Forsa Campaign discusses National Media Development outcomes at the Palestine Technical University

The Media Development Center (MDC) at Birzeit University, in cooperation with the Palestine Technical University - Kadoorie and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, organized a public lecture on the Forsa Campaign and the National Media Development Initiative outcomes.

The lecture, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), was attended by dozens of students and faculty members from the Palestine Technical University, the Arab American University, and An-Najah National University.

Dean of the Sciences and Literature Faculty at the Palestine Technical University Dr. Rabab Jarrar welcomed academicians and students and said that the university is interested in all initiatives which aim to develop the national media and young journalists.

MDC Director Nibal Thawabteh noted that the activity is part of the Forsa Campaign and aims to “bolster cooperation and the collaborative efforts between Palestinian universities.” Thawabteh added that the lecture is a chance to introduce academicians and media students to the Forsa Campaign and the outcomes of the National Media Development Initiative.

“The campaign is aimed at the government, universities, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, and media organizations. But the campaign, at its core, is aimed at media students, who form the basis for the future of media in Palestine. This is what the campaign is striving to guarantee with its various outcomes, which aim to improve and develop media work for a better media future. The campaign was implemented in a collaborative, cooperative fashion, with over 85 institutions and partners from all sectors, including 16 universities and colleges from the West Bank and Gaza,” said Thawabteh.

Palestinian Journalists Syndicate Representative Ja’far Ishtayeh detailed the syndicate’s active role in the campaign and the initiative and noted the syndicate’s emphasis on joint effort at all levels to develop the national media.

Director of Media Technology at the Palestine Technical University Dr. Mohammad Ishtewei highlighted the university’s active engagement with the campaign and the initiative, noting their great importance in developing media and supplementing the national media library with joint national innovations and contributions.

MDC Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator Emad Alasfr presented the outcomes of the National Initiative for Media Development and its nine key points, which are: Legal Reformation, Academic Development, Gender Equality, Self-Regulation, Public Media, Media Training, Media and the Community, Infrastructure, and Job Safety.

MDC Academic Development Coordinator Saleh Masharqeh reviewed three courses: Media and the Law, Media Ethics, and Gender Equality, and explained the justifications for incorporating these courses into academic programs.  

Masharqeh highlighted the importance of these courses for university students and the additions that they make to the students’ legal knowledge and journalism ethics, which prevent mistakes from happening, change the stereotypical images found in media, and combat discrimination between men and women.

Dr. Hanadi Dwekat, a professor at An-Najah National University, briefly outlined the initiative and the Forsa Campaign and gave the floor to students and faculty members for discussion.