By Ro Maung Shwe
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, Nearly one hundred young Rohingya, including women from refugee camps, have received their first structured training in professional journalism through a three-day program aimed at amplifying the voices of their community on the global stage.
The training, titled “Journalism for Juniors,” was delivered in two batches and jointly organized by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), TRT World, and the Arakan Humanitarian Association.
Learning the Tools of Journalism
Participants were introduced to essential skills such as news writing, interviewing, media ethics, fact-checking, documentary video editing, and fair reporting. Through interactive sessions, they practiced drafting news articles, conducting interviews, and using digital tools for storytelling. Trainers also highlighted how international media functions and how Rohingya voices can be better represented worldwide.
To strengthen practical learning, participants were divided into groups and tasked with producing short documentary videos using photography and videography techniques. Trainers reviewed their submissions, provided feedback, and selected two winning groups from each batch, who were awarded videography equipment.
A First Experience of Structured Training
For many participants, this was their first opportunity to learn journalism in a structured format. They described the training as inspiring and empowering, noting that it gave them both technical knowledge and confidence to represent their community truthfully.
By the end of the program, participants expressed strong motivation to continue developing their journalism skills. Organizers emphasized that the initiative not only strengthened technical capacity but also fostered teamwork, leadership, and networking, laying the foundation for a new generation of Rohingya storytellers.
Voices from the Training
RB Hafizu, a videographer and video editor who was among the award winners, said:
“I have long been involved in journalism and research, but this program gave me deeper knowledge, especially in media ethics and fact-checking. The happiest moment was when our group was declared the winner in the Documentary Video Presentation. Receiving the award and certificate from Additional RRRC Mr. Abu Sale Mohammed Obaidullah Sir was truly a proud moment.”
M. Arif, a researcher and participant, reflected:
“In today’s modern world, our community lags behind in technology and we are often misrepresented by media outlets. This training was very important. I sincerely thank TRT and the Arakan Humanitarian Association for this initiative and would request that they consider longer and more advanced training courses in the future.”
Syedul Mostafa, a youth advocate, said:
“This training was a great opportunity for young people to enhance their skills in journalism. However, thousands of Rohingya social media actors and aspiring journalists could not join. I believe it would be more effective if such initiatives are expanded to include more participants, with strong management focused on youth development.”
Another Rohingya journalist added:
“TRT World has taken a great step for young Rohingya refugees. I urge other international media outlets including Al Jazeera, CNN, BBC, and ABC News to arrange similar programs. Such training is vital for our community, which faces daily misrepresentation, hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation. Building professional journalism skills is one of the best ways to protect our dignity and voice.”
A Platform to Reclaim Voices
The Journalism for Juniors training was more than a workshop. It was a platform for Rohingya youth to reclaim their voices in a world where their stories are often told by others. By equipping young refugees with media literacy and storytelling skills, the program highlighted how empowering a new generation of Rohingya journalists can counter misinformation, preserve dignity, and amplify their struggles and resilience on the global stage.
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