Macedonia

EDUCATION OF JOURNALISTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Vesna Šopar

This text is a part of a research project launched in September 2001 by the Media Plan Institute in Sarajevo. Its purpose is to gather all basic information on education of journalists and media professionals in South East European countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Albania, Rumania, Bulgaria and Moldavia). Each of these countries applies different levels and types of education of journalists and media professionals, although they all lack a systemic analysis and the database on all the developments in that field. This is why the report on Macedonia and the reports on other countries aim at offering a review of the existing journalist training programmes. In that sense, the report needs to provide the basic data on the level of training of journalists and media staff, the existing forms of training of journalists and the activities and positions of the key actors in that field as well as the possible roads of future development of the system of training of journalists as a whole.  

1.      INTRODUCTION

The issue of education or the level of education acquired by journalists (and all those working in the media) in the Republic of Macedonia has become topical with the advent of commercial media, particularly from 1994/1997, when they became a constituent part of political and economic pluralization of the society. But in the absence of a meaningful media policy, no strategy (nor a short-term strategy) has been developed to cover education of the necessary staff in this field. One was unwilling (or did not dare) to think what one could do with so many printed (over 300 daily, weekly, monthly and specialised newspapers and magazines) and electronic media (141 radio and television stations), let alone the necessary level of education of the whole army of employees in those companies. There are both institutional and alternative forms of education, although they all lack synchronisation and true knowledge about specific needs.

2. THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA STAFF 

It would be very difficult to define with certainty the level of education of journalists and media staff in the Republic of Macedonia by reason of the lack of official data, while the media themselves are unwilling to refer to the educational structure of their employees (The Broadcasting Council is preparing the database of private broadcasters, including the structure of employees). In view of an overall number of the media, that is a small army in which the staff with secondary school education is dominant. The best proof are the data pertaining to the biggest broadcaster, Macedonian Radio and Television, which has until recently been a quality “raiser” of journalistic and technical staff for other media (on the grounds of its long standing practical experience). Out of the overall number of employees – 1658 (plus around 700 part-time workers), 576 have a university degree and 708 have a secondary school education. There are 814 employees on the programme staff (journalists, directors, musicians and editors) and the rest is technical and administrative staff. There are 439 journalists, of whom 280 have a university degree, 30 have completed a two year post secondary school college and 129 have only secondary school qualifications (only some 40 are graduated journalists). On the other hand, private radio and television stations “of the highest calibre” (national A1 and Si­­tel and local Ka­nal 5, TV Telma, Sky Net from Skopje, Radio Kanal 77 from Štip, TV Tera and TV Or­bis from Bitola) may take pride in employing journalists with higher education (partly « stolen » from the Macedonian Radio and Television) but having a much less number of employees. This is why older staff with secondary school education (without any interest in advanced training) is dominant at the local level, especially in public broadcasters (29 stations with about 300 employees). The situation is no better in private broadcasters (around 100, including Skopje) most of which have two or three full time employees (others are part-timers). The ever more present phenomenon of a « man-radio » is worrying.

In the printed press there is no news agency the size of which could be compared to that of the Macedonian Radio and Television. This is why the highly educated staff is dominant in the biggest newspaper „Dnevnik“ (with a network of a number of editorial offices, printing company, marketing and art and technical department, three feuilletons). The staff with secondary school education is dominant among the technical staff in the same newspaper. All journalists have a higher education (lawyers, economists, philosophers, albanologists and agronomists). One half is graduated journalists. The dailies Vest, Utrinski vesnik, Ve­čer, Nova Ma­ke­do­­nija, weekly ZUM, Ak­tu­el, Fo­kus, Delo, Ka­pi­tal and magazine Forum, all in Skopje, have a similar structure, which is very important, as the situation in the local newspapers is similar to the situation in the local broadcasters. All journalists employed in the Macedonian news agency have a higher education (journalists, lawyers). 

 

3. CLASSICAL UNIVERSITY EDUCATION 

The media staff normally receives education at two faculties in Skopje: the Law School – Journalism and the Faculty for Dramatic Arts. The studies of journalism still apply a classical methodology: theoretical classes with a minimum of practical work. Over the past ten years there have been no changes to the studies, curriculum and the structure of professors (most of professors are those from the Law School – lawyers and sociologists). Over 1,800 students have enrolled in the university so far (from 1997 up until now, with an interruption from 1987/88 until 1990, while around 630 graduated (this is why there is a lack of graduated journalists in the media). Each year 60 full time students enrol in the university, of whom 30 pay for their education. The only subject (of a total of 33) within which students acquire a practical experience is „theory and practice of journalism“ (the first, second and third year of studies), except for ‚Stav“ newspaper, which is prepared and (occasionally) published by the students themselves (over the past years). This year the students have for the first time their journalistic cabinet (with computers, technical equipment – television, camera and library). IREX Pro Media has launched an initiative to help modernise the teaching programme (a mutual agreement was signed) and engage professors from the School for Journalism at the University in Missouri, Colombia, in the practical classes at all years of the studies. 

Unlike that, the essence of the teaching programme at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts (department for direction, established in 1986; department for camera, established in 1991, production, established in 1989, editing, established in 1991 and dramaturgy, established in 1986) is a theory with compulsory practice (students are involved in a film making and editing). The technical possibilities exist as well (the faculty has cameras, editing desks and other technical equipment). A practical work is done within all professional subjects in co-operation with the Macedonian Radio and Television and the Vardar Film. The procurement of technical equipment is done via donations or by help of non-governmental organisations, while the implementation of students‘ projects is funded by the Ministry of Culture, Macedonian Radio and Television and Vardar Film. The enrolment is restrictive: competition for all groups is invited for a period of four years, with a limited number of students – 7 at most (up to 20 may enrol in the department for production). The faculty will have opened this year a new department for theatrology – education of radio and TV critics. 

The novelty in education is the University for South East Europe in Tetovo – study of communication science and technology, which will begin this autumn. That will be a modern inter-disciplinary approach to studying based on a combination of the basic academic abilities and a broader technical knowledge. The programme includes the latest trends in the communication science and a practical work with the aim to educate the staff with a broad spectrum of profiles in the field of journalism, digital and interactive communication, multi-media and information technologies, electronic commerce, interactive marketing, internet commercials, management…… 

There are two possibilities for a further improvement in the field of communications: at the Law School, within Political Science and Communications and at the Institute for Sociological and Political and Legal Research (“Sv. Kiril i Metodij” University) within communication studies. There is a very small interest in the studies at the Law School while the fourth generation of post-gradate studies has enrolled in the communication studies at the Institute (10 students per year with full time classes and seminars involving experts from communications, numerous optional classes, a rich library of professional literature), and soon there will be the first masters of communication science. Post graduate studies from the field of communication science and technologies are also planned at the University of South East Europe in Tetovo. 

4. ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF EDUCATION 

Since Macedonia became an independent state there has been no « official «  independent school for education of journalists. It was not before this year that the newly established Macedonian Institute for the Media (MIM) is trying to take over that task: education at all levels (of journalists, cameramen, photoreporters, media management) and a library and centre for documentation and research will be established soon. There seems to be an interest as 73 media, news agencies and professional organisations from the Republic of Macedonia are involved in the Centre. MIM is a member of the network for training centres for professionalisation of the media from Southeast European countries (SEENPM) and receives financial support from the Danish School for Journalists and Irex ProMedia from Skopje. Official state institutions have their interest in their work and even in the implementation of certain ideas and projects. As far as journalists are concerned, the media owners are often sceptical as they consider themselves to be « the best teachers of their journalists » and do not respect the training offered to them free of charge.

This is why the non-governmental organisations are engaged in the organisation of a dozen of seminars and courses per year on current topics, for various profiles of journalists, the discussion of which involves foreign and national experts – theoreticians and practitioners. The work methodology is almost always a combination of a theory and practice, while the funds come from non-governmental organisations in full or in a combined manner, with a partial compensation by the media or other organisations – sponsors. There are problems: it is difficult to raise funds, journalists of a middle and old generation often lack interest, while the reactions of those who took part in the seminars are positive, especially if the activities were used for journalists in professional terms.

Nevertheless, Macedonian journalism continually and traditionally cherishes an « internal » training of its staff. Previously it was done by NIP « New Macedonia » (once the biggest and the only journalistic giant) and Macedonian Radio and Television, and today by an increasing number of both small and big private newspapers, radio and television stations. The Daily « Dnevnik » conducts periodical (two-week) training of young journalists including practical exercise (for example, news production), thus « producing journalists » in that way. The training is conducted by experienced journalists (editors) who graduated from the Faculty for Journalism and attended numerous seminars and workshops. Radio Antena 5 is doing that for hosts, anchors, cameramen, « Forum » Magazine does that for certain topics, TV Tera from Bitola for anchors and producers, Radio « Grom » for journalists, Radio « Vat »…MRTV conducts training as well, often for anchors and reporters, relying on its experienced staff. Some (like Daily Vest) acquire practical experience in the editorial office only, through teamwork devoted to the creation of each copy of the newspaper.

Concerning the relations with the state institutions, the biggest number of participants in this activity thinks there is no relation between the state and alternative forms of education of journalists, except for when it comes to international donors or funders requesting from the state certain participation. They say, « the state is self-sufficient and busy with numerous corrupt activities in the interest of its own apparatus and totally uninterested in any initiative coming from the civil society. »

5. CLASSICAL ALTERNATIVE AND CENTRAL ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF EDUCATION 

This is one form of co-operation between university institutions and non-governmental organisations on the one hand, and between the governmental agencies and non-governmental organisations, on the other. The former exists between the Law School, the newly established University for Southeast Europe from Tetovo and the Centre for Strategic Research (along with daily “Dnevnik” and “Forum” Magazine). The “Summer School for Journalists” was organised for the first time this year for students of journalism and young journalists (20 students, 35% were members of minorities in Macedonia), with the assistance of donations from the Dutch Government and Press Now non-governmental organisation. The training was a combination of theory and practice, under the principle of “simulation” of a specific situation (for example, press conference in the Macedonian Government), including the participation of theoreticians and journalists-practitioners (national and international). And most importantly (something that other seminars do not provide), students receive certificates (from the Law School and University for Southeast Europe) confirming that they have completed a course which could help them get employment (under a new Law for Higher Education). Donors and Ministry for the Young and Sports, the Broadcasting Council and the media in Macedonia are all interested in this School. The next seminar is planned for the end of this or beginning all the next year.

The latter refers to a (periodical) co-operation between the Agency for Information (governmental agency, former Ministry for Information) and various non-governmental organisations. The Agency, as a sponsor, and the Foundation “Open Society Institute” as a donor, organised a seminar for education of journalists in public local broadcasters in computers, with a view to helping an older generation of journalists who still live and work in “Gutenberg’s time” acquire skills. A similar seminar (for the use of Internet) was organised in co-operation with the Council of Europe Office in Skopje. The preparations of the seminar on “Tolerance in Journalism” are ongoing in co-operation with Pro Media from Skopje. 

6. INTERNATIONAL DONORS, NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS AND EDUCATION OF JOURNALISTS

There are over 180 domestic and international non-governmental organisations and foundations in Macedonia, of which around ten are funding the activities related to education of journalists. International donors devote huge amounts of money and domestic donors are refusing to do so, while the projects are nevertheless implemented. The international community’s position is that real effects are achieved through short-term educational seminars and workshops. But the practice is warning us that the money is wasted as the same “educated” staff is leaving their media and search for better employment. It is a circle, the media do not have funds, lack appropriate staff and search for new seminars and workshops, while aware of the risk that the same could happen again. No one gets a certificate as a proof that he or she is trained in a certain field.

Numerous seminars, workshops, trainings for journalists and technical staff (for editing and camera) have been held in Macedonia. Non-governmental organisations involved in human rights and also those covering other spheres (civil society, democracy, conflicts, inter-cultural co-operation), are involved, in most cases by reason of their unspent funds by the end of the year or because some of the international donors, accidentally or purposefully planned to step in with (ad hoc) projects for the media (especially when it comes to „acute“ problems related to the media). 

The training sessions organised in the Republic of Macedonia cover a wide range of topics and areas: news, topical programmes for young generations of journalists in a multiethnic society; inter-ethnic relations, digital production; stereotypes and inter-cultural communication; reporting during the war; censorship; self-censorship and objective reporting; professional journalism in a multiethnic society; the use of Internet as a source of information; Desk Management; the media and elections – coverage of pre-election campaign; media interaction – the bridge in simulating communication between ethnic groups; the media and conflicts in the Republic of Macedonia; reporting on differences in various circumstances; a mode of treating minority issues in the media; media freedom – legal protection, media regulations, etc.

Non-governmental organisations participate in international training programmes for Internet, media, inter cultural communication, virtual television, investigative journalism, TV network, and provide financial support to their study visits to CNN, Voice of America, BBC, Institute for Reporting on War and Peace, Radio Deutsche Welle. One should not forget their assistance to technical and computer equipment, Internet service, procurement (translation and printing) of literature in the media. They are assisted by international organisations that they are members of or which they cooperate with: Net­­work Me­dia Program - Bu­dapest, Foundation Tho­m­son - Lon­don, Press Now - Ams­­terdam, Swedish Hel­­sin­ki Co­mmittee - Stockholm, Foundation Hei­nz Kuhn Stiftung - Di­sel­dorf, South East Eu­ro­pean Network for Pro­fessionalisation of the Media, and many others.

The 2002 strategy is directed to a number of key issues: assistance to the media for development of one own’s production and procurement of old programmes (copyrights, translation, titles), assistance to the media in the languages of ethnic groups in the production of quality programmes for economic, cultural and social education of the population in the Republic of Macedonia, assistance to and development of infrastructure of commercial broadcasting systems, assistance to the development of democratic broadcasting laws, PR education of non-governmental organisations, the media and public administrations, assistance to the production of numerous radio and TV programmes devoted to multiethnic tolerance and understanding.

7. POSITION OF THE LOCAL MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS TOWARD EDUCATION PROGRAMMES

The position of the director, editor and journalist in the media may be conditionally divided into: (1) those who support this type of education (often young journalists), (2) those who „thank“ the organisers of the seminars and do not believe that they have achieved a true effect (experienced journalists), (3) those who are unable to express their “pros” and “con‘s” as they did not take part in that form of education (mainly the local media in small cities), and (4) those who prefer education in their editorial offices with their own staff (most often directors and editors of the biggest dailies, professional journalists and people who have undergone almost all forms of training).

The problems are as follows: activities are taking place in cycles, without any co-ordination: technical assistance, education of journalists and education of technical staff and again education of journalists. There is no technical and staff unification of the media – the conflict particularly exists between the small and the big, specifically because the small are unable to respond to the seminar requirements. The local media are affected by the deficit of journalists and they get information about the seminar on rare occasions only – they are usually „skipped“ and Skopje takes it all. When invitations arrive the responsible editors take care of their own participation in the first place. The talented ones after they gain experience transfer to those who pay more. The problem is also international lecturers who lack sufficient knowledge about the media picture of the Republic of Macedonia. This is why the precious time is lost on explaining the situation in the field. Only short time is left for concrete actions. 

What is missing? Generally, strategic planning, organised policy of those activities (not under the principle: „this time you were at the seminar, next time it will be someone else“). Specifically: technical, managerial staff, education of new generations (especially of those who happen to do this job because there was nothing else), analysists, graphic editors, graphic designers, photography editors, editors, cameramen. There is a lack of producers, project managers-researchers, marketing specialists, documentation experts. They lack work on common topics, exchange of journalists between editorial offices, seminars with practical exercises, under natural conditions, in the field, in the media, exchange of experience with journalists in other countries. 

There are some positive examples, though: (1) seminars with practical work (se­mi­­nar of the Nansen Dialogue Cen­tre in the realisation of concrete radio and TV live programmes with experienced domestic journalists); (2) common work of journalists from various editorial offices (project Search for Common Gro­und); (3) se­mi­na­rs in co-operation with renown companies - BBC, Deutsche Welle, CNN (se­mi­nars Fridrih Ebert Sti­f­tung with Ins­ti­tu­te for training of journalists at Deutsche Welle); (4) seminars on the spot (IREX Pro­Me­dia in TV companies in Macedonia directly with journalists, cameramen, editors); (5) se­mi­nars with experienced practitioners and extremely good results (e.g. feature story). The advantage of these seminars is multi-faceted: many new things are acquired, exchange of experience, students learn the mode of work of others, mutual contacts are established. Eventually, they are a part of communication between people from the same profession.  

8. HOW TO PROCEED? 

There are and should be roads leading to a further development of education of journalists. What is missing “acutely” is primarily a detailed analysis of the situation in the sphere of the media (staffing, technical, organisational, financial capacities) and a common and co-ordinated activity to determine realistic needs and priorities, which, of course, is not an easy task at all. Besides, this may also imply a revision of the already planned activities of some non-governmental organisations. This could contribute to a review of the initiative launched by the Macedonian Media Institute to organise training sessions for “virtual TV broadcasting”, particularly by reason of the need to procure a highly sophisticated equipment, which can be implemented by some TV stations in Skopje. There are advanced studies for communication available in Prague, offering training sessions of that kind. A number of journalists from Macedonia have already been there.

If there is a general agreement that alternative forms of education of journalists are useful for improvements, although they cannot substitute for university education and that classical education is inefficient (especially the studies of journalism), as it has functioned so far, there is a need for the reform of primarily higher education, which the Republic of Macedonia committed itself to through the Stability Pact. The need for the so-called “training department” has already been accentuated as a bridge between the faculties (Law School, Faculty for Dramatic Arts and University for Southeast Europe) and as a form which will be conducive to a more successful reform of higher education.

Concerning short seminars (sometimes referred to as “fast literacy courses”), the concrete information reveal that there was at least a modicum of justification for them by 2002. The media have overcome the lack of capacity-that period was over in 1994/1995 when most of the private media were opened (both printed and electronic media) in most cases by former editors in the MRTV (quality professionals) who took part in education of their younger colleagues. If anyone needs this type of education, it is young journalists (educated in theory and illiterate in practice) and journalists in the media in ethnic languages, although it should not be unplanned or uncoordinated (Open Society Institute, IREX ProMedia).   

What else does the Macedonian journalism need? Investments in the so-called “capacity building” and “institutional building”, which will yield results in a later stage – in the long run. No one is doing that at this stage. Support is needed toward procurement of modern technology which will improve production, make it cheaper, which in turn will ensure higher salaries to journalists and other employees and more money to the management for new investments. This will raise the standard of profession and enough money will remain for paying taxes to the state.  

9. LIST OF ORGANISATIONS: 

“Sv. Kiril i Metodij” University, Law School - Journalism

1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 2 117 244

Fax: +389 2 227 549

Contact person: Dr. Dobrinka Tanaskovska

“Sv. Kiril i Metodij” University, Faculty for Dramatic Arts

1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 2 361 188

Contact person: Prof. Dančo Čevrevski

“Sv. Kiril i Metodij” University, Institute for sociological, legal and political researches

Partizanski odredi b.b., P. fax. 435, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 2 373 688, 365 195

Fax: +389 2 361 282

Contact person: Nade Markova

University for South East Europe, Communication Science and Technology

Ilindenska 18/a, Tetovo – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 44 351 081

Fax: +389 44 333 102

Republic of Macedonia’s Government, Agency for Information

Djuro Djaković 64, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 2 116 074

Contact person: Guzelov

Macedonian Institute for the Media

Naum Naumovski Borč 88 a, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 2 132 220

Contact person: Zaneta Trajkovska, Biljana Bosiljanova

Open Society Institute Macedonia

Jane Sandanski 35-5/23, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 2 421 139, 117 568

Contact person: Violeta Gligorovska (media programme coordinator)

Search for Common Ground

Orce Nikolov 63, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 2 118 517, 118 527

Fax: +389 2 118 322

Contact person: Ibrahim Mehmeti (media programme director)

Centre for Strategic Investigation and Documentation (CSID)

Bul. Ilinden  63, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 2 213 011, 109 598, 121 100, 121 100

Fax: +389 2 121 100

Contact person: Jačev Zoran (executive director)

IREX ProMedia - Macedonia

Vasil Stefanovski  23, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 2 224 681, 224 680

Fax: +389 2 126 088

Contact person: Katerina Spasovka (local media coordinator)

Pro Media - Skopje

8-mi mart 13, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia

Tel., Fax: +389 2 221 633

Contact person: Klime Babunski

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation- Skopje office

Partizanski odredi 89, P. fax 423, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia 

Tel.: +389 2 361 530

Fax: +389 2 365 571

Contact person: Milanka Trajkovska 

Centre for Multiethnic Development and Cooperation CMRS

29 Noemvri  4b, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia 

Tel.: +389 2 130 407 

Contact person: Iso Muhić (executive secretary) 

Centre for Urbanism and Media Action UMAM

Bul. Jane Sandanski 35-5/23, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia 

Tel.: +389 2 221 633 

Contact person: Biljana Bejkova (coordinator) 

Nansen Dialogue Centre

Sarski odredi 7, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 2 296 000

Fax: +389 2 176 224

Agency for Local Democracy

Dimitar Vlahov  52, 6000 Ohrid – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 96 261 290

Fax: +389 96 261 298

Contact person: Stojan Saveski

Friedrich Neumann

Naum Naumovski Borče 58, 1000 Skopje – Republic of Macedonia

Tel.: +389 2 137 427, 133 019