CAIRO - Within the context of staff recruitment and manpower development policy, The Egyptian Gazette, the only daily English language newspaper in Egypt, organised its sixth annual training course that took place from September 4 to October 4 with 23 graduate and undergraduate trainees taking part. The course, which was concluded on Tuesday, included lectures and practical exercises pertaining to journalism in English delivered by the newspaper's managing editor (right-hand photo). The trainees, who belonged to various professional syndicates as well as Government and private-run universities, especially the departments of English and Mass Communication, were introduced to the art of professional journalistic writing, the proper use of terminology relating to the various fields of specialisation. The trainees were also required to take home assignments, during which their journalism and language skills were displayed. The trainees have had the chance to use their journalism and translation skills on host of topics that ranged from the political climate in Egypt to regional politics and culture. The trainees were also given daily lectures about journalism and English language skills respectively. During the course, all trainees used The Egyptian Gazette as the main course material. Supplementary material was also used throughout the course to improve their English writing skills, build their own glossary(ies), and observe the intricacies of English, particularly when translating from Arabic into English. At the conclusion session, the Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Mohamed Salah Attia, outlined the course objectives stressing the notion of broadening and further facilitating the recruitment process through the establishment of what is called “The Egyptian Gazette Friends' Association”. The trainees, who distinguished themselves through the course as well as in subsequent assignments, will be candidates to be given priority whenever the newspaper seeks to fill vacancies. They may also be recommended for work at other newspapers and information institutions at home and abroad. The Egyptian Gazette would mull offering the one-month course during the first half of 2012. During the course, the instructor specified the prerequisites of working at newspapers in general, and The Egyptian Gazette and similar English language publications in particular. He laid stress on ‘excellent English and computer literacy as the two main prerequisites, to which must be added the broadest possible base of general knowledge.
