OSCE-supported Media Training Needs Assessment report for Montenegro presented in Podgorica
At a presentation organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro on 11 February 2020 in Podgorica, participants concluded that establishing a journalism training and research centre in Montenegro would benefit both students and experienced journalists.
A comprehensive assessment report entitled “Media Training Models for practice-oriented journalism education in Montenegro” was presented to the representatives of 12 embassies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro.
The report, commissioned by the Mission in 2019 and conducted by two independent experts, identifies shortcomings in the current educational system for journalists as well as training requirements of media houses in the country.
It was noted that the establishment of any training centre would need the support and involvement of multiple stakeholders, including academia, the media, NGOs, the international community and other relevant bodies.
Isabella Kurkowski, one of the experts preparing the report, highlighted a need for a new institution that can build trust amongst all stakeholders. “Open and inclusive dialogue is key in finding solutions to the problems identified in the needs assessment.” “The report is based on a series of meetings and discussions with journalists, media managers, NGO representatives, scholars, diplomats and governmental institutions on how to strengthen an established approach for training journalists that is coherent and sustainable,” said Kurkowski. Forty-five interviews, with over 200 responses on questionnaires, were conducted with relevant experts in October and November 2019.
Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Maryse Daviet, emphasised that based on the findings of the Needs Assessment, the Mission will only support a training centre that is not created unilaterally but with broad involvement of multiple stakeholders in the process, including academia, media, NGOs, international community, and other relevant bodies.
“The creation of any training centre that is not the result of an open and inclusive dialogue, involving multiple stakeholders in discussions and planning over a prolonged period, will not provide a solution to the problems identified in the needs assessment,” said Daviet.
In 2020, the Mission plans to work with the University of Montenegro, as the central journalism training institution in the country, and other stakeholders on three issues: learn more about Media Training Centres abroad; develop a way forward; and develop a training curriculum for journalism studies.