Radio Liberty Media School and Internship Program – Interview with Marina Vashakmadze

Radio Liberty is opening a media school and will propose two programs to students – one-year certification and two-month internship programs – “Work and Learn with Radio Liberty.” 

The media school will allow journalism students and all those interested in the given profession to work in newsroom regime and to create journalistic products.
  IREX G-MEDIA Program (implemented by support from American people via the USAID.) 

The courses are charged (two-month internship – USD 1000).  The school will also give scholarships.  Two students will study at certification program free of charge – one scholarship will be given to a student from a region and the second will be given to the most successful student.  There will also be one scholarship for the internship program – for students from regions.  Deadline for applications is February 15.  Open door day will be held at 4 p.m. February 7 at IREX office (6 Marjanishvili Street). 

Media.ge spoke about the media school and the internship program with the Head of Radio Liberty Tbilisi Bureau Marina Vashakmadze: 

Who can attend the certification courses and who will be able to go through the internship program at Radio Liberty? 

The one-year certification program is intended for those who have already graduated from higher education institutions in any specialty.  The two-month internship program is for journalism students and for those who have obtained the so called “minor” in journalism.  Students will be able to work in a real newsroom regime.  Multimedia platform based teaching method will allow them to try themselves in all the types of media outlets – radio, TV, printed press, or new media. 

If the school is funded from a grant why is the course charged for? 

This was a recommendation from our donors in order for the school not to be a short-term project and for us to be able to continue developing it after the completion of the grant period. 

How will you accept students and interns? 

Information on the documentation necessary to be submitted can be found at our website at - www.radiotavisupleba.ge and at our Facebook page.  Those interested can also send us questions to the following e-mail address - tavisupleba.school@gmail.com. The future students and interns will go through a competition.  Interviews will be held for both programs and the one-year certification program contest will also include a written assignment. 

How many students and interns will be accepted in total? 

We will accept 20 students for the one-year certification program and 10 students for the two-month internship program.  We will have 5 groups of interns during a year meaning that total of 50 students will go through internship here. 

To what extent will be interns be able to really participate in Radio Liberty work? 

We have always been very careful with having interns. We accept interns only when there is a possibility of real work with them.  You must understand that together with daily work at the newsroom (internship program) it is quite hard.  We have always had many interested in going through internship at Radio Liberty.  That is why we have decided to launch this program and we will have ten students in each group in order to be able to fully work them.  Daily schedule will be flexible in order not to interfere with the lectures of students.  Reports and articles developed by students will be posted at the media school website and the best works will be aired by Radio Liberty. 

Where will the one-year certification program students study at? 

IREX G-MEDIA has created and equipped with modern technology the Media Education Center.  Students of our school will study at the newsroom of the MEC.  They will have all the possibilities to receive knowledge and practical experience.  In a certain period of time the students of the two-month internship program will also be able to work in the given newsroom. 

Where will you publish the works of certification course students? 

As I already mentioned the Radio Liberty media school will have its own website.  Works by students will be posted at that website.  By the end of the year they will have kind of a portfolio for showing to the public and to future employers. 

Who will teach the students? 

As long as it is the Radio Liberty school the teachers will be Georgian and foreign journalists of Radio Liberty. 

What are the chances of students to continue working for Radio Liberty after graduation, or do you have negotiations with other media outlets for them to employ the successful students? 

We do not have such agreements and will not lie to anyone that if they come to us their employment will be guaranteed.  Still, we and other media outlets need well educated professionals.  I truly believe the possibility to receive eligible qualification will seriously increase the perspectives of being employed.