Digital Journalism, May 2012 - overview

Dates: May 20 - 25, 2012
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Course fee: €980 (or US$1,295) including accommodation

Modern digital journalism requires both a strong website and a strong presence on social networking platforms. By the end of this course, for both editors and reporters, you will have learned the latest methods in digital journalism, including digital research skills.

You will also learn different digital storytelling techniques – multimedia, social media, data journalism, and crowdsourcing – and how to choose the right techniques for your projects. You'll learn how to make sure that social media work supports your main website, and how to manage output on these multiple platforms.

Trainers
The course will be led by Kevin Anderson. Kevin was the first overseas online journalist for the BBC, working in their flagship bureau in Washington DC. In 2006, Kevin became The Guardian's first blogs editor.

What will you learn?

Different digital journalism techniques involving blogs, social media, and multimedia.
How to plan and use these techniques in effective digital journalism packages.
Tools for real-time reporting including live blogging and live multimedia.
The best platforms for digital journalism, including an overview of content management systems, blogging platforms, and how to integrate Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks into your site.
Simple multimedia tools for audio, video, and photos.
Common multimedia mistakes and how to avoid them.
How to engage your audience using social networks.
How to find and verify sources using social media.
How to manage interaction between your editors, journalists, and audiences.
Mobile reporting tools and services.
How to integrate mobile multimedia into your journalism.
How to interact with your audience while you’re in the field.
And much more!

Practical exercises
In addition to learning best practices, you will engage in hands-on exercises learning how to use new media production tools, social networking tools, and mobile multimedia tools. We'll teach you how to plan digital journalism projects and packages and provide feedback to help make sure that you have the confidence to put the training into practice.

NEW - site visit to Czech Television

The course will also feature a site visit to see a live taping of Hyde Park, one of Europe's most innovative news and interview shows. The nightly program at Czech Television incorporates social media to allow viewers to submit questions and interact in real time with politicians and other national newsmakers. During the visit, participants will also have the opportunity to meet Pavlina Kvapilova, the creator of the program and one of the show’s former moderators. Kvapilova, who is now director of new media at the station, will share her strategy for her incorporating social media to increase the quality and reach of Czech Television's reporting and to improve the experience for its audience.

How much does it cost?
The course fee is €980 (or US$1,295) including accommodation.

This course is currently in progress. For information about forthcoming TOL courses, click here or contact Gareth Bowers if you have any questions about the course.

FEEDBACK

"The training of TOL is the best means to meet very interesting people from different countries, to learn a lot about new media and social journalism, to get some technical skills and finally, these courses suggest new ways to use professional knowledge and skills better than before."

Eka, Georgia

Digital Journalism, October 2011

"I liked the idea that you really had to do it yourself. Michael was always there for feedback and for solutions, but the article had to come from yourself."

Henk, The Netherlands

Foreign Correspondent course, July 2011

"Loved everything. Great experiences and memories."

Maria, Colombia

Foreign Correspondent course, July 2011

"It was important to go to another country ... because although I can learn about reporting back home it isn't foreign correspondence unless you're somewhere new."

Mary, USA

Foreign Correspondent course, July 2011

"It's perfect when you learn some theory and then put it straight into practice."

Ievgenia, Ukraine

Photojournalism course, August 2011

"This course will greatly improve every photo I take from here on"

Solana, Canada

Photojournalism course, August 2011

"This was the most valuable feature of the training - learning through real-life experience in the field."

Participant

Multimedia Reporting course, January 2011