Syrian train alongside Jordanians to join ‘Syrians among us’ radio reporting cast

AMMAN — Seven Syrians and three Jordanians on Tuesday concluded a five-day radio skills training programme at the Community Media Network, funded by the Canadian government.

The programme aims to empower Syrian refugees working with Jordanian colleagues to report on issues of concern to Syrians in Jordan.

Daoud Kuttab, director general of the Community Media Network, encouraged the Syrian participants in the programme to utilise this medium to share their stories and tell the world about the lives of their people.

“We want you to tell [the world about] your people’s challenges and aspirations in a professional way that adheres to the highest journalistic standards of accuracy and balance,” she said.

Jordanian journalists will work with their Syrian colleagues to overcome any problems that they might face in their pursuit of reports and government reactions to them, Kuttab reaffirmed.

Political counsellor at the Canadian embassy in Amman, Christopher Hull, said that the embassy is proud to support this programme and looks forward to hearing the stories that the newly trained journalists will tell.

“You are sharing stories that need to be told — humanitarian stories about the daily lives and struggles of Syrian refugees in a world where other crises compete for attention,” Hull said.

The Syrian journalists’ reports will broadcast on the daily radio programme “Syrians among us”, aired by Radio Al Balad, accessible by Syrian refugee communities.

It can also be streamed online via www.ammannet.net/sy and on social media, with the aim of giving voice to the voiceless Syrian refugees in Jordan, to share their stories and daily challenges with their fellow Jordanians as well as the rest of the world.