The Peninsula
Doha: Twenty-five high school students attended Northwestern University in Qatar’s (NU-Q) Summer Media Programme, which offers young media enthusiasts an introduction to the world of journalism.
In its seventh year, the programme is designed to educate students on the basics of journalism, including how to conduct interviews, capture high-quality images, craft educational infographics, write and edit a 750-word feature article, and how to speak at news conferences.
The programme is an opportunity for young people interested in media careers, or a better understanding of how media works through first-hand experiences using popular digital platforms. “The summer programme is aimed at giving students a glimpse of the media world, whether they choose that as a career or not,” said Dean and CEO Everette E. Dennis.
“The importance of media in a global society begins in humble ways as students learn to frame stories and purse them with accuracy and professionalism,” he said.
International broadcast journalist and former Al Jazeera English video reporter Paul Rhys and NU-Q graduate Dana Atrach led the workshops, training the students in the fundamental practices of the profession, and the role and value of journalists in society.
“The great thing about NU-Q’s high school programme is that it catches students so young. They’re able to see themselves as journalists and media professionals very early in their lives,” Rhys said. The two-week course offered the students exposure to the inner workings of media and communication fields.
Zainab Abdelgadir from the Cambridge International School for girls was curious about journalism as a career and wanted to explore the industry during the long summer break. “I was never really set on what I wanted to do after college, but at the end of this programme, I told my family: ‘I want to live the last two weeks for the rest of my life.’”
Tony El Ghazal, who attends the International School of Choueifat, was eager to learn about how his interests could be utilised in the field.
Having written scripts and edited 30 hours of film to create short movies for his high school classmates and family, El Ghazal wanted to see where his talents could take him.
“The programme was practical, and I was able to learn why certain headlines work and I also saw that I could use my skills to create something valuable and informative.”
Throughout the year, NU-Q hosts weekend workshops, film festivals, and leadership conferences for high school students. Past sessions have included topics such as film exploration, documentary photography, social media and news reporting.
It also includes Qatar Leadership Conference, one of the largest professional development forums for educators and students in the Middle East, held in partnership with THIMUN Qatar. These programmes conducted for seven years have been planned, organised and run by Emily Wilson, NU-Q’s longtime head of community relations who is returning home to the US this month.
“The success of this effort and the lives of high school students it has touched is a tribute to her work,” Dennis said.
