UNESCO and improving training of journalists. A compendium of proposals

Authors

  • José Carlos Sendín Gutiérrez Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación

Keywords:

UNESCO, periodismo, libertad de expresión, formación, universidad, journalism, freedom of expression, training, university

Abstract

One of the most interesting UNESCO´s work focus and least known is the proposal of reflection and action to improve the training of communication professionals globally and in particular journalists. Starting with the premise that there is no robust and healthy democracy without accurate information and informed debate in society, this UN agency has been working since 2005 bringing together information professionals, universities and specialized training centers in order to analyze mean weaknesses in the training of journalists of the future, and to propose improvements in training that can neutralize them. The shortcomings come not only from own journalistic skills, such as writing, analysis, coverage in multiple formats; they also come through the lack of basic skills related to critical thinking, ethics, analytical skills, structuring of information and training in various specialized content. This paper provides a synthesis of the main findings and proposals of UNESCO in the field, in order to facilitate and increase the debate and reflection in our context.

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Author Biography

José Carlos Sendín Gutiérrez, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación

Mr José Carlos Sendín Gutiérrez has a degree and Master in Journalism, (Universidad Complutense. Madrid). PhD in Communication Studies (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Madrid). Also has a Diploma od Advanced Studies on International Relations and African Studies (Universidad Autónoma. Madrid). Has worked on several Spanish media and in a Spanish NGO. Since 2006 is full time associate professor in the Communication Sciences Faculty at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Communication Sciencias Dept. 1. Madrid.

His areas of research interest are international communication, political communication, diversity and minorities in the media, and children on the Internet. He participates in a national research project on the uses and risks for teenagers on the Internet (2010-2012). Member of Cost Action IS0906 Transforming Audiences, Transforming Societies, http://www.cost-transforming-audiences.eu. During 2012 has been a visiting professor at the University of Oxford.

He has published more than 20 books, book chapters and scientific articles and editorials in national and international journals. Main publications: (2011) Assessing the Humanitarian Framing of the Spanish Press Coverage of the Darfur Crisis. Ecquid Novi: African Journalism Studies. Volume 32 (1) UK: Routledge, pp.66-81. (2010) Esfera pública africana. Medios para las democracias. Madrid: Catarata. (2008) Practical Guide for Media Professionals: Media Treatment of Immigration. Madrid: Ministry of Labour and Immigration. (2008). Building reality on TV. Assesment of the Rwandan genocide  coverage by Televisión Española. In Revista de Estudios de Comunicación ZER. Nº 24. Vol 13. Bilbao, pp. 11-28.

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Published

2015-03-03

How to Cite

Sendín Gutiérrez, J. C. (2015). UNESCO and improving training of journalists. A compendium of proposals. index.Comunicación, 5(2), 9–20. Retrieved from https://indexcomunicacion.es/index.php/indexcomunicacion/article/view/172

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2015): A new training at the height of Journalism

Section

Introduction

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