Journalists foster community engagement in second solutions journalism workshop in Gaza

Sixteen journalists and reporters in Gaza discussed how to better engage with their audiences, create constructive content, and empower the public in a solutions journalism workshop organized by Birzeit University’s Media Development Center together with CFI, the French media development agency, on Thursday, August 5, 2021. 

Led by Fathi Sabbah and Mohammad Al-Baaz, in Gaza, and Saleh Masharqeh and Khalid Saleem, through videoconference technology, the workshop focused on how the participants can create engaging content that encourages effective responses to societal issues in the Palestinian community and how to transfer these skills to new and veteran reporters alike.

In their talks, the presenters discussed how to search for success stories that can promote effective citizenship and present them in an attractive, relatable format supported by well-researched facts. Additionally, the presenters explored with the participants ways of integrating solutions journalism in Palestinian newsrooms along with other forms of reporting. 

Nibal Thawabteh, director of the Media Development Center, said that the 30-hour workshop is part of the center’s ongoing partnership with CFI and various Palestinian private and public media institutions to create a set of guidelines and recommendations on how local news media can play a more pivotal role in promoting meaningful approaches to community challenges.

Ruba Kaileh, who serves as coordinator of the solutions journalism project at the Media Development Center, said that the workshop is the second of two originally planned as part of the program. The first workshop, she added, was held in April in the West Bank with 11 participants from public and private media organizations.