Somalia National University（SNU） has inaugurated a new Digital Media Center at its main campus in Mogadishu, marking an important step toward more practical and skills-based journalism education.
The center, supported by Fojo Media Institute, provides journalism students with access to a functional training studio equipped with cameras, microphones, studio lighting, and editing computers. Green Media Initiative (GMI) supported the initiative as an advisory consultant, contributing to the planning and establishment of the studio and ensuring it was aligned with practical training needs.
The Digital Media Center is designed to help bridge the gap between theory and practice by enabling students to apply classroom learning in a controlled, professional production environment. This responds to long-standing challenges in journalism education in Somalia, where access to studio facilities and hands-on training opportunities has been limited.
The first activity hosted in the new center was a two-day studio training for journalism lecturers, focused on the effective use of the Digital Media Center for practical teaching. This was followed by a five-day Mobile Journalism (Mojo) training for journalism students and early-career media practitioners. The training was facilitated by Ahmed Absie from GMI and focused on practical reporting, filming, editing, and storytelling using mobile phones. In parallel, selected journalism lecturers were capacitated to manage and use the studio effectively and to integrate studio-based assignments into regular academic programmes.
Together, the establishment of the Digital Media Center, the training of lecturers, and the hands-on MoJo training for students lay a strong foundation for sustained practical journalism education at SNU. It is hoped that the center will continue to support the development of skilled, ethical journalists and contribute positively to the quality and resilience of Somalia’s media sector.
Green Media Initiative warmly appreciates Fojo Media Institute for its continued support and meaningful contribution to strengthening journalism education in Somalia.
Watch a short video produced by students during the five-day MoJo training, highlighting practical sessions and learning outcomes from the programme.