Media Development Center Celebrates ‘Anti-Corruption Reporters’ Project

On November 13, 2013, the Birzeit University Media Development Center celebrated the conclusion of the project "Anti-Corruption Reporters," which was implemented in partnership with the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate and the Ministry of Justice.
Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Rafiq Natshe, Birzeit University Vice President for Community Outreach Samia Hlaileh, President of the Journalists’ Syndicate Abdel Nasser Najjar, Faculty of Arts Dean Mehdi Arar and Media Development Center Director Nibal Thawabteh all attended the event.
Thawabteh emphasized the cooperation that led to successful completion of the project, which included five courses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that aimed at providing journalists with the knowledge and skills required in facing corruption. The project activities also included training on how to report on anti-corruption issues, in addition to training media officials in government institutions on media spokesperson skills in the digital age.
In response to the demand for internal regulations that enable journalists to access information, Natshe said that the commission will be ratifying the law related to the right to access information within the government legislative plan and that the commission will deal with all journalistic investigations that disclose corruption as reporting on possible corruption.
Faculty of Arts Dean Mehdi Arar told attendees that student’s academic journey begins with a focus on commitment to ethics and scientific integrity, as well as the adoption of a scientific research approach – the same skills needed by every successful journalist.