Three Journalism professors from the Middle East University for Graduate Studies in Jordan are working with UT professors on a program that will bring the new world of online journalism to Jordan.   

The program is a part of a $5 million IREX grant with UT and the country of Jordan.  IREX is an international nonprofit organization that provides materials to promote independent media around the world.  Made up of three phases, the program kicked off in the summer of 2007 when John McNair and Anne Hensley traveled to Irbid, Jordan to set up to set up a news classic journalism computer lab.  Jim Stovall followed shortly after.  

The goal is to bring in professional Jordanian journalists and move them into the 21st century. Robert LeggProfessors Sulafa Alzubi, Issam Mousa and Raed Al-lahham will be using the Avid Educational software programs to teach their students about online journalism.  Avid caters to media storage, film and video editing, and audio production needs.  

The group is training with the system and learning about various controls and uses of the system using hands-on computer software and a 420-page information guide.  

Phase two commenced when Robert Legg traveled to Jordan to design a multimedia lab for the Middle East University for Graduate Studies.  The project will wrap up with phase three when UT will design and install a control room and studio in the Jordanian university.   

Tuesday was a day of intense research for the Jordanian professors.  As they huddled together in a small lab of six computers, instructor Jim Maxwell explained the concepts and inner-workings of the Avid program.    

From online video production to cutting pictures over narration, the professors crammed information until lunchtime.  Tired and hungry, the group made its way to Smokey's Café for some traditional American food.   

Mousa looked content with his plastic plate of green beans, mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. A native of Jordan, Mousa received his master's degree in Seattle, Wash. in 1981.  He is familiar with American culture and easily converses with students in English.   

On the walk back to the communications building, Alzubi was eager to talk about journalism in Jordan.  Born in Jordan, Alzubi lived in Baghdad while working for CNN until 2004.  Along with teaching, she also researches American perceptions of Middle Eastern culture in a post-9/11 world.  

"Americans are afraid because they do not understand and are misinformed," Alzubi says.  "They automatically think of Osama bin Laden, which is completely wrong."    

She describes her immersion in America as difficult at times because of the language barrier.  Although the American culture is completely different from that in Jordan, Alzubi says that Americans are very friendly and easy to connect with.  

The group is eager to learn about Web journalism because Jordan is still behind in technology.  According to Legg, the ultimate objective of the program is to bring in professional Jordanian journalists and move them into the 21st century.    

"Jordan is a country that doesn't have the privilege of technology and teaching convergence media like America," Legg said.  

The group's schedule is full as they finish out their week at UT. After their Avid software training, Legg will have the group practice film editing. Stovall will also talk about online journalism, and Dr. Sam Swan will work with them on TV news. They will finish out the week monitoring the development of UT Today on Friday.    

The Middle East University for Graduate Studies in Amman, Jordan, is the only school in the country that offers a master's degree program in mass communication.  Although the university is only three-years-old, it is comprised of 500 graduate and doctorate students and hopes to grow in fall 2008 when it adds undergraduate courses.