Caribbean consultation on UNESCO Model Journalism Curricula
30-09-2008 (Kingston)
Model Journalism Curricula cover
© UNESCO
A three-day regional consultation to examine the Model Journalism Curricula prepared by UNESCO will take place at the PomMarine Hotel, Hastings Christ Church, Barbados, from 1 to 3 October 2008.
The consultation is being sponsored by UNESCO and the Barbados Community College in collaboration with the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC).
The main objectives of the consultation are to examine the current status of journalism education in the Caribbean, analyse and discuss the model curricula and to explore the possibility of adoption or adaptation of the Model Curricula by colleges and universities in the region.
Senator Maxine McClean, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony while Kwame Boafo, Director of the UNESCO Office in Kingston, will deliver a message on behalf of UNESCO.
The consultation is a follow up action to the recently held Caribbean Media and Communication Conference 2008 held in Guyana in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day. During this conference, the importance of journalism education to media development, development media, freedom of the press/freedom of expression and the need for harmonisation of journalism education curricula in the region were highlighted. Participants will include journalism educators, media professionals, government officials and students.
As the lead UN agency in promoting freedom of expression and access to information and knowledge, UNESCO has taken various initiatives to improve the quality of journalism education worldwide. In December 2005, in response to numerous requests from Member States for help in the design of journalism education curricula, UNESCO convened an experts’ consultative meeting in Paris. Major outputs of the consultation were the identification of courses, which should be included in a journalism curriculum.
Regional consultations on these curricula have so far been held in Hyderabad, India, and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
The main objectives of the consultation are to examine the current status of journalism education in the Caribbean, analyse and discuss the model curricula and to explore the possibility of adoption or adaptation of the Model Curricula by colleges and universities in the region.
Senator Maxine McClean, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony while Kwame Boafo, Director of the UNESCO Office in Kingston, will deliver a message on behalf of UNESCO.
The consultation is a follow up action to the recently held Caribbean Media and Communication Conference 2008 held in Guyana in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day. During this conference, the importance of journalism education to media development, development media, freedom of the press/freedom of expression and the need for harmonisation of journalism education curricula in the region were highlighted. Participants will include journalism educators, media professionals, government officials and students.
As the lead UN agency in promoting freedom of expression and access to information and knowledge, UNESCO has taken various initiatives to improve the quality of journalism education worldwide. In December 2005, in response to numerous requests from Member States for help in the design of journalism education curricula, UNESCO convened an experts’ consultative meeting in Paris. Major outputs of the consultation were the identification of courses, which should be included in a journalism curriculum.
Regional consultations on these curricula have so far been held in Hyderabad, India, and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Related themes/countries
· Latin America/Caribbean
· Barbados
· Training of Media Professionals
Share this story:
Contact information
-
Contact
- Alton Grizzle, UNESCO Office in Kingston
- Isidro Fernandez-Aballi, UNESCO Office in Kingston
- Hara Padhy, UNESCO, Communication Development Division
- UNESCO
Source
- UNESCO Office in Kingston
Field office