Activity Details (ID# 4607)

Activity Synopsis

The general objective was to discuss the professionalisation and democratisation of mass media in Russia, specifically Pskov region. The more specific objective was to train on “How to Tell a (News) Story” and to analyse and discuss media needs in Pskov region. 

The activities helped to attain the objectives. Lessons learned: in future there should be more local media case studies integrated in the course curriculum.

Day 1: the training on (News) Story Telling introduced the Pskov journalists with the story-telling principles and the story telling tradition in Denmark. Practical exercises were carried out to stimulate the journalists to tell their own stories. Ethical considerations were discussed in connection with most of the stories presented.

Day 2: analysis and discussion about the media situation and needs in Pskov took place. There was an important decision taken to commence work towards establishing a media centre in Pskov which would be a meeting and training place for the local journalists.

Technical and organisational preparation was carried out by the BMC in collaboration with representatives of journalists from Pskov and the Press Development Institute of St Petersburg.

The discussion on Day 2 was very lively, open, interested, constructive. A conclusion was reached that there is a necessity to create a media centre in Pskov for meeting, training, media monitoring, etc.

There was substantial media coverage in print media in Pskov

A very positive oral assessments was provided. No written questionnaires, instead the BMC received feed-back documents from the group of representatives, indicating serious interest in further activities and intention to proceed with collaboration.

The target group was reached, as to our assessment, well. There could have been more regional administration representatives present at the discussion, but it was probably overoptimistic assumption for the first training course/ discussion in Pskov, organised in co-operation with a foreign organisation.

No negative feedback.

 

A follow-up would be necessary, as to story-telling - to extend to more specific tools of story telling in different media. Generally follow-up training activities, as well were discussed. The organisational arrangements could be the same, in collaboration with Pskov journalists and Press Development Institute. The next course could take place in early autumn 2003.

The most important decision taken was the necessity of a media centre, and that of working towards establishing the centre. Along the lines of this development training and other activities will be planned.
 

Target Groups: The participants were electronic media and print media journalists of Pskov region. A representative of the Analytical (media and press) Department of the Pskov Regional Administration took part at the seminar/ discussion too.

 

Mr Mario Oetheimer, Media Division, DGII