-117 participants on board
-by Kimberly Giddings
The Guyana Media and Communications Academy held its opening ceremony for the 2026 cohort on Thursday, welcoming the 117 participants who will be trained for the 2026 programme.
Facilitators and past alumni were on hand, to encourage the new batch of trainees and to offer them guidance. And new incentives for the trainees were announced.
The academy, which has been operating since 2022, continues to provide opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing careers in the media industry.
Over the past few years, many of its alumni have gone on to work in both state and private media agencies after completing the programme.
Facilitators and past alumni spoke at the opening ceremony, offering encouragement and sharing their experiences with the new cohort as they begin their own journeys in the media field.
Sports Journalist, Rawle Toney said the academy serves as an introduction into the media landscape. He said, “This academy definitely gives you experience and it’s a first step into the right direction into the world of media and hopefully I get to see more of you come into the sport media.”
For alumni William Ramlall, the Academy has helped to fortify his personally and professionally, granted him the tools to become a Communications professional.
“This academy has and have been a pillar of strength, dedication, motivation and resilience and is committed to bringing news, media and information. I’ve served in the media and hopefully I’ll return and it has opened windows of opportunity for me so I encourage you make the best of it,” Ramlall said.
The training spans approximately three months and brings together participants from all ten administrative regions across the country.
It aims to equip aspiring media practitioners with foundational knowledge and practical skills across various areas of media and communication.
Meanwhile, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Information, Kwame McCoy, expressed his delight at seeing so many youths pursuing training in media and communication.
He assured that the government remains committed to investing in them.
“We will work with every single one of you as hard as we can to ensure that the end of this training programme, your successful and that you have the opportunity your seeking to work in a fascinated area and overtime we’ll be able to see your continuous growth,” he stressed.
Looking ahead, Minister McCoy announced that the Guyana Media Academy will soon launch a new digital platform designed for alumni, facilitators, and current and future participants of the programme.
He explained that the platform will include a system to measure participants’ engagement, noting that participant will accumulate credits as they utilize the platform.
And how can these credits be used? It was announced that the academy has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with several retailers of computers, tablets, and other electronic devices.
Participants will be able to use the credits to access discounts at those partnering stores.
The minister also revealed plans for the academy to host quarterly engagements featuring experts in media and communication.
These events will provide opportunities for media professionals and practitioners from across the country to attend, interact, and share knowledge within the industry.