AJMI - Doha

From an idea of their own to a podcast episode or a short film, 16 young trainees took their first steps in content production through two courses designed for young people: “Podcasting” and “Arabic Language and Media.” Al Jazeera Media Institute concluded the two courses at its headquarters last week, with eight participants in each.

Through scriptwriting, interview management and on-camera practices, participants moved beyond learning the tools to using them to tell their own stories and explore issues they had chosen.

Amal Al-Oraisi, the podcast course trainer, said participants, aged between 10 and 17, began developing their project ideas from the very first hour, progressing to writing, reviewing and filming their episodes.Their projects ranged from interview-based to solo podcasts. The training covered choosing a topic, crafting an engaging introduction, structuring an episode, preparing questions and steering conversations, as well as performing on camera and using body language effectively.

Listening was given particular emphasis throughout the training, the trainer added. The fundamental rule of a good conversation, she explained, is for interviewers not to become so preoccupied with their next question and not focusing on what their guest is saying at the moment. Attentive listening leads to deeper questions and richer conversations.

She also noted that participants became increasingly engaged as the course progressed, eager to discuss their ideas and refine their performance, while ensuring that each project carried a clear message and meaningful value.

Participant Faisal Al-Musayfiri said he was delighted to have taken part in the experience, describing it as one of the best and most enjoyable courses he had attended.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Tahseen, trainer of Arabic Language and Media course, explained that the month-long program taught Arabic through media practice, linking grammar and vocabulary to journalistic values and media skills participants need to produce content.

The structure of a news sentence was tied to the accuracy of information, identifying the subject to attributing actions correctly, while journalistic questions provided a gateway to using language tools to complete the essential elements of a news story. He added that, the training also covered news writing, roles of presenter and correspondent, debating, analyzing photographs and films, and constructing documentary narratives.

In an activity called “Save the Story,” participants practiced removing filler and exaggeration, choosing precise verbs and appropriate headlines. They also turned silent footage into news reports without adding information that could not be gleaned from the images. The course concluded with each participant producing a short film on an issue of their choice, bringing together research, writing and listening to a range of perspectives. The two courses reflect part of Al Jazeera Media Institute’s efforts to develop media and language skills of young people and connect learning with practice and content production.

The programs help participants discover their abilities, reinforce their commitment to accuracy, verification and respect for diverse opinions, and building skills that will serve them throughout their educational and professional journeys.