Baghdad: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has expanded its partnerships with Iraqi media institutions within the framework of the “Strengthening Social Cohesion and Reintegration in Iraq” project. The project aims to provide practical professional training opportunities for young journalists and enhance the role of media in supporting social peace and countering hate speech and misinformation.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Diaa Thabet, Head of the Communication and Information Sector at the UNESCO Iraq Office, along with the team responsible for supporting journalists, conducted a field visit to several media institutions in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region. The purpose of the visit was to discuss cooperation mechanisms and to host a group of young male and female journalists in a four-month professional training program supported by UNESCO.
The meetings focused on creating a training environment that allows participants to gain practical experience in newsrooms, learn firsthand about journalistic work mechanisms, television production and editing, and the use of modern digital technologies in content creation. The program also aims to develop their professional skills and produce responsible content that promotes the values of social cohesion, diversity, and peace.
The tour included several media institutions in Sulaimaniyah and Baghdad, including Channel 8 in Sulaimaniyah, where opportunities were explored to host young journalists and integrate them into the media work environment. This would provide them with direct professional experience and allow them to benefit from the expertise of established journalists and editors.
In Baghdad, coordination took place with the Iraqi Media Network and several other media institutions to build a network of host organizations capable of providing practical training and professional guidance to participants throughout the program.
Through this initiative, UNESCO aims to move media training from theory to practical application by giving young journalists the opportunity to work within media institutions alongside experienced staff. This will contribute to preparing a new generation of media professionals capable of addressing issues of social cohesion, reintegration, and combating misinformation and hate speech with professionalism and responsibility.
The program also focuses on expanding opportunities for young people, particularly young female journalists and underrepresented groups in the media, by providing career paths that help them gain practical experience and build a professional portfolio that qualifies them to integrate into the media job market.
During its meetings with media organizations, UNESCO emphasized the importance of partnership with the media sector for the program’s success and for transforming acquired skills into sustainable professional practice. UNESCO also highlighted the role the media can play in building trust, promoting social peace, and encouraging responsible discourse.
This tour serves as a prelude to the program’s implementation phase, which includes selecting a group of young journalists and placing them in participating media organizations in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region. UNESCO and its partners will provide regular follow-up and professional guidance throughout the training period.