So many quality journalistic productions do not see the light of day and are condemned to remain in the drawers of offices and libraries, just because they are signed by budding journalists. It is high time to say goodbye to this backward and stagnant trend. The Higher Institute of Information and Communication (ISIC) closes this repressive regime, a first educational and professional platform is born. This Friday “ISIC the magazine” was launched to shine the spotlight on the creations of future journalists.
In the presence of a host of professors, committed students, journalists and media managers, this platform was born. It is dedicated to the online distribution of various multimedia journalistic productions developed under the supervision of teachers. The latter aims to be a space for student expression and an innovative method of learning allowing the alignment of the skills of the new generation of journalists and professionals with the demands of the media and communications market.
Present in two languages, it offers diversified material through different sections presenting the heart of the profession of digital journalism training, it also allows students to distribute their content produced as part of specialty courses.
Delighted by this unprecedented launch, Abdellatif Bensfia, director of ISIC, told us that “this platform is not only a tool, but a revolution in the approach to journalistic training. It is essential because it offers learners an authentic and continuous immersion in the reality of the journalistic profession. Apart from internships, which are of course essential, we have always sought to provide our students with concrete and meaningful learning moments through our workshops. Now, with this platform, we are taking a new step”.
Approached by Hespress FR, Bensfia indicated that ISIC offers its students a unique opportunity: that of experiencing a professional environment on a daily basis. “This ethical platform allows them to practice every day, in realistic conditions, and to perfect their skills. They can thus refine their know-how, experiment, and understand in depth the requirements and challenges of the profession.”, he said.
This daily immersion is crucial. Expressing his pride, the director of ISIC affirms that “this platform helps students to reduce the gap between theory and practice, to avoid this distortion often felt between academic teaching and reality on the ground. Thanks to it, they can integrate theoretical notions into concrete and current practices.”.
This project is also a tribute to the teachers. “Their commitment, passion and dedication have always been the pillars of our institution. By offering them this tool, we allow them to continue to inspire and train competent, ethical journalists ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow.”, he concludes.
Thanks to the financial support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), this project has become a reality. Eric Falt, director of the UNESCO office for the Maghreb, clarified that “The profession of journalist requires mastery of journalistic skills guided by codes of ethics and based on ethical principles. Being a journalist today also means facing new challenges and new communication technologies, including the upcoming emergence of artificial intelligence.”
“The viability, independence and long-term stability of journalism are therefore increasingly urgent topics for discussion. In many countries, journalism previously enjoyed relatively stable funding and consistent journalistic values and practices. Professional media were widely regarded as reliable sources of information »he argued.
However, Falt noted, “it must be recognized that in recent years, digital companies, first of all, have disrupted the traditional economic model of journalism which was largely based on advertising revenue. If we look at the global share of these journalism commitments, advertising, we see that they went from 35% in 2016 to 60% in 2023 and the trend undoubtedly continues”.
Drawing up the current media landscape, the head of UNECSO reiterates that “Internet giants Google and Meta, for example, absorb more than half of this digital ad spending. At the same time, the digital sphere is now invaded by a multitude of content producers, including institutional news sources, practitioners, new media, activists, advertisers, influencers, public relations experts and even personalities policies. Everyone competes for the public’s attention”.
“So what can we do in the face of all these changes? I would say the answer is both simple and complex. We must first demonstrate the value of journalism as a public good. Like other public goods, journalism plays an essential role in promoting a healthy civic sphere. It provides citizens with reliable information and facts, essential for participating in a free and open society. And this is of course the case in Morocco”, he adds.
Highlighting the importance of this fruitful collaboration, Eric Falt declares that “UNESCO is very proud to have collaborated for a long time with the ISIC, which is precisely a bastion which represents the defense of all these journalistic values. This initiative is coordinated by the International Program for the Development of Communication. As part of the latter, UNESCO has identified 10 journalism schools in Africa that demonstrate a level of excellence in journalism education”.
Also joined by Hespress FR, Mohssine Benzakour, researcher in social psychology, shares with us the psychological contribution of this innovative initiative. “The watchword today is transparency. In a world where everything goes via the Internet, we have the opportunity to democratize not only information, but also training. This is precisely what our new platform aims to accomplish”, he announces proudly.
According to him, “By launching this platform, we affirm our commitment to open and accessible training. We offer our students not only the tools to become information carriers, but also the values and skills necessary to practice their profession in an ethical and responsible manner.”.
Developing even more the psychological side of this stage, Benzakour explains that “this platform is an invitation to all those who aspire to become journalists. It allows them to refer to rigorous and transparent work, and to draw inspiration from the best practices in the profession. Even more, it opens the door to brilliant perspectives, innovative ideas and limitless creativity. By lifting the veil on these skills, we give each student the opportunity to reveal themselves, to surpass themselves and to contribute significantly to the media landscape”.
A true catalyst for talent, this platform provides a space where aspiring journalists can practice, experiment and learn in a simulated professional setting. Furthermore, the researcher in social psychology announces that “the goal is to create a dynamic and interactive learning environment, where each student can explore their passions, develop their skills and prepare for the challenges of modern journalism”.
