Tripoli: Students from the Faculty of Media and Communication at the University of Tripoli conducted a field visit to the headquarters of the Libyan News Agency (LANA) as part of a practical training program, this initiative is designed to enhance hands-on learning and connect theoretical knowledge with professional skills within media institutions.
According to Libyan News Agency, the visit began with a tour of various departments and newsrooms. Dr. Mohamed Al-Ajam, a professor at the faculty, emphasized that the visit aimed to provide students with firsthand experience of the work environment within the official agency. The students learned about the stages of news production, which included initial receipt and dissemination across the agency’s platforms, thereby refining their editorial and technical skills.
The students also toured the agency’s documentation center, which houses historical documents and an archive with millions of news articles spanning more than six decades. They learned about preserving media materials, documenting news content, and the archive’s role in supporting journalistic work and serving as a database for future reference.
Further exploration included visits to various departments, such as the newsroom, where managing editor Mustafa Aziz and other editors explained the journalistic workflow. This process involved source tracking, editing, and broadcasting across the agency’s media platforms, including the website, newspaper platforms, and radio station (WAL).
The tour concluded with an extensive dialogue session attended by Abdulbasit Aboudia, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Agency, and others. The session focused on the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and media organizations to nurture national talent capable of keeping pace with media sector developments.
The session covered topics on developing successful journalists, emphasizing professional ethics such as credibility, objectivity, fact-checking, and professional source handling. It also addressed challenges like the rapid flow of news and misinformation, and the need for technical skill enhancement.
Journalists offered advice to students, stressing the importance of continuous reading, developing writing and editing skills, and engaging in field training. The Faculty of Media and Communication at the University of Tripoli affirmed that such visits are integral to its plan for professional development, helping students gain practical experience and develop skills in various media disciplines.