When you look at the sky of the Syrian media, you capture a flickering flash in which the pillars of truth and credibility fade away, besieged by absurdity from all sides, surpassing the skills of journalism and meticulous research. In the midst of this tragedy, the knights of this true profession try to renew hope and rebuild a profession that has receded and collapsed in the depths of shallowness and triviality.

The land of a million media professionals:
We have never heard of anyone other than an engineer being called an "engineer" or a doctor being granted the title of "lawyer" or any other profession, except for one profession in Syria, offered for sale amidst the preachers of fame and celebrities, and has become easily accessible to anyone without a profession, disregarding its value and putting society at stake due to the disasters and consequences resulting from this phenomenon.

The current media situation in Syria can be defined by one phrase: every citizen in the country has two professions, their original profession and the media profession. It is the land of a million media professionals, where the profession of troubles has spread like wildfire among citizens of all ages. When you ask anyone about their dream, they answer without hesitation, "the media," but circumstances have come between me and them!

Platforms that have distorted the profession:
Media has become open to everyone in recent times, especially with the start of the war in the country, and anyone who wants can associate themselves with it, regardless of their qualifications. Just by strolling through the streets of Damascus, you will witness a bitter scene where "wayward cameras" claiming media superiority roam the streets, carrying their twisted opinion polls in their hands, asking empty questions and conducting harmful pranks. This has made citizens fear standing in front of real media cameras that practice the profession in its true sense. As soon as they spot a journalist approaching them, they flee.

The majority of people of this kind or platforms join the profession to achieve personal goals or to create a name or promote their personal brand, and so far, the Ministry of Information hasn't paid close attention to this issue. It's a reality that has been embraced by social media platforms, revealing concerted efforts to encroach upon this profession, devour its spaces, distort its noble literary traditions.

It is the digital world that has paved the way for what is happening today. It's very simple: open a "page" on social media platforms like Facebook, publish sponsored advertisements to sell "identities," and disseminate information and news that are devoid of truth with the aim of gathering "likes," "interactions," and "shares."

How to become a journalist in a month?

At first glance, when you read the title "How to become a journalist in a month?" it may seem like you're reading advice on losing weight or quitting an unhealthy habit. You re-read it to make sure the word "journalist" is there, and indeed, you read it correctly. It's a group of centers that claim to teach you journalism and develop your hobby in exchange for a hefty sum of money.

Thus, the training centers for media courses in Syria have turned into a "commodity."

Ahmed, a fourth-year student at the Faculty of Media, explained that most of these centers deceive passionate young people through flashy headlines, extensive advertising, and promotion to attract as many students as possible without providing real training content. He added that these centers rely on unqualified trainers who lack academic experience.

Sanaa, speaking to "Dama Platform," mentioned that she saw an advertisement for a TV correspondent course organized by one of the centers in Damascus for a fee of one and a half million Syrian pounds for a duration of one month. However, this course only covered theoretical aspects of television reporting, and the role of the trainer was limited to reading a few pages. She felt that she gained nothing from it.

Has the teaching protocol for journalism affected the profession?

After the establishment of the Media Department in the 1980s, which later became an independent college with four majors about ten years ago, hundreds of students graduated. Due to the limited number of media outlets in Syria, most of these graduates remained unemployed, waiting for any opportunity to work in their field. Others lost hope and turned to other fields.

In recent years, thousands of graduates from media training centers have joined them, who faced the shock of the job market and felt that they bought certificates in an "illusion." Joining the media profession became a professional "catastrophe" for some of them.

In addition, the media selection process based on the secondary education certificate, adopted by the Ministry of Education, is based on a low score. Many students choose this field as their first choice due to the ease of admission. This puts the media community at stake.

As a direct result of these individuals entering the field of media, violations of the profession have increased unprecedentedly. Journalism has become mixed with "analysts," where their opinion becomes more important than the event itself. Entertainment journalism has declined to the level of "fans" of artists, and the maximum ambition of a journalist has become taking a "selfie" with a celebrity.

Local reporters have turned into "transaction facilitators," polishing the image of officials to facilitate their personal business. Meanwhile, economic editors have shed objectivity and taken on the role of "real estate brokers."

It seems important in this context to seek guardians of the profession, and the role of the Ministry of Information comes to the forefront in protecting journalistic work from those who encroach upon it, emphasizing the greatness and prestige of this profession, and curbing this repeated absurdity in various forms on social media platforms.

Will the Ministry of Information take action to protect journalism and journalists, preserving the dignity of the profession, and, before anything else, protecting society from any harmful information disseminated by those who bear the title of "journalist"?