Activity Details (ID# 5004)

Activity Synopsis

The target group was young journalists, particularly those from the Stability Pact countries and emerging democracies. Importance was placed on the fact that other young journalists from Western Europe attend in order to share experiences and styles of reporting.

The workshop was designed to appeal to television journalists who wished to upgrade their reporting skills. It centred on television news reporter package making, the elements of which included ''thinking in pictures'', writing for television, presentation skills, interviewing techniques, pieces to camera (standuppers), ethics, working as a team, news selection, multi-skilling, including hands-on experience for journalists, use of graphics and planning. Fair and balanced journalism was integral to the course, as was consideration for taste and decency in television news.
 

Organisation for the workshops was carried out by the Thomson Foundation for Circom Regional. RAI Television, the Italian public service broadcaster, co-ordinated local facilities and helped organise activities around the actual story-making process.

The workshop was divided into three main areas: 1. Theory and principles (class-room), 2. Practical exercises (filming and editing), 3. Optional workshops (DVCam filming and editing or presentation skills)

The workshop activities included debates and discussion on basic journalistic principles such as ''What is news?'', ''What makes a good journalist'', through to more detailed discussion on ''The role of the journalist in a democratic society,'' and ''Multi-skilling in the digital age.''

During the practical sessions, ten programme items were produced ranging from the life of Grado fishermen, to pollution and the effect on tourism. The stories covered the Fruili region and the combined stories helped reflect the life-style and activity of the area.

Media coverage for the workshops was assured by RAI Trieste who ran stories about the workshop in two of their nightly regional news programmes. Journalists who attended the workshops returned to their stations with material and the intention of relating their experiences through news stories in their own programmes. Ian Masters, the course leader, gave interviews to local newspapers, radio and television.

The target group and objectives of the workshop were reached to a high standard. This is reflected in the appraisal forms completed by the delegates after the workshop.

Most participants wanted a much longer course and most preferred practical work to theory. The trainers, however, felt the balance of the latter was very good.
 

Overall there was a noticeable improvement on the results of the feedback form from previous years. This was a good group that gelled very quickly and the attendance and concentration during the course was admirable.

Application for this year's course was over-subscribed by 17. It is hoped that these applicants may be trained during an extra workshop to be set-up in late 2003. If not practicable, then they will be invited to the next Circom Regional Journalism workshop in Wroclaw, Poland, May 2004.

Circom Regional posts all course activities on its web-site www.circom-regional.org and an active email exchange is taking place between all course participants, when they return to their stations and realise they have new friends and contacts throughout Europe.

 

Young television journalists from the broadcast industry