The African Center for Improvement of Journalists and Communicators allows working journalists from across the continent--both Arab and sub-Saharan Africans--to refine their journalistic skills at the center in Tunisia.

The center, known by the French-language acronym of CAPJC, is dedicated to the continuous training of journalists and communicators. The training takes the form of sessions lasting one to three weeks. On average, twelve sessions and a seminar are programmed annually. CAPJC was founded in Tunis in January 1983, and by the end of 1995, the center had served more than 4,100 trainees. Most of these trainees are Tunisian, but more than 1,000 others representing at least 67 nationalities have also been served.

The trainees learn from instructors chosen from among national and international professionals who teach and return to their vocations. The center deliberately chose not to have permanent teachers. More than 500 trainers, comprising professionals and academics, had shared their experience with the center's trainees by the end of 1995.

The center strives to be an Arab, African and Third World institution. To this end, besides its national programs, CAPJC organizes international sessions with the assistance of partners such as Germany's Friedrich Naumann Foundation, French Cultural Services and the U.S. Information Agency.

For the Tunisian press, CAPJC is a center for consulting and expertise that, upon request, advises media companies on their policies in training, equipment or organization. The center organizes an annual conference or seminar for reflection and research on the news media.

The center is a publicly-owned establishment that has financial autonomy. Its budget, attached by law to the state budget, is financed by a government subsidy and by media companies' contributions, which they make according to their degree of participation in the center's courses.

The center's street address is 9 rue Hooker Doolittle, 1002 Tunis BelvИdЛre, Tunisia. Tel: (216-1) 794-955. Fax: (216-1) 781-221. Telex: 18022 TN. More information about the center can be seen on the Internet at the French-language web site RИseau ThИophraste, http://www.theophraste.org/Guide/CAPJC/Index.htm.