Gaza, 16th of December, 2014 --- Press House – Palestine organized a graduation ceremony for the participants of the training courses program that was implemented during this year as a part of “Empowering the Press House” project funded by the Swiss and Norwegian governments.
The deputy ambassador of Norway, Jan Dybfest, and the program advisor of the Norwegian representative office, Marte Hellum, attended the ceremony along with tens of trainees and guests. Over 150 journalists, media student, and social media activist benefited from the courses and received certificates during the ceremony. Belal Jadallah, the head of Press House, opened the ceremony with a speech ensuring the Press House commitment to enhancing freedom of expression and supporting independent Palestinian journalism.
Jadallah said:” During 2014, Press House provided training to more than 150 journalists in different media topics by professional trainers who were selected according to professional and practical principles, with the generous fund of the Swiss and Norwegian governments.”
Jadallah clarified that Press House gave much and special intention to trainings, and specified a full training program managed and implemented by a professional technical committee.
He pointed that the training program aims at building a media generation that believes in transparency, professionalism, and objectivity in their media work; to achieve a more independent Palestinian journalism that enhances freedom of opinion and expression in Palestine.
Jadallah promised journalists and social media activists who didn’t receive training during 2014 to give them the opportunity to participate in the next year.
He thanked the Swiss and Norwegian governments for supporting Press House since the begging; appreciating their amazing role in supporting freedom of expression and serving media issues.
For his turn, the deputy ambassador, Jan Dybfest, ensured the Norwegian government support to training programs that aims at developing journalists’ performance in a way that serves freedom of expression and democracy.
Dybfest expressed his happiness with the large number of participants and applicants to the training courses, and promised to provide more support in this field to achieve the desired aim of creating a free and transparent media.
For his side, the journalist “Ahmad Hamouda” in his word on behalf of trainees praised the role of Press House in training journalists and empowering their capabilities, which was embodied by organizing seven courses that targeted more than 150 journalists.”
Hamouda stressed the importance of such trainings and its positive impact on providing journalists with practical experience. Especially that media has a major role in conveying information that serve the Palestinian cause.
He thanked the trainers who had a leading role in transferring knowledge and information to students in a professional manner. He also thanked the Swiss and Norwegian governments for supporting Press House, especially training program.
