The Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ), South Africa's oldest and most trusted communications and journalism training institute, is constantly advancing towards being 4IR ready.
Abrahams-Smith is a longstanding member of the IAJ team she joined the organisation in 1993, during this time she headed the Community Radio Programme (CRTP), she was also involved with the School Camp programme as well as the gender awareness training. She took on the role of Executive Director in 2015 after working for over a decade in training and specialising in Community Radio training projects.
“The organisation is looking to explore opportunities led by the 4IR’s digital economy and the infusion of technologies,” says Abrahams-Smith.
The IAJ has 27 years of history in training journalists and communicators. Despite this history, the organisation is cognisant of the need to keep abreast of international trends.
“The IAJ is known for our reputable training and our longstanding passion for the media’s role in a democracy. We offer inter-active, blended learning with subject matter experts”. She goes on to add that “The IAJ has transcended traditional print and broadcast journalism and trains journalists and communicators across all media platforms,” said Abrahams-Smith.
The IAJ offers a variety of short courses to up-skill, early and mid-career journalists and communicators.
Abrahams-Smith details the IAJ’s values as working towards promoting professional standards, supporting and initiating training programmes which stimulate the development of sound news values and an appreciation of the key role of the media in democratic societies.
In 2020 the IAJ has for the first time embarked on the intake of ten learnership students to study towards an NQF journalism qualification. The IAJ has partnered with the Media, Information, Communications Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICTSETA) for the one-year journalism programme. The learnership will be made up of five modules that include; writing, reporting and producing.
The IAJ has also committed to the intake of ten interns in 2020, to offer each an internship placement to gain the necessary work place experience in the field of media and journalism, both initiatives in the hope to contribute to the skills development and unemployment of the youth in South Africa. The interns have been placed at the IAJ offices, The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), The Foundation for Human Rights, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), Sunskills, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT FM) As well as at the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA).