The NEPMCC training seminar excels journalistic dynamism

By Muhammad Ali Bukhari, a member of the NEPMCC from Toronto

AS rapid changes taking place in journalism, one may wonder whether or not journalism undergraduate and graduate programs are keeping pace? Can you really pick up what you learn in a year of Journalism School in a month on the job? If you have a journalism degree, what are you doing to stay current?
In that perspective, a frequent and update education and knowledge is important. That is what I believe as being immigrated to Canada as News Editor under Canadian Government’s Skilled Immigration Program.
However, there is no problem with journalism, nor its course and structure or degrees. There exists a tremendous ambiguity on what constitutes a formal degree in journalism, whether it is the ‘pure theoretical analysis’ or ‘completely hands-on skills training’ or a 'blend of both'.
The nub of the problem lies with those who are engaged in journalism education. A vast majority of these educators have never stepped into any media house, but they are professing journalism education with due pride and honor.
What level of expertise can you expect from such educators without any professional experience? Even the regulatory bodies seem confused on selection criteria they had set for mass communication educators.
A very few are well-off to get a berth in media world; most end up as ‘to make a great effort to deal with a challenge’ polishing their resumes every now and then. So, journalism degrees are not getting outmoded. It is the policy makers who are trouncing the education to perpetuity.
Fortunately, the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC) under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Thomas S. Saras and patronage from the Ministry of Canadian Heritage shepherd a three-day intensive training seminar for the ethnic journalists from more than 100 languages and ethnicities in Seneca College in Canada, those who evolve in journalism about knowing all the changes taking place in the mainstream media.
I should say, I am lucky enough as so far I have attended all two such training seminars taken place in between 2009 and 2013, where blend of both ‘pure theoretical analysis’ or ‘completely hands-on skills training’ were matter – matter to learn and know others in friendship.
In 2013 on 6-8 December, a new sets of training materials focus onto manifold perspective of this upright effort. Besides, providing us the learning manual, all professors involved were knowledgeable from their own ground-zero, enthusiastic in answering to the participants and most importantly they were friendly as well.
A total 11 comprehensive lecture items on multi-faceted aspect of journalism – which include: Story Telling to Importance of Local News to Editorial and Journalistic 360 Degree, Fundamental of News Reporting to Using Word Press, Ethnic Media Beyond the Mainstream, The Potential of Ethnic Youth, Poly-ethnic and Trans-ethnicity, Business Networking to Business Viability, ME and Ethics and 360 Degree Digital Marketing Strategies – all been highlighted to the participants extensively.
The veteran journalism professor Dr. Ralph Izard from Ohio University; leading national author, journalist and advocate of justice Paula Todd; senior Canadian broadcaster & professor Barbara Caines from Seneca College; journalism professor April Lindgren from Ryerson University; English professor Robin Potter from Seneca College; Dr. George Andrew Gekas from Ryerson University Business School; international business professor Dr. Gabriel Huston and Byron G. Tobar from Seneca College; documentary professor Sun-Kyung (Sunny) Yi from Seneca College School of Creative Arts and Animation; media business guru & professor Hamza Khan from Seneca College and Canada’s ‘Queen’ of business networking Ms Donna Messer – all these 11 personalities of source of knowledge have enlightened the participants from their best abilities.
Thus the benefit of this NEPMCC Training Seminar to participants can surely excel the dynamism of the participants as according to 2012 Socio Economic Survey of the Ethnic Press of Canada – ethnic or third language media plays a pivotal role in connecting Canada’s immigrant and visible minorities to their communities. That report was again possible in compilation due to the initiation of NEPMCC and has been partially funded from the Canadian Heritage. Its data were analyzed by Professor Dr. Gabriel Huston of the Faculty of International Business, Seneca College.
Therefore, let this training be a continuous effort between NEPMCC and Ministry of Canadian Heritage for pacing the ethnic medias inquisitiveness toward ever evolving world of journalism where social media given us the most robust sense of ‘selfie’ in time-space convergence in process of globalization.