Activity Details (ID# 12796)

Activity Synopsis

The training workshop aimed at improving the skills of senior journalists and managers in managing a newsroom and implementing Council of Europe standards on professional journalism in practice. 

The training started off with a discussion on H1’s role and responsibilities as a public service broadcaster with an emphasis on the values and ethics related to public service broadcasting, the importance of producer and editorial guidelines, in the context of H1’s election coverage and their experiences. It became evident during discussions that individuals use their “commonsense” although the trainers pointed out that this would always lead to inconsistent decisions and potential trouble.

This was followed by a more practical number of sessions on managing a newsroom; the importance of planning; and how to manage news teams. The trainers and participants also looked at some BBC news programmes; discussed good practice and reviewed the local H1 news programme in that context. The trainers recommended the H1 staff to provide the time to analyse the day’s output. The trainers also gave guidance on the structure of good film packages, good writing to pictures and the importance of brevity.

In a case study the participants were asked on how to tackle a news release from the World Bank to make an interesting item for the news programme. The exercise was a success in that so many good ideas for filming were suggested and the delegates recognised the importance of holding weekly editorial meetings to plan future coverage.

The final session, seeking objectives and action points for participants, culminated in a significant commitment by H1 news executives and staff to prepare a set of editorial values and guidelines for staff by the end of the year.
 

In a feedback form that was handed out to the participants after the workshop, most of them considered the workshop useful and valuable.

The Council of Europe will continue to provide support to H1, namely in the elaboration of editorial guidelines for the broadcaster.
 

senior journalists and managers of the Armenian public television ‘H1’ 

Mr Aled Eirug, former Head of News and Current Affairs, BBC Wales, United Kingdom
Mr Roy Saatchi, Director, Roy Saatchi Associates
 

Ms Anna Ghukasyan, Assistant to the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in Armenia