Chad
4.9.

The training structures offer journalists capacity programs
and other opportunities to improve their knowledge.

ANALYSIS:
There are training courses in news offices, trained journalists provide input and promote on-the-job training within the news desks
and offices. In 2002, within the framework of the European Initiative for Democracy, the European Union financed a “Support program for professional betterment of Chadian media” directed by
the Research Group and Technology Exchange (RGTE). Thanks to the
component of training of trainers, ten local trainers were trained;
they joined together in an association of trainers called Media Excel’ Formation (ME’F) which offers courses for the written press and
radio news.
At the University of N’djamena there is a media department which
trains journalists and advisers in business communication, etc. The
state does not encourage long training courses. Some media organisations seek scholarships for training opportunities locally and outside (Cameroon, Niger, etc.) In the private media it is difficult to
implement such programmes because there is a high staff turnover
in the news desks: the media organisations offer opportunities and
connections that can be used by journalists as a means of securing
academic bursaries and other types of employment.
If before the oil boom salaries had an acceptable level, the advent
of the oil exploitation created a personnel drain. It is possible to
send staff for training courses but they quit their jobs after training (the new collective agreement obliges the employee to remain
in his company after training for a period equal to the duration of
his training). This might not be reassuring but such rule is taken
from the Chadian Labour Law which favours employees. A solution
could be found through the implementation of an amicable parting
between employee and employer. In the public media, some training courses are not aimed at the institution development but rather
The African Media Barometer (AMB) - Chad 2007

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Select target paragraph3