High quality journalism is a critical element of effective governance systems, and is an important voice in promoting justice for all citizens. Recently, Bangladesh has made some progress toward a sustainable, pluralistic media sector. The recent passage of the Right to Information Act was an important milestone for the country and for the vibrant media that exist in Bangladesh.

However, the media sector needs to improve further to fulfill its role in society. Journalists and media owners remain vulnerable to corruption and intimidation. Media is a precarious business venture, leading to underfinanced newsrooms. The skills and norms of journalists need to be upgraded to meet international professional standards.

The Institute of Governance Studies (IGS) of BRAC University has launched the Journalism Training and Research Initiative (JATRI) to strengthen and expand the skills of journalists and of persons who aspire to be journalists, helping them to fulfill their role of communicators and facilitators of public discourse. Start-up funding for JATRI is provided by the USAID PROGATI Project. 
 

Approach

JATRI is devoted to improving the state of journalism in Bangladesh by providing training and support to journalists and to researchers investigating social and economic issues of importance to society.  It will promote the use of international best practices and professional standards through its research, publications, meetings and competitions. 

The staff and work of JATRI are guided by principles that reflect the ethics of idealism, accountability and accomplishment. These principles include ethical and professional integrity in carrying out its mission; gender equity and pro-active support for female journalists; and an unbending focus on serving working and aspiring journalists.

Activities & Resources
 

JATRI is a source of advanced and highly professional training and education for working and aspiring journalists, and students and graduates of schools of journalism and communications. It engages high quality national and international trainers and researchers in its activities. Core activities and resources include:

• Training on investigative techniques for print and broadcast media, on multimedia reporting and story telling and on journalistic ethics and standards.Research on issues that have direct bearing on professional practices, and on public affairs that affect readers and viewers.  
• Annual fellowship awards to enterprising young journalists with innovative investigative research proposals, including follow-on placement in mainstream media houses.  
• A state of the art resource facility with newspapers, journals, books and magazines, and a digital archiving system to facilitate access to documents by reporters.
   

The Institute of Governance Studies (IGS) of BRAC University launched the Journalism Training and Research Initiative (JATRI) in order to strengthen and expand the skills of journalists and those who aspire to be journalists and help them fulfill their role of communicators and facilitators of public discourse.

The Start-up funding for JATRI was provided by the USAID PROGATI Project and built upon a series of meetings held with senior journalists in Dhaka, Chittagong, Bogra and Barisal. JATRI also draws upon views and suggestions provided during a meeting held in Dhaka with a diverse group of about thirty journalists and representatives from newspapers, radio and television stations and media NGOs.

 Core activities and resources of JATRI include but not limited to:

• Training on investigative techniques for print and broadcast media, on multimedia reporting and storytelling and on journalistic ethics and standards.
• Research on issues that have direct bearing on professional practices, and on public affairs that affect readers and viewers.
• Public events on various media related issues.
• Annual fellowship awards to enterprising young journalists with innovative investigative research proposals, including follow-on placement in mainstream media houses.
• A state of the art resource facility with newspapers, journals, books and magazines, and a digital archiving system to facilitate access to documents by reporters