Journalism Education in Moldova

1. Journalism Education in Moldova Angela Sirbu, IJC Vitalie Dogaru, IJC/CSAJ Nelly Turcan, MSU Prague, 5 April, 2009

2. Moldova: journlaism education opportunities 2 main types • University degree education • Professionalization programes

3. 1. University degree education • 6 state & private faculties, including one in Tiraspol • long-term – up to 5 years • officialy recognized diplomas • free of change & paid • the oldest - department of journalism and sciences of communication, Moldova State University (DJSC/MSU)

4. Case study 1 Department of Journalism an Communication Sciences, Moldova State University DJCS (MSU)

5. DJCS (MSU) 1 1966 - Faculty of Philology (Journalism Department ) 1980 - Faculty of Journalism 1993 - Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences 4 specialties: Journalism, Public communication Publishing, Library, archive and information assistance.

6. DJCS (MSU) 2 2005/2006 - new model of university training (Bologna Process) Three-degree cycle (Bachelor-Master-PhD) Bachelor- 3 year programme (180 ECTS) - full time studies Master- 2 year programme (120 ECTS) - full time studies Doctorate - 3 year programme (full time), 4 year programme (part time)

7. DJCS (MSU) 3 Major Challenges Has increased practical training – 60% of academic hours Theoretical courses - 40% of hours Internships–17 weeks (510 hours) The number of optional modules has increased - up to 40% of Bachelor curriculum

8. DJCS (MSU) 4 Major Challenges Four directions of specialization: political journalism economical journalism social journalism cultural journalism Journalism Bachelor's degree is designed to give students the skills needed for careers in journalism, broadcasting, reporting, writing and editing

9. DJCS (MSU) 5 Major Challenges Final examinations (two exams – theoretical and practical and Bachelor thesis ) Second exam – “Professional skills in journalism” newspaper (team work) editorial mission (individual) – to provide interview, news, reportage Degree: Bachelor (Licentiate) in Communication Sciences

10. DJCS (MSU) 6 2009/2010 – new programmers for Master degree: Academic Master Programme: Mediology Professional Master Programmes: Media Institution Management International Journalism Analytical Journalism Degree: Masterin Communication Sciences

11. 2. Professionalization • short-term (from few days to 1 year) • who – ngos (Independent Journalism Center, API, APEL, Acces-Info, Center for Young Journalist...) • initiative comes from both the groups and the international organizations • several (2-4) training cources every month • no officialy recognized diplomas • usualy free of charge (exception CSAJ – 1 year program)

12. Case study 2 Chisinau School of Advanced Journalism (CSAJ) • since 2006 • 1 year program • for graduates • up to 20 students/year

13. CSAJ 1 Selection based on: • CV • application form • letter of motivation • 3 journalistic works • 2 letters of recommendation • copy of diploma of undergraduate studies (the final year students submit a certificate) • copy of the national identity card • selection finalize with a written test and an interview

14. CSAJ 2 – applicants/students*political studies, sociology, management, pedagogy, economics, psychology, law etc.

15. CSAJ 3 – Courses (the goal)by local and foreign experts • Introduction to journalism • News & reporting • Editing • Media law • Photojournalism • Visual journalism • Ethics & diversity • On-line journalism & Computer assisted reporting (CAR) • Media & editorial management • Radio & TV journalism • Economic journalism • Political journalism • Social & Community journalism • Investigative journalism • Newsroom & internships

16. CSAJ 4 – results: 35 graduates in 2 years27 employed in the media

17. Need in training1http://ijc.md/Publicatii/Media_Needs_Assessment.pdf

18. Need in training 2http://ijc.md/Publicatii/Media_Needs_Assessment.pdf

19. What journalists want 1http://ijc.md/Publicatii/Media_Needs_Assessment.pdf

20. What journalists want 2http://ijc.md/Publicatii/Media_Needs_Assessment.pdf • online journalism • photo journalism • management • advertising • design • radio journalism • TV journalism

21. Moldova: challengeshttp://ijc.md/Publicatii/Media_Needs_Assessment.pdf LOW PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS: • little practical relevance of university education; • insufficient “on-the-job” training, especially in “beat” reporting; • inadequate media management skills; • poor legal culture; • ignorance about professional ethics and failure to respect its principles.

22. MEDIA TRAINING INSTITUTIONS – recommendationshttp://ijc.md/Publicatii/Media_Needs_Assessment.pdf • closer cooperation between universities and news outlets to reduce the gap between “real-life journalism” and “ivory-tower academia” • university curricula - more practical, hands-on classes, and university radio and TV stations, newspapers… • both academic institutions and mid-career training - more specialty courses (economic and social-issues reporting, investigative journalism, etc) • make media-law courses more efficient • closer cooperation between practicing lawyers, news outlets and academic circles • refresher courses for media-law instructors necessary • courses on media ethics – by both academic and mid-career training institutions; ethics part of other courses (based on relevant case studies)

23. Proposals Research (regional) • interests/goals/needs of journalism training organizations in each country - do they match? what the benefits of cooperation would be? • best practices of collaboration between different media organizations (faculties & ngos)