Professional development

There was no professional development training for Somali journalists after the state collapsed in 1991 until 2011 when FPY, IREX, BBC Media Action and other international agencies started providing media training throughout Somalia.

Journalism is a very dangerous profession in Somalia and journalists face daily threats of violence or arrest. Most journalists working in the country today do not have any formal education, and very few will have education to a degree level, and indeed many lack any experience of working in the media.

The situation is slowly changing. Through the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and the Somaliland Journalist Association (SOLJA) various short-term training programs are available for journalists in the country. The SOLJA provides regular training and workshops for journalists in Somaliland.