15 MAY 2013

Google, in partnership with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the World Bank, organized a two-day Digital Training programme for 25 top social media editors and web journalists from 11 countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Syria, Libya among others. The primary focus was on web tools for better newsgathering and reporting across cultures. The workshop was led by an international team of experts. Over 700 journalists applied for the training programme, which was livestreamed . The sessions took place at the Jordan Media Institute in Amman, which held a similar engagement for its master’s degree students the next day.

Participants also shared cross-cultural insights and experiences, to improve regional cohesion on shared data-driven priorities. Among the participants were journalists from new blogs and mainstream media from the entire Arab World from small to large print, online and broadcast media, all eager to learn how to better use online tools.

"Google supports journalists in the Arab world with training on how to use the internet to tell better informed stories. Today’s journalist in MENA relies on a digital toolbox to find, analyze and share data with the public. Working with the UNAOC and World Bank, the high demand and positive feedback from participants in this programme has demonstrated how the web has become powerful mechanism for information sharing," added Maha Abouelenein, head of communications for Google in the Middle East and North Africa.

The training concluded with a competition of social media strategy project, including one called "from Boston to Baghdad" that looks at citizens’ responses to acts of violence and terror, similarities and common ground to better understand each other.

Follow-up meetings will be organized in the coming months between participants and trainers that will play the role of mentors, to maintain engagement and sustainability of the process.