From March 29 to April 11, the ORTB organized a training seminar on “web journalism and social networks”. The participants, about ten, are journalists from the private sector and other players in the digital ecosystem.
It is a training initiated by the Vocational Training Center of the Office of Broadcasting and Television of Benin (ORTB). The participants were trained for ten days in the web service of this press group. Journalists and laymen learned the specificities of web writing, natural referencing or even social network management.
The training allowed them to better understand the psychology of the web and the editorial style adapted for a more profitable use of websites and social networks.
“What we have won is worth more than gold because today we are not on the web to be there”. rejoices Alfred Bouda, communication officer of an NGO based in Pobè. Alfred Bouda retains lessons that there are opportunities to be captured when one masters and respects practices and standards on the web. “And it is this knowledge that the ORTB offered us against a symbolic financial payment”he says happily.
Like him, several beneficiaries of this training say they are now able to better use social networks for the benefit of their businesses. “I learned a lot of things that I didn’t know. Arrival in my organ, I will make good use of this knowledge”assures Malicathou Aremou, technician at Radio Hémicycle.
“Only destination, if you want to master the use of social networks”
Satisfied with the lessons, Philippe Tougan, one of the beneficiaries of the said training and journalist for the daily Communal Infos, declares that the ORTB remains an ideal place in Benin to improve:
“Training in web writing is not lacking, but if you are a journalist and want to write for online media, this is the only destination. And if you also want to master the use of social networks, this is the only destination”.
These testimonials comfort the persons in charge of the Center of professional training of the ORTB in general and in particular, the authorities of the Office. “Through your various testimonies, I can understand that you are satisfied with the training offer that ORTB has made available to you. If so then, as one participant said, we are ready to repeat the experience”said Michel Kindekon, project manager of the interim director general of the ORTB during the delivery of the certificates of end of training.
Contribute to the profitability of social media
At the launch of the training on March 29, Jean-Philippe Érick Abraham, acting director general of the ORTB, told the trainees that the Office hoped to contribute to a better profitability of the social media of their companies of origin. According to Jean-Philippe Érick Abraham, “No one can do without social networks in the era of digitalization. It is therefore necessary to monetize its presence on social media”.