Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Rym Ali, USAID Jordan celebrated today in partnership with the Future Builder’s Forum the graduation of 16 participants in the “Economic Reporters Training Program.  The training program aimed to equip and sharpen economic skills of reporters, and to provide a forum to develop mutual relationship of trust and professionalism amongst participants. The celebration took place at the Amman Intercontinental Hotel and was intended by stakeholders from local press and media outlets.

With the goal of improving the capabilities of journalists who report on economic issues, the USAID Jordan Economic Development Program conducted its third Economic Reporters Training Program.  The Program targeted recent journalism graduates and provided them with both academic and practical training on economic issues. The training program focused on both macro and micro – economic principles, conducted case studies of economic articles, for the purpose of analyzing their strengths and weaknesses.

The training program also invited economic experts to share their experiences and knowledge with the participants, as well as engage them in discussion sessions to enrich their economic perspectives.   Upon their successful conclusion of the training program, participants were provided with an internship opportunity in one of the main Jordanian media outlets, which provide the graduates with practical experience that supports their taking faster strides towards employment.

Commenting on the benefits of such training, Mr Fares Al Sayegh Director of Ro’ya TV where four trainees are spending their internship, he explained the importance of the time factor in the overall work of the TV Station, particularly when employing new reporters.  “It goes without saying that a trained reporter, with the right knowledgeable background, responds well to the fast pace of our work, and gives him/her a qualitative start and advantage over other non-trained reporters,” he said.   

In an attempt to sustain this initiative and establish a pool of local trainers who can be called upon when the need arises, The USAID Jordan Economic Development Program also implemented an Economic Reporters Training of Trainers (TOT) initiative in January and February 2010.  Seventeen seasoned journalists became certified trainers and conducted the Training Program.  The expertise gained by these  local pool of trainers in mentoring and teaching   journalism graduates will ensure sustainability of this initiative.

The USAID Jordan Economic Development Program is a five year economic development initiative implemented by Deloitte Consulting LLP and a sizeable team of international and Jordanian partner firms. The Program’s mission is to support sectors and activities in alignment with His Majesty King Abdullah’s vision for a Knowledge-based Economy, by inserting Jordanian enterprises into global value chains, promoting investment, and improving the enabling environment to generate value added jobs, exports, foreign direct investment, and sector revenues as a powerful engine of economic growth.