The Media Development Center (MDC) was founded in 1996 and offers 5 units (TV, Radio, Print/New Media and Media Research and policy), while promoting quality and ethics in journalism. The training courses concentrate on technical areas such as journalism, news and investigative reporting, photojournalism, TV shooting, documentary direction/production and digital production. The MDC also has its own media outlets in the areas of print journalism (Al Hal newspaper) and radio (Birzeit Radio). Al Hal is currently set to have a digital interactive version in the near future to ensure more reach, and Birzeit Radio has partnered with Radio Monte Carlo.
The Media Development Center at Birzeit University (MDC) currently also leads the adoption of the national media strategy project in Palestine.
The development of the MDC’s capacity and sustainable activities has mainly been made possible through continuous close relationship with partners such as the German Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Swedish Fojo Media Institute; through project funding from SIDA (Swedish Development Agency), UNESCO and the BMZ (German Federal Ministry of Cooperation and Development). Since 2006, the MDC has broadened its areas of work. It supported the University’s academic BA program in Media Studies, has carried out a major pilot Media Literacy project to prepare children and youth to become active and critical media consumers and has been involved with projects focusing on gender and women-oriented issues.
Despite the challenging years in the history of the Palestinian people and country, the MDC has managed to carry out more than 30 training courses each year targeting more than 1500 journalists and media workers. The MDC has also succeeded in delivering trainings in Gaza under extreme conditions, proving a high degree of determination and strength.
More information about the MDC, is at our website: www.mdc. birzeit.edu/
P.O. Box 14 Birzeit PALESTINE
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