Media 4 the Future

 

 

 

The Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership And Rights Activation (PYALARA) carried out the first “Media for the Future" conference

 during 9-10 October 2oo4, in cooperation with a number of academic and media organizations in the West Bank and with the generous support of Mr. Glenn Kalansy.

 

 The conference was an opportunity for Palestinian media students, journalists, academics as well as the general public to raise their voice and tell without any restraint about their experiences with the Palestinian media and with media training institutions. The conference's aim was to create a practical network for the future improvement the media situation in Palestine.

 

 The conference set up six sessions to discuss:

* The future perspectives of media in Palestine.

* The role of media in promoting democracy.

*The Palestinian issue in western media between the lack of opportunities and obscure bias, perception versus reality; the Palestinian issue vs. American media and public opinion, bad news from Israel, internet war.

* The media education in Palestine .

*The media and social responsibility  

 

What was most enlightening to the observer in the conference , is the seriousness of the spirit of young people who have expressed their discontent about the existing Palestinian Journalists Syndicate and  wanted to grasp responsibility of the future of Palestinian media, instead of setting back and only  criticizing and the attempt of these youthful spirits, despite the manipulation, vague expressions, and tries of hiding facts, in realizing a visible future, not only in regards to media, but also, in regards of realizing a better future for all.

The young participants recommended the formation of a special forum for young Palestinian journalists, between the ages of 14 and 25 years old.

 By the end of the conference PYALARA expressed its goal in supporting directly or indirectly, media students and young journalist through the development of counseling, networking, union protection, training and other forms of encouragement  as to enable them to establish themselves in the trade effectively.