Tawasul is the first online network aimed at young Syrian journalists. Part of a series of initiatives by the Syrian branch of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Center For Journalists (ICFJ), the network was created to give a boost to local media outlets. In an interview with APN, Egyptian journalist Mariam Sami - one of the initiators of Tawasul - explains how the network came about and what it hopes to achieve.

by Magali Ghosn

APN: Can you tell about this initiative and the first workshop you led?

Mariam Sami: Tawasul, which means "to connect" in Arabic, is one of six projects aimed at training Syrian journalists in working with different forms of media. The network will operate through a new centre set up for that specific purpose at the Ministry of Information. The project was designed for journalists under 30 with less than two years' experience, because we felt that beyond that age journalists would be less receptive to this sort of training. I led the first workshop, which comprised four half-day sessions a week, spread out over one month. I sensed a real desire to learn among the participants, and also a lot of potential.

APN: How will the centre be operated and to what extent will the Syrian government be involved?

M.S.: When we proposed the project to the Syrian government we insisted that the centre be free of any government involvement. It is essential that Tawasul is independent. In fact, the centre will be run by the journalists themselves and a board will eventually be set up to govern the operations. Funding for the centre has been secured until 2010, but we have already presented a number of alternatives to the Syrian government that will allow for private sector financing through sponsorship programmes and advertising.

APN: Did you have any difficulty getting the approval from the Syrian government for the project ?

M.S.: At first, the government was hesitant to embark on the project, fearing that we were going to upset media standards in the country. We had to submit, for example, a list of names of workshop participants. However, journalistic practice in Syria is thwarted by a kind of conformism which has prevented growth of the sector. The government is aware that Syria's media infrastructure is long overdue for an overhaul compared to other countries in the region. The will to change is there but it is not enough. I still have not seen a solid restructuring plan or a well-articulated strategy for developing the sector. Nonetheless, what Syria does have going for it, is that the sector is largely young and full of remarkable potential.

APN: Having led similar projects in Lebanon and Jordan, what have you discovered about the current state of the sector in the region?

M.S.: There are problems that are common to journalists in the region. Management is not very open to introducing changes in their structure, so young journalists working there see little use in undergoing training that they won't be able to integrate into their daily work. It also seems to me that even basic journalism skills have not been learned. And yet there is an extraordinary potential among these young journalists that we need to channel and develop.

To find out more about Tawasul, click here