The Media Development Center at Birzeit University announced on March 15, 2016, the launch of three new studies on key media issues.

The collection is part of a publication series initiated in 2014.

The studies are a series of contributions by scholars and media specialists seeking to draw attention to media ethics, the evolution of public media and its role of forming the Palestinian identity, and the applicability of "Right to Information" statutes for the Palestinian media.“Media Ethics in the Arab-Israeli conflict” addressed the key concerns facing journalists, in times of war and conflict, about the appropriate way to report news.

The second study reviews the role of public broadcasting in forming and maintaining the Palestinian identity, using unified messages and communication tactics as a vehicle to educate the internal audience in Palestine, and informing the international community of the Palestinian cause.

The third publication establishes guidelines for drafting and promoting a right to information law in Palestine based on international standards and good practice.The research projects are funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

President Abdul Latif Abu Hijleh, received on February 29,2016,  the Head of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR), Mohammad Ishtayeh, for the official opening of a Media Spokespersons workshop.
Center of Media Development (MDC) Director Nibal al-Thwabteh, Media Research and Policy Unit Coordinator at MDC Saleh Masharqa, and the Center’s Monitoring and Evaluation Unit Coordinator Imad Asfar attended the meeting.
Both Parties stressed on the importance of enhancing politicians ability to reach the audience.  They assured that a political leader must succeed in developing powerful and efficient image management strategies to reach his audience and convey his cause wisely.
Professor Abu Hijleh said that the university has always sought to strengthen its ties with national and governmental institution to help officials achieve their tasks efficiently and professionally.
“ As a politician, the greatest asset I can bring to my career, is the ability to communicate effectively through the media and to live audiences. Therefore, such training programs are very important for politicians and officials to enroll in, in order to learn the techniques of delivering a clear, wise and strategic message through media”, Ishtayeh assured.
Thawabteh pointed that in this training, 20 participants will not only learn traditional approaches, but discover the tricks of delivering a distinctive message. “ This training will bolster the communication performance for community leader and officials.”

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The Media Development Centre at Birzeit University and several local radio stations on February 12, 2016 joined the rest of the world in marking annual World Radio Day.
University president Abdel Latif Abu Hijleh, speaking at the event, emphasized the vital role that radio plays in the technological era. “There is a changing face to radio services which, in the current time of media convergence, are taking new technological forms such as streaming through mobiles and tablets and the emergence of social media. Still radio remains the medium that reaches the widest audience worldwide in the quickest possible time.”
“As a university,” he continued, “we seek to improve cooperation between broadcasters locally and internationally and to encourage our students to specialize in this field by providing plenty of training in state-of-the art radio studio and audio facilities.”
Vice President for Community Outreach Liza Taraki said that, since its emergence in 1936, radio has always given Palestinians a voice to speak and express their thoughts freely while Israel continuously infringes upon the rights of the Palestinian people to freedom of opinion and expression.
Taraki encouraged those who work in media not to turn their backs on radio broadcasting services as it remains the primary mean of information and entertainment and has the capacity to reach large numbers of people and affect them.
Media Development Center director Nibal Thawabteh described the professional training courses and reliable consultancy services keeping apace with the latest professional and technical standards in media that are offered by the center. “We aim to expand journalists’ radio knowledge with our training courses,” she said. “We see radio broadcasting as the most powerful communication medium.”
World Radio Day was initiated by UNESCO in 2011 to celebrate radio as a medium, improve cooperation between broadcasters, and encourage major networks and community radios to promote access to information, freedom of expression, and gender equality over the airwaves.

President Abdul Latif Abu Hijleh Monday  7/12/2015;  received Hanan Ashrawi, the head of the Culture and Information department in the Palestine Liberation Organization, for the official opening of a Media Spokespersons workshop.

Vice President for Community Outreach Lisa Taraki, Center of Media Development (MDC) Director Nibal al-Thwabteh, Media Research and Policy unit coordinator at MDC Saleh Masharqa, and head of Ashrawi’s information department Samia Wazouz attended the meeting.

Abu Hijleh and Ashrawi discussed the importance of training and developing the media skills of the PLO’s employees. They explained that the workshop is the product of a thorough study of the PLO’s media performance and needs.

They further highlighted the depth of the partnership between Birzeit University and Palestine's national institutions, most notably the PLO.

Thawabteh explained that the training course will address the special skills a media spokesperson should posses, including writing news and press releases, running social media and performing online research, conducting radio and TV interviews and organizing press conferences, just to name a few.

The workshop, held in the Mohammad Masrouji Media Building, was attended by the Vice President for Development and Communications, Ashrawi, and 16 employees selected from different departments in the PLO.

Ashrawi affirmed that the purpose of the workshop is to concentrate on mechanisms and methods that help convey the Palestinian media message in a clear and wise manner to achieve a unified goal using all means available.

Khatib said the university has always sought to boost ties with national Palestinian institutions and exert all efforts to help employees achieve tasks with efficiency and in a professional manner.