'Standard' partners with Aga Khan to train journalists on modern skills

The Standard Group has partnered with Aga Khan University to train journalists in a one-year programme targeting young university graduates.

The programme has been ongoing with the first batch of trainees having gone through the training at the Standard Media Academy between November 2014 to July 2015.

The trainees will have six month of classroom training, then spend the rest of the time working on Standard Group platforms.

Standard Group Chief Executive Officer Sam Shollei said they will get mentorship from the company's journalists and other experts.

"This training started in 2015, this is the second group. We'll equip them with skills to make them the voice of society. We want them to begin their careers at the Standard Group as all-rounded journalists," Mr Shollei said in the statement read on his behalf by Group Finance Director and Chief Operations Officer Orlando Lyomu.

Mr Shollei said the company has already picked 12 trainees for the programme out of 500 applicants. Aga Khan Graduate School of Media and Communications Dean Michael Meyer termed the programme a wonderful experience for young trainees.

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"Technology is revolutionising economies. We should harness its power to collect and analyse information, connect with audiences and tell compelling stories across the multiple platforms. We should understand the forces reshaping the industry, build team and talent and turn their ideas into reality," said Meyer.

Standard Group Editorial Director Joseph Odindo said: "The launch of the second class comes at a time the media industry is going through dynamic changes. For a long time, the fate of the media industry was left to institutional trainers and one of the challenges faced is marching skills the institutions give and demands in the industry. We need to adapt to new changes and standards and equip people with the skills required in the market."