Media Development Center develops new course in cultural journalism

Birzeit University’s Media Development Center created a new course in cultural journalism in partnership with representatives from Palestinian universities and colleges that offer bachelor’s and diploma degrees in journalism and media studies. Its syllabus will convey the journalistic competence and key qualifications required to work in many fields.

With Birzeit University having funded the efforts of developing the new course, president Abdullatif Abuhijleh reaffirmed the university’s commitment to adopting an academically rigorous approach in teaching disciplines that are in high demand in the local market. According to Abuhijleh, the study of cultural forms and practices best serves the cultural industry’s complex structures.

Developing the course were representatives from 18 Palestinian universities and colleges. They focused on two pillars: exploring creative media niches and raising awareness on the importance of cultural journalism.

The authors of the course include thirteen novelists, authors, artists and cinematics whose contributions cover the following topics: Liana Bader on narrative-style coverage in cultural journalism, Saleh Masharqa on the art of journalism,  Waleed Al Sheikh on journalism and poetry criticism, Fathi Abdel Rahman on theatre and journalism, Munther Jawabra on media coverage of fine arts, Imad Hajjaj on caricature art, Osama Ayaseh on the importance of “place” in journalism, Khalid Joma’  on children’s literature, Mahasen Naser Eldein on the media coverage of films and cinema, George Khleifi on the media coverage of documentaries, Aref Hijjawi on media coverage and the analysis of music and songs, Noora Baker and Anas Abu Oun on art and folklore, and Yousri Darwish on cultural management.

Salika Al Qadi (University of Hebron), Ghassan Harb (Al Aqsa University), Inam Obeidi (Birzeit University) and Said Abu Ma’la (the American University of Jenin) evaluated the course; Saleh Masharqa was responsible for editing and Khalid Saleem for proofreading.

The electronic version of the course is available in Arabic at https://bit.ly/33FO6na.

Over the past five years, the Media Development Center has developed the courses Media and Gender (2015), Media and Law (2016), Media Ethics (2017), and Economic Journalism (2020).  Currently, the center is preparing to develop a course in investigative journalism in partnership with the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity–AMAN.