The Communication and Journalism Educators’ Network (CJEN) and the Fojo Media Institute successfully conducted back-to-back initial meetings on 3 June 2026 for two AGILE Journalism Education Initiative projects aimed at strengthening journalism education in Bangladesh. The meetings brought together selected journalism educators, project coordinators, and representatives from Fojo Media Institute to begin the collaborative design process for the upcoming educational initiatives.
Both meetings commenced with a round of introductions, allowing participants to become acquainted with one another and their respective institutions. This was followed by a presentation from Sofie Byrnes Gulberg, Project Manager at Fojo Media Institute, who provided an overview of the AGILE Journalism Education Initiative, its objectives, and the expected outcomes of the projects. Following the presentation, Jude William Genilo, Chair of the CJEN Executive Committee, shared reflections on the importance of adopting a co-design and participatory approach in developing course outlines. He emphasized the value of drawing on the collective expertise and experiences of educators to create innovative, practice-oriented learning experiences that respond to the evolving needs of journalism education.
The meetings were also attended by Jesmin Papri, AGILE Project Coordinator for Bangladesh, and Josefine Hornberg, Project Coordinator at Fojo Media Institute. Participants discussed the project timelines and agreed to hold a co-design workshop in July 2026, where the selected educators will collaboratively develop course content and implementation strategies.
Dig Deeper Journalism Initiative
The first meeting brought together the successful applicants selected for the “Dig Deeper” Journalism Initiative, namely:
- Md Belal Hossain, Comilla University
- Rifat Sultana, State University of Bangladesh
- Aftab Hossain, Daffodil International University
The selected educators will collaborate in developing innovative and practice-oriented courses aimed at strengthening journalism education in Bangladesh. The initiative places particular emphasis on enhancing investigative journalism training for female students, contributing to more inclusive and impactful media practices.
Climate Reporting Initiative
The second meeting focused on the Climate Reporting Initiative, with the participation of the following successful applicants:
- Sahibur Rahman, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur
- Mehnaz Hoque, Jagannath University
- Sarkar Barbaq Quarmal, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh
- Emran Hossain, University of Barishal
The initiative forms part of the AGILE Journalism Education Initiative’s broader effort to strengthen journalism education globally. Through the program, participating educators will work together to co-design and implement an extracurricular course on climate reporting, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively cover climate issues and produce impactful stories.
The project will begin with a co-design phase, followed by the local implementation of the course at participating universities. It also includes a Climate Publishing Project, where students will develop and publish climate-related stories under the mentorship of journalism educators and media practitioners. The successful completion of these initial meetings marks an important first step toward fostering innovation, collaboration, and excellence in journalism education in Bangladesh through the AGILE Journalism Education Initiative.
