BJA launches national initiative to employ dismissed journalists

Manama, Mar. 16 (BNA): Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) President Ahdeya Ahmed has announced the launch of an initiative to re-employ journalists who had been dismissed. The association will receive the journalists’ requests and CVs and will coordinate with private sector institutions and companies to find them jobs that are commensurate with their academic qualifications and practical experience in the field of journalism, she said. “There are vacant positions in the public relations sections in a number of institutions that would be appropriate for former journalists,” she said. “Many journalists who lost their jobs are now working in companies doing jobs that do not match their experience and their status within the Fourth Estate. Journalists are needed in various governmental institutions and they should be given priority in the recruitment process.” The experience they had gained in their field work will contribute to raising the level of media work within the institutions in line with the aspirations of citizens, she added. “The jobs that the association seeks to provide are consistent with the status of journalists and preserve their dignity and prestige. It is unacceptable to employ a journalist as a watchman for instance,” Ahdeya said. The issue of finding appropriate jobs for journalists is a priority for the board of the association and all requests will be considered. Companies and private sector institutions are urged to initiate contact with the association to explain the suitable vacancies they have, she added. The initiative also concerns the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and the Civil Service Bureau as the official umbrella for employment, and the Labour Fund “Tamkeen” with its a major role in making Bahraini citizens the best choice for employment either through training or wage support, she said. “Bahrain Journalists Association is part of the civil society and, based on its status, is concerned with the conditions of all journalists and will spare no effort in terms of finding jobs for dismissed journalists,” she said. “Public support for addressing the situation of unemployed journalists is a positive attitude. We will require coordination and cooperation among all parties as well as sincere efforts in order to reduce the number of job seekers. The initiative will involve ministries and government agencies, private sector establishments, employers, NGOs and associations,” she said. “The association is considering launching a training programme for young people, based on its responsibility to bridge the gap between the outputs of education and the requirements of the labour market, which is one of the challenges facing the unemployed. The programme will be announced in detail soon." Ahdeya was elected president of the BJA in February. She was the first woman to hold the position since BJA was launched in 2002.