Young, curious, full of enthusiasm, optimism, and desire to contribute to the improvement of media in Moldova, a new group of young people started the 2017-2018 academic year at the School of Advanced Journalism. During the ten months of studies at the SAJ, students will be working at the pace of a real editorial office and will learn the best practices in the field of journalism. Our trainers – the best media professionals of the country – will be by their side.

The event traditionally began with the welcoming speech of the SAJ team. SAJ Director Sorina Stefarta welcomed the new students, wished them success, perseverance, and a lot of patience in the profession they’ve chosen. “You have 10 months of intense work ahead of you, with the most exciting experiences and events and the best teachers,” she said. In her turn, social journalism trainer Elena Cioina, manager of www.E-Sănătate.md, encouraged students to never be disappointed. “This is an interesting and captivating profession, and if you grow to love it, it will bring you much pleasure.” Nicolae Pojoga, trainer of photojournalism, shared this opinion. The expert in the art of photography promised students to teach them make not just very good, but also ethical photos. “We’ll do photographic news stories,” concluded the trainer. 

Two graduates of the class of 2016-2017 also came to welcome new students. Already as reporters of the Ziarul de Garda newspaper, Liliana Botnariuc and Maria Svet told about their experience of study at the SAJ and encouraged the new students to make full use of all that the school offers them. “We had the opportunity to master the profession from the best journalists and media experts of this country. In the ten months we learned everything – from the rules of writing news to the production of our own journalistic investigations and even a real newscast. It was not always easy, but I'm glad I didn't quit. And today we are working for one of the best media outlets of this country,” said Maria Svet.

The School of Advanced Journalism is a project of the Independent Journalism Center (IJC). It was launched on September 4, 2006 to prepare journalists for Moldovan media. Since 2006, this post-university educational institution has been graduated by more than 160 young journalists. Most of them work in the country’s media outlets.