Most of the interviewees declared that additional training is of significant importance. Especially technological competences concerning the digitalisation of (news) media was reported to be necessary. In-house trainings, therefore, also focused on working with social media and new types of software. The journalists and editors-in-chief both acknowledged that their media organisations offered a wide variety of training programmes; however, journalists mentioned not always having sufficient time to take part in these. The limitations of resources are also a possible explanation for not letting every journalist participate in additional trainings.
It is not obliged by law that journalists partake in additional training or education, and media organisations have no obligation to offer these trainings or education either. At VRT, however, journalists must partake in training concerning coping with verbal and physical aggression. For the news sector as a whole, the Flemish government has funded professional training through the Media Academy[i] in collaboration with the sectoral umbrella organisations, but unfortunately, decided to terminate the funding mechanism for this in 2019.
[i] https://www.mediacademie.be
