Composed of university lecturers and educational film producers, the group was following an intensive timetable of lectures, discussions, study tours, observation visits and project output. MCTC Deputy Director and Workshop Director, Hava Karrie, explained: “Communication for Development looks at the centrality of the media in causing social change and the ways in which journalists have the power to make changes for the good of society. It explores how items may be placed on the political agenda and how the public can become better informed through the media. The depth of experience and variety of backgrounds of our participants is resulting in highly stimulating group discussions.”

Yossi Bar, General Manager of Beit Miller, the Center for Advancement of Co-existence between Arabs and Jews, in Haifa, gave the group a conducted tour of the Community Media Center, where they saw Arab and Jewish youngsters working together on all aspects of filmmaking. Other visits took place to national TV and radio studios and newspaper offices.

As their projects, Workshop participants worked on investigative exposés of social issues relevant to their countries – aimed at the enlightened public.

According to all involved, the Workshop has been very successful and the resulting ripples, when the trainers return home and pass on their knowledge, should certainly reinforce this impression.