First Hostile Environment Training course for international student journalists welcomed by industry

University College Falmouth has launched an MA in International Journalism to train students how to work safely and effectively on global stories.

The world is becoming a more dangerous place for journalists. More than 70 foreign and Iraqi journalists have been reported killed since the US led invasion of Iraq in March 2003. That’s more than those who died during the two decades of the Vietnam War (sources: Reuters/Unesco). But it’s not just Iraq where reporters are risking their lives – the number of professional journalists being killed or injured around the world is rising.

University College Falmouth is aiming to help young journalists deal with the increasing dangers they face around the world. Building on the reputation and know-how of its successful postgraduate Broadcast Journalism course, Falmouth has launched an MA in International Journalism that combines a serious grounding in global issues and hands-on learning about how to report them, with professional Hostile Environment Training to keep journalists safe. It’s a course welcomed by experts in the field:

“Journalists can’t do their jobs unless they can both observe and safely retreat from front line situations such as riots or wars. As the world becomes a more hostile environment for journalists, courses like this one at Falmouth are becoming more and more vital. This one fits the bill, with its mixture of training and common sense preparation for the dangerous assignments that will test a journalist’s skills to the limit. From a football riot in London, through the recent tornado disaster in the USA to the frontline firefight of Iraq, this course will prove of lasting benefit to any journalists especially those who think they have little left to learn.”

Bill Neely, International Editor, ITN/ITV News

“Reports on war, conflict and danger are always on the news agenda, requiring journalists to be in the thick of the action. A course that teaches how to operate effectively under such extreme situations is an absolute must.”

David O’Sullivan, Executive Editor, 702 Eye Witness News Johannesburg

“Hostile Environment Training for staff members is now common practice for many international news providers, but freelancers are much less likely to be included,” explains Course Leader, George Matheson, himself a seasoned international journalist who has reported on some of the world’s greatest disasters and experienced some of its worst dangers. “Our philosophy at University College Falmouth is to get young journalists thinking about safety right from the start so that they can enter the challenging world of international journalism fully prepared for the conditions they may encounter.”

But of course the MA’s not just about coping with danger. With the availability of new technology and resultant reduced costs of international news coverage, the number of international news outlets has mushroomed. What this means for journalists is that the field of international reporting has opened up as never before.

The MA in International Journalism at University College Falmouth will train students to succeed in an international environment where these new jobs are to be found.

The course is recruiting now for its first intake in August.

Interviews are being held for prospective students at the Postgraduate Fair on 28 June.  

For more information, contact: George Matheson, MA International Journalism, University College Falmouth on 0797 464 2757 or by emailing george.matheson@falmouth.ac.uk

Additonally, please visit www.falmouth.ac.uk/internationaljournalism .

Potential applicants to the course are invited to reserve a place at the College’s Postgraduate Fair on Wednesday 28 June 2006 by contacting the Education Liaison Office on 01326 213761.  Please visit www.falmouth.ac.uk/opendays for further information.

Ends

For further information about this press release, please contact Jilly Easterby, Public Relations Officer, University College Falmouth, Woodlane, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4RH, Telephone: 01326 213792, Email: jilly.easterby@falmouth.ac.uk

Notes to editors

University College Falmouth is internationally known for its undergraduate and postgraduate courses in art, design and media. In March 2004, its standing and quality were recognised when the Privy Council granted the College the power to award its own taught degrees.

University College Falmouth is a founding partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative, which is funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall County Council.

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