Open lecture by the editor-in-chief of the Saudi press agency Abdulrahman Khanfur at the IPACS RANEPA
On September 29th the Department for International Cooperation of IPACS RANEPA organized an open lecture with a chief editor from Saudi press agency`s – Abdulrakhman Hanfur. The speaker told students of the Journalism Faculty, program “Sports Journalism” about such topic as “Peculiarities of the development of journalism in the Saudi Arabia region: development of Sport Journalism in the region”.
The lecture was opened with an introductory speech by Alexander Hoffmann, Head of the Information Ensuring of International Activity Office of the Department for International Development RANEPA, noted the prospects for cooperation with the countries of the Arab region and told the students about the wide opportunities for professional internships and practices.
During the meeting Mr. Hanfur has reported to students of IPACS RANEPA about the way of mass media development in Saudi Arabia. Now there are about 50 different channels, big amount of press agencies, newspapers, but literally, 20 years ago there were just printed press. Mr. Hanfur touched on such an important issue like using social networks in Sports Journalism, journalists working abroad, education process for women in Arabian countries. On the lecture Mr. Hanfur also supported an initiative to sign several agreements on cooperation in the educational sphere and journalism for young professionals of IPACS RANEPA with Saudi press agency.
The final speech was made by Karolina Sikirinskaya, Head of the Department for International Cooperation at IPACS, who emphasized that a “new window of opportunity” is opening for students at Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service RANEPA to interact with various regions that are interesting for in-depth study and future internships. Karolina Sikirinskaya thanked Abdulrakhman Hanfur for the opportunity to meet with the students and expressed her hope for working out joint projects.
In the end of the lecture students could ask speaker about possibilities of working in Arabian region. Also they were interested in governmental support for news agencies, organization of student`s internships and practices, perspectives of working without knowing Arabian language, requirements for journalists, etc. For many students it was interesting to know, how to get new experience and get an internship in Saudi press agency. It was the main reason, why each answer of speaker aroused interest among students of IPACS RANEPA.
Mr. Hanfur gave student valuable advice for theirs professional activity: “I wish you luck, try to get as much hand-on experience as you can, especially during the era of opportunities of the Internet and numerous different social networks”.
We thank Mr. Hanfur for the opportunity to hold an open lecture for the students at the Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service.