Ramallah - 28th august 2013:, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) wrapped up a three day training course for media students at the University of Jerusalem, the course included training on freedom of expression and opinion, media laws, and the optimal use of social media.
The course began last Sunday 25th August 2013. Mr Jihad Harb (Trainer) spoke about human rights and freedom of opinion and expression in the local and international conventions, and touched on the articles that ensure citizens right to freedom of opinion and expression, both in the Palestinian Basic law and in the Press and Publication Law, in addition Harb spoke about the restrictions set by the law on this right and compared the extent of local laws being in line with international standards.
The second day of the course was allocated to train the students on the right to access information law, specifically the principles set by the Article19 organization in this regard. Mr. Mohamed Abu Arqoub (Trainer) spoke about the " law draft" suggestion, submitted by MADA to the Legal Department of the Council of Ministers, and the importance of the enactment of the access to information law to the whole Palestinian society.
The third and final day of the course was allocated for journalists’ optimal use of social media, and how to launch press releases via these platforms. Also a discussion and debate about the limits of using social media, its cons and pros for journalists was conducted. Mr. Mahmoud Hreibat (trainer) gave students tips on how to start their journalism career through these platforms.
At the end of the course students expressed how they are happy they participated and that they benefited, especially since the topics discussed during the sessions were new to them and important for their journalistic work in the future, and they thanked MADA for organizing this course.
It is worth mentioning that this session, which was supervised by the public relations coordinator at MADA Mrs. Riham Abu Aita, was organized as part of the project "Strengthening freedom of opinion and expression among university students", funded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). MADA will hold similar courses in many other Palestinian universities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
