09.07.07
Falmouth's Broadcast Journalism course establishes links with the Ukraine

Alexsandr Akymenko of the Kirovohrad University in the Ukraine is currently enjoying a visit to University College Falmouth to forge links with the College as well as share his experiences with MA Broadcast Journalism students through the course's well-established 'Masterclass' series.

University College Falmouth offers short, intensive, masterclasses by media experts, for two weeks every year, covering specific topics within its renowned Broadcast Journalism course.

This two-week visit was set in motion at one of last year's masterclasses when Myc Ruggulsford, the environment journalist, spoke of a remarkable young man in the Ukraine who was making great progress in the training of young journalists.

The remarkable young man in question was Alexsandr who, in an attempt to redress the lack of quality journalism training for students in the Ukraine, launched a Media Fest for training in 2005 with just $15.

This autumn will see the third Media Fest being held at two Ukrainian universities in different cities. The event is now funded and sponsored by a number of media and other organisations, including the US Embassy which has donated $10,000.

The course team subsequently invited Alexsandr to attend this year's masterclass sessions and his visit has been funded by the British Council. He has already given an excellent talk to Broadcast Journalism students on the difficulties of being a journalist in the Ukraine, where 30 Ukrainian journalists have either disappeared or been murdered in recent years.

"Alexsandr Akymenko is an inspiring young man and he shows what determination can do in difficult circumstances," says part-time lecturer on the MA Broadcast Journalism course, Paul Lashmar. "We hope that his visit to the masterclass sessions will be helpful to him and look forward to developing closer links between journalism training here and in the Ukraine in the future."

For further information about the MA Broadcast Journalism course at University College Falmouth, please visit www.falmouth.ac.uk/broadcastjournalism, contact Admissions on 01326 213784 or email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk.

For further information contact Jilly Easterby, Head of Public Affairs, University College Falmouth on 01326 213792 or email jilly.easterby@falmouth.ac.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project, both Phase 1 and Phase 2, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). University College Falmouth is a partner of the CUC.

Editor's notes:

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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