year, and will apply cutting-edge technologies and distance learning methods.
“We recruit the best trainers and experts in the journalism profession. Additionally, we offer rich and interactive content including videos and infographics,” Mostafa said.
Furthermore, each trainee is free to decide the training time, and quizzes will be provided for everyone to evaluate their performance and their understanding of the educational training content.
“Trainees will get certificates for each training. We encourage all students and interested journalists who want to improve their skills to apply for Masar’s training series.”
Mostafa highlighted that Masar will solve issues of traditional training that usually require a huge cost to bring trainers, rent places, and other related matters. “The trainee does not have to pay any fees, they just need to have an electronic device,a mobile, a tablet or a laptop and a good internet network,” Mostafa told DNE.
“Masar offers training in data journalism, investigative journalism, and journalism ethics and standards as well as other related topics.”
“Masar is ready to coordinate with media institutions and mass communication faculties to train their journalists and students,” Mostafa emphasised.
“I believe that in time people will realise the benefits of digital and distance training and of course that does not mean it will replace traditional or face-to-face training. However, Masar training has its advantages: it is free, trainers are among the best-qualified experts; it is flexible regarding time and its certificate is credible as it is provided by the DEDI Media Club.”
The Launch of Masar came during the Egypt Media Forum, which was also set in motion by DEDI Media Club, held on the 28th and 29th of October in Cairo. Several Egyptian and foreign speakers and journalists participated, such as Adam Baxter, Ayman Al-Sayyad, Declan Walsh, Amr El Iraqi, Ides Debruyne, Khaled Baramawy and Amina Khairy.
