MedMedia and American University in Cairo hold joint event on media education

November 29, 2016
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A networking event bringing together more than 30 media academics and practitioners was held in Cairo last week. Supported by the EU-funded MedMedia programme and hosted by the American University in Cairo, the event explored new strategies for improving media education in the Southern Mediterranean Region.

 
A session on media literacy discussed ways of adapting academic curricula to the constraints of today’s digital society. In this context, some participants expressed concern over bureaucracy and top-down control on educational programmes which hinder the development of better media courses.
 
A panel discussing the gap between media education and the industry highlighted the disconnect between the theoretical knowledge students receive and the practical skills which are required in the workplace.
 
Delegates agreed to develop a media studies handbook and discussed its format and contents, which will illustrate common challenges and approaches to education among partners and across the region. The handbook, aimed at both students and professors, will act as an important reference point in the context of reforming media education in the region.
 
The EU-funded MedMedia project aims to create an enabling environment for media reforms in the Southern Mediterranean region. It is part of the €17 million EU programme “Media and culture for development in the Southern Mediterranean” which aims at supporting the media and culture reform processes in the region.
 
MedMedia focuses on media legislation, regulation, programming, strategy and leadership with a view to helping state media fulfil their public service mandate and compete with the commercial sector. It will also work to build public trust by strengthening the media’s role as an independent watchdog and a forum for democratic debate.
 
Read more
 
 
MedMedia project website
 
MedMedia facebook page
 
EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – Culture and media

 
Photo: ©MedMedia

 

 

Countries covered:

  • Egypt