How to see the importance of the events happening in society daily? How to find the cause of a problem and to properly cover a sensitive topic? Why is it important to write about ordinary people and their problems? The students of the School of Advanced Journalism found out the answers to these questions from the trainer of the course of Social Journalism, Elena Cioina, media manager of www.e-sanatate.md portal.

The course lasted six days, during which the students plunged into the diversity of social issues in Moldova, learned more about the country’s social institutions, discussed about the responsibility of a journalist and, last but not least, produced two materials: a news story and an article.

For the second consecutive year, SAJ students passed a special module, Journalism on Population and Development, organized together with the UN Fund for Population (UNFPA) in Moldova. On that day, young people met with the country’s top experts on sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, statistics and demography, who talked about current challenges in the field of population and human development.

Valentina Bodrug-Lungu, chair of the “Gender Center”, told students about gender equality and the fight against gender violence in Moldova. From Rodica Comendant, director of the Reproductive Health Training Center, they learned more about family planning, sexual and reproductive rights and safe abortion. With sociologist Tatiana Tabac of the Center for Demographic Research young people discussed the demographic trends and challenges of Moldova and learned how to work properly with statistics.

Students say that the most difficult was to focus on a particular topic, because, in their opinion, there are too many problems in society. “We have learned to write so as to reach the human soul. This is an area I would like to specialize in”, said Liliana Botnariuc at the end of the course.

In her turn, the trainer pointed out that the students tried to cove complex subjects, using several sources, searching and deciphering statistics. “I appreciate most of all the fact that they tried to come up with their own original approach to the problems that have become ordinary. For social journalism it is extremely important,” said Elena Cioina.

At the moment, the course on Digital Journalism continues at the School of Advanced Journalism, and next week students begin the last course, Community Journalism.