Culminating several months of design work and negotiations between The Press Institute (TPI) and EPRC, the Economics Journalism Club was launched in a ceremony held on 16 April at TPI. The goal of the club is to improve journalists’ understanding and coverage of economic issues.
The Press Institute and the project enlisted the cooperation of several international and local organizations, including the Ministry of Finance, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Open Society Forum, International Finance Corporation, the Institute of Finance and Economics, and the Young Economists Club. With support from its local and international partners, the club will implement a program to build the capacity of interested journalists to cover and report on economic issues by sponsoring presentations and discussions with national and international experts, site visits, workshops, club events, and activities. The club intends to strengthen the role of media in the economic development of Mongolia and enhance the media’s ability to deliver topical and timely information on economic issues to the general public.
At the MoU signing ceremony, Dr. Fernando Bertoli of EPRC emphasized the importance of enhancing journalists’ understanding and knowledge of economic issues on the eve of Mongolia’s rapid economic development. MP Amarjargal, Board President of the Institute of Finance and Economics, gave the keynote address at the ceremony. Mr. Arshad Sayed, Country Manager and Resident Representative, World Bank, D. Ganbold, Head of Department, Ministry of Finance, M. Ulambadrah, Executive Director, Mongolian Television Association and A. Altantuya, Head of Economics Department of daily newspaper, Ardyn Erkh also provided remarks.
The signed MoU launching the Economics Journalism Club commits the signing parties to:- Support the initiative of capacity building of media in Mongolia to provide higher quality news coverage and information on economic issues through setting up and developing an Economics Journalism Club
- Support activities of the club, including but not limited to round table meetings, workshops, lectures, field trips and site visits, joint productions, professional coaching and tutoring, contests, and panel discussions
- Initiate new activities for club members based on current developments in the economic and political sector and needs of journalists and media.
The club is currently planning workshops on stock exchanges, corporate governance, and the role of the Bank of Mongolia (BoM) on monetary policy and controlling inflation.