The Department of Communication Sciences at the University College "Bedër" in cooperation with the Albanian Center for Quality Journalism (ACQJ), organized an open seminar on "Visual storytelling and filmography".
Invited to the seminar was American photographer and producer Nathaniel Hansen, who spoke to students about the importance of visuals in the field of communication and beyond. Explaining how a story can be told through several or a single photo, Hansen emphasized the role that photos and videos play in the development of journalism, and the latter in the development of democracies.
He shared with the students his perspective and experience, as well as some of his professional shots and history, which was told through them. Further, Mr. Hansen presented some of the photographs taken by American photographers over the years, which have influenced public opinion and changed the mindset of society. The stories that were told through the photos were related to poverty, children and the period between the two World Wars. Analyzing the communicative power of these photos, Mr. Hansen addressed the technical aspects of perspective, established forms, granulation as well as the potential that these photographs have to disrupt politics and social conditions.
Mr. Hansen asked the students present why they had chosen to study Journalism and Communication. "The stories we choose to tell will shape our future," he said, following their varied responses.
At the end of the discussion, the students asked questions about the application of the ethics of photojournalists, the ways in which they can tell stories through the shooting of photos and about the professional experiences of Mr. Hansen.
Nathaniel Hansen is an Emmy-nominated producer and Peabody Award winner. He is also a director, filmmaker, editor and trainer. His documentaries and commercial work have taken him worldwide, directing documentary film projects and on various brands in Japan, China, India, Venezuela, Brazil, South Africa, England, Sweden, Germany, Albania, Zealand and New and almost in all 50 US states.
Guest: Prof. Assoc. Ervin Pupe, member of the Supreme Court and Chairman of the Justice Appointments Council.
Date: May 11, 2021, Time: 11:00
Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqf-mgrT0rGNH52nGBdftWsB4QmTgDcjC4?fbclid=IwAR2HGa_sIzstE1PQO46Wx3dD5kpAvFXbus2tJzzBNPpcpfQpcv97GKKCH0g
The Department of Law at University College Bedër organizes an open seminar on the topic: "Time to discuss the impact of Justice Reform", where will be invited Marsida Xhaferllari, Member of the Constitutional Court.
The Department of Communication Sciences organizes the seminar on "The future of event organization in the new reality". You were even invited by Suela Tuci, operational director of the "Iceberg Communication" agency.
Suela shared with students her diverse 15 years of experience in the event organization and management sector.
During the discussion, Suela made a comparison of the event in the period before and during the pandemic. What is happening are exciting, have communication power and are a catalyst for businesses. However, the schooling situation before Covid-19 caused us to leave the halls and physical places, moving to online platforms such as Zoom, Google Meeting, etc. Creative elements changed, but choose a way of organizing events.
Thanks to technology, there can be no geographical or time constraints, but you can continue to do well in any organization from their home. On the other hand, technical skills and cyber security solve the challenges of organizing events online.
Prior to the pandemic period, the online event was not recommended, especially for the Albanian market. Already online organization is back in trend after Covid-19 and the event industry is changing forever.
"Events make you hybrids, we are moving at a fast pace towards their digitization," Suela said.
Students and lecturers of the communication department were invited to the meeting. The discussion about the future of the event was dynamic, students directed questions by organizing events and challenges, which are not employed in this sector.
In the fund, everyone agreed in a time of crisis new opportunities arise to take innovative approaches and make the event industry, which has not yet been consolidated in Albania.
The Department of Communication Sciences in cooperation with the Office of Graduates at the University College "Bedër", developed through the Google Meet platform, the activity "Meeting between Generations - Those who know how to campaign".
In this meeting were invited graduate students in master programs, profiles: Journalism and Public Relations in the Department of Communication Sciences, who are very well integrated in the labor market, in the media and the largest marketing agencies in the country, as and abroad, such as USA, Switzerland, etc.
The meeting took place within the course "Conception and campaign management", which takes place in master studies by lecturer Dr. Edlira Mali. During this meeting, the graduates shared their experiences in this subject when they were students. They shared with each other the emotions experienced in each campaign undertaken within this course, as well as talked about its importance and value when facing the market.
During the conversations between them, the students agreed that each campaign starts within a subject and further turns into a challenge and emotion and takes on national dimensions.
Campaigns were discussed throughout the meeting: "The Book is the Only Garden Planted for Others"; "A hair for more smiles"; "I refuse to be silent. Do the same, vote! ”; "A house, a shield for cultural heritage"; "One more book about Presevo"; "Preserve the Tradition, Celebrate Albanian!"; "Know your land, visit Albania!" as well as for this year’s campaign which is starting.
Let us remember that these developed campaigns have taken on national dimensions and have brought together the greatest personalities of culture, art, music, politics, to achieve the goals of the campaigns for the identification and preservation of moral and national values.
Within the course "Strategic Marketing", which is given in the third year "Bachelor" in "Public Relations and Marketing Communication", at the University College "Bedër", through the Google Meet platform, an open lecture was held, where it was invited the cultural journalist and director of the Children's Book Center, Anisa Ymeri.
She introduced the students to the Children's Book Center, from the idea for the creation of this center, to its implementation, describing the entire creative aspect, as well as other dimensions of work in this center.
During the lecture, students were introduced to the work of this center, the role and importance it has today for the spaces dedicated to reading and especially to children.
Students had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the importance of reading to enhance creativity.
The Children's Book Center is a specialized bookstore for children, located at the New Bazaar, TID Tirana. This center also develops after-school study classes with studios: reading; creative writing; handicrafts / painting; theater; philosopher and English.
In the cycle of discussions “Student and Profession”, first invited for this new academic year, in the Department of Communication Sciences at Bedër University College, was the well-known journalist Sonila Meço.
She spoke with students about "doing journalism in difficult times". In the moderated talk by the lecturer of the Department of Communication Sciences, Dr. Valmora Gogo, discussed the role of media in society, the relationship of media and journalists with power, the difficulties of journalist face in the workplace, the economic model of media, the spaces created by new media, and the role that audiences have in the wellbeing of the media.
“Nowadays journalism is difficult because it is stigmatized. The main problem remains the relationship with the power, and the economic model of the media," said Meço.
She further stated that: “There is a relativization of journalists, they are considered bad, and this has led to a crisis of confidence in journalism, so the public no longer trusts journalists. Today journalism is in cholera times. In this logic the journalist must overcome fear, and use the word as the only tool he possesses. ”
The discussion focused on the television journalism, the lines that are tangible and intangible, as well as the importance of character in the journalistic profession.
Further, the discussion focused on the role that online media has today, how it affects public opinion and how this space can be used by journalists and the audience themselves. She said online media creates new opportunities for journalists, avoids censorship, and helps to share information quickly.
She said: “Online media is a space where everyone can be a reporter, everyone can talk, report and give their opinion. This space should be used on all its platforms, especially by journalists, ”.
The discussion also touched upon other issues and other problems to journalism nowadays such as disinformation, censorship, audiences and media agendas.
During the meeting the students had the opportunity to ask questions for discussion.
In the end, Sonila Mecho congratulated the students for the questions they asked and congratulated them, facing the difficult and beautiful profession of journalism.
Sonila Meço is a journalist and the host of "Tempora" on "RTV Ora". She is a journalist with a long experience in Top Channel, TV Klan, Vision + and Agon Channel.