‘From Sharjah, We Begin’ podcast training starts

The seventh edition of “Ithmar,” a youth media training programme by the Sharjah Press Club (SPC), launched on Monday with a renewed focus on podcasting as a creative platform for young voices.

This year’s edition targets children and teenagers aged 10 to 15 who have an interest in media communication and audio storytelling.

As part of the programme, participants will develop and produce episodes for a new podcast titled ‘From Sharjah, We Begin,’ with ideas generated during interactive brainstorming sessions held before the start of the programme. This allows participants to shape the direction and content of the podcast.

Running until July 24, the initiative aims to build self-confidence, strengthen local identity, and develop participants’ communication and public speaking skills.

The youth will work together to produce podcast episodes that are age-appropriate and content-driven, while following a structured production timeline.

This initiative offers a hands-on training platform that enables young participants to express their ideas and experiences in a professional media format.

Alia Al Suwaidi, Director of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), stressed the importance of equipping children and youth with media skills, especially through tools that reflect how the industry is evolving. She said that preparing the next generation and enabling them to engage in practical experiences, such as podcasting, is a key step in helping them express themselves professionally and responsibly.

Al Suwaidi noted that Ithmar is part of SGMB’s wider efforts to support emerging talent by introducing them to platforms that allow for self-expression and skill building in a supportive environment.

The seventh edition, she added, builds on the outcomes of previous editions, with a particular emphasis on audio media, which has become an increasingly important space for positive influence. Al Suwaidi said that involving children in podcast production gives them a real-world experience in creating content that reflects their realities and is relevant to their communities.

The first week of training covers a range of voice and presentation skills, including microphone confidence, tone control, clarity in pronunciation, and storytelling. Participants also practise news reading, podcast introductions, and the difference between live recording and edited audio.

Sessions include exercises on using positive, expressive language and engaging listeners through sound. Later in the week, participants move into interview techniques, active listening, and on-camera presence, with a full podcast simulation to close out the week.

By the end of the programme, participants are expected to understand how to take an idea from concept to final recording and to work as a team to produce a complete podcast episode.

SPC continues to update and expand the “Ithmar” programme to meet the interests of young people, providing them the tools to take part in shaping the future of media locally and internationally.

Earlier, the inaugural week of the second edition of the “Arab Podcast Programme,” a pathbreaking initiative organised by the Dubai Press Club, witnessed a distinguished group of content creators and industry experts from across the Arab world sharing their insights with enthusiastic Arab youth eager to carve a niche within the fast-evolving digital media realm of podcasting.

The accent on enabling young participants to find their feet as audio content creators – with established professionals sharing their creative vision, expertise, and technical knowledge – underscores the rapid growth of this vital sector and the increasing interest in podcasting as an influential and innovative media platform aligned with the trends of modern media.

Launched on July 7 at the Dubai Press Club, the Arab Podcast Programme features five weeks of intensive training under the supervision of Charbel Issa, a certified trainer on Podeo, a leading podcasting platform in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The training sessions are designed to offer participants a clear idea of fundamental concepts while they gain new skills through hands-on practical training modules.

Hosting the second edition of the Arab Podcast Programme is part of the Dubai Press Club’s sustained efforts to promote the growth of the Arabic podcasting industry and contribute to the development of a dynamic and evolving digital media landscape across the region. The initiative aligns with the rapid changes being witnessed in terms of digital content consumption patterns and aims to support a more active and influential Arab presence in one of the fastest-growing media segments worldwide.