Journalism Education in Moldova

Angela Sirbu, IJCVitalie Dogaru, IJC/CSAJNelly Turcan, MSU

Prague, 5 April, 2009

Moldova: journlaism education opportunities

2 main types1. University degree education2. Professionalization programes

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)

Case study 1

Department of Journalism an Communication Sciences, Moldova State University DJCS (MSU)

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.

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)

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

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

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

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: Master in Communication Sciences

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)

Case study 2

Chisinau School of Advanced Journalism (CSAJ)

since 2006 1 year program for graduates up to 20 students/year

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

CSAJ 2 – applicants/students

*political studies, sociology, management, pedagogy, economics, psychology, law etc.

Applied Selected

2006 52 19Journalism graduates 16 4

Philology 8 7

Other* 28 8

2007 34 16Journalism graduates 13 3

Philology 6 7

Other* 15 6

2008 39 17Journalism graduates 18 5

Philology 7 3

Other* 14 8

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

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

2006/07 2007/08 Total

News agency 1 1 2

Print media 4 6 10

Radio 2 3 5

TV 7 3 10

Other 5 3 8

35

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

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

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

What journalists want 2http://ijc.md/Publicatii/Media_Needs_Assessment.pdf

online journalism photo journalism management advertising design radio journalism TV journalism

Moldova: challenges http://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.

MEDIA TRAINING INSTITUTIONS – recommendations http://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)

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)