Fourteen young people began studies at the School of Advanced Journalism (SAJ) today, September 1, 2015. For 10 months, they will undergo intensive training and acquire practical skills needed for real time journalistic work.

On the first day of study the students were welcomed by SAJ trainers: Vasile Butnaru, Vladimir Bolea, Lilia Curchi and Nicholae Pojoga. In her welcoming speech, the Director of the School of Advanced Journalism, Sorina Stefarta, congratulated the students, reminding them how important the journalists' mission is. 'Journalists commit to inform the audience without manipulating them. A journalist is meant to explain the audience, through facts and evidence, which is the root of problems, and determine them to get involved. The journalists need to be close to the people and to work for the people,' said the SAJ Director.

Also, SAJ organized today a meeting of former and current SAJ students. The graduates shared their student experience with their colleagues-to-be and gave them advice about tackling the challenges they would be facing during studies.

SAJ courses are taught by experienced journalists from Moldova and abroad. The curriculum covers two semesters; the first includes introductory courses, meant to teach the basics of writing and editing media materials. Thus, from September to December the reporters-to-be will learn the basics about news, reports, interviews, long articles, radio journalism, TV journalism, photojournalism, as well as learn extensively about press design. The second semester will include work on majors, internships and the writing of the final papers.

Traditionally, the first SAJ training course is Introduction to Journalism. For three days, the students will be learning techniques for collecting information and approaches to media topics, with the assistance of the Director of Radio Free Europe, Vasile Botnaru.  

The School of Advanced Journalism was launched on 4 September 2006; its goal is to train journalists who would eventually join Moldovan press. From 2006 to date, over 120 young journalists have graduated from SAJ. Most of them work in Moldovan media (Radio Free Europe, TV Moldova 1, Pro TV, TV 7, Publika TV, Ziarul de Garda, Tele Radio Gagauzia, Adevarul etc.).

The School of Advanced Journalism is a project of the Center for Independent Journalism in Chisinau, implemented jointly with the Missouri School of Journalism (USA), the Centre for Training and Professional Development of Journalists in Paris (France) and Free Press Unlimited (Netherlands).