INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTRE KURDISTAN

July 8, IMCK opened a starters' course in journalism for fifteen Kurdish female journalists in Sulaymaniya. IMCK wants to teach young, female Kurdish graduates the basics of civil and professional journalism in a post graduate training specially organized for them. Media in Iraqi Kurdistan need more female journalists. They are needed to make the media more interesting for the big target group of women that are hardly reached now. Even though women make up the majority of all Iraqi's, they are hardly to be seen in the media. News is mainly about politics, and if not, about subjects that are of interest to men. Women news in Iraq is often news about honour killings, violence against the family, the plight of widows - or perhaps about a famous singer. The fact that women play also a professional role hardly gets any attention. That political decisions also have effects for women, is neglected. Stories about business women or the career chances of young women are not found ...

The second part of the workshop to improve the media of the KDP organisations for students, youths, scientists and women has been finalized on the second of April 2012. In total twelve participants received an IMCK certificate.  IMCK offered two workshops of three days in Erbil to make the media of the KDP organisations more attractive for the target groups they are meant for. During the first workshop the focus was on the current quality of the publications, and to asses what the participants needed. Through giving them tips and lectures IMCK improved the skills of the attendees for the second workshop. The second set of three days was conducted to evaluate the changes since the first workshop.   IMCK's senior trainers Khidher Domle and Ako Mohammed worked with the participants on improving the quality of stories, and choosing stories that are more interesting for their readers. One of the KDP-participants said: "I learned the importance of short-news, journal...

The media makers for the KDP organisations for students, youth, scientists and women gathered in the Safeer Hotel in Erbil on Saturday March 17, 2012 for the first part of a workshop that should help them improve their media. IMCK is offering them two workshops of 3 days each to make their media more attractive for the target groups they are meant for. IMCK's senior trainers Khidher Domle and Ako Mohammed will work with them on improving the quality of stories, and choosing stories that are more interesting for their readers. The opening of the workshop was conducted by the head of the KDP organisations, Sasan Awny, together with IMCK director Judit Neurink. The second part of the project will be conducted in April, to review the results of the first workshop and offer more advise for further improvement.