Over twenty media professionals from across the Caribbean were given the opportunity to sharpen their skills and meet new like-minded contacts, after completing the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) International Communications Skills Course last week.
The prestigious UK-funded course, which wrapped up on the evening of Friday 4 March, took participants from Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the CARCIOM Secretariat and the OECS Unit, through the paces of print and digital media best practices for well-rounded media professionals.
Effective writing for print and broadcast media, visual journalism, mastering interviews, podcasting and using digital tools to advance one’s career, were some of the training modules in focus during the comprehensive four-day course.
The UK Government remains committed to improving media freedom at home and abroad. A key part of this commitment is working with partners and allies around the world, to create training opportunities that will help retool members of the media fraternity and empower them to do their jobs even more effectively.
British High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, His Excellency Scott Furssedonn-Wood said:
“I am pleased that the UK could support such talented and committed media professionals across Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and wider region. A strong and free media is fundamental to democracy, and protects and empowers all of our societies.
You should all feel very proud of the crucial role that you play as front-runners in this vital profession. I have no doubt that the certificates you earned recently will continue to serve you well, and give evidence of your commitment to professional development.”
Lead course facilitator of Caroline Black and Associates, Caroline Black said:
“My fellow trainers and I were so impressed by the course participants – what an incredible group of dedicated people. It was a week where everyone shared their experiences, played with new ideas, and had a lively debate about standards of journalism across the world and locally. The long term effect will be even higher quality journalism across the Caribbean.”
Last week’s International Communications Skills Course builds on previous cross-regional media training, which was facilitated by the UK Government prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020.
As we emerge from the pandemic and review how to effectively modify such training opportunities, building capacity across the Caribbean media landscape will continue to be a priority for the UK Government.
Brainwash education to promote the globalist narrative. The gullible will see it as a genuine opportunity.
Journalism is not near what it once was see what happens when one tells the truth these days. Julian Assange for instance.
Dominica included? Colossal waste of resources. Which media outlet(s) represented Dominica? The media entity (ies) that represented Dominica should refund the British Government with immediacy.
Sharpen their skills? What skills those from Dominica have? Its a waste of resources on those from Dominica that it would even be better to let Skerrit, Mills and Christian train them
Look a big waste of time and money, especially for those Red Skerritites that call themselves media professionals. That’s like spending money trying to give goats an education and you know goats will always be goats