Grounded by Covid-19, our trainers have been learning new skills to be able to impart their expertise to their journalist trainees with promising results.
Thomson Foundation trainer Nick London would normally travel to Al Jazeera's training centre in Doha, Qatar to train journalists in face to face workshops.
But since March 2020 his courses have been conducted via video conferences. Here he explains how he has been able to adapt his training to the virtual world in this case a recent workshop about investigative journalism and filmmaking techniques.
How did you go about adapting previous in-person workshops to e-learning/virtual classes? The main challenge was condensing an intensive two-week course combining classroom learning and practical exercises in the field into three days. Previously there had been an emphasis on participation and engagement, which I tried hard to maintain during the e-learning/virtual classes.
How did it work in practise? In terms of the main practical exercise, participants were split into small teams and invited to come up with a film idea, which they then developed over the 3 days. Previously this would have involved some actual filming but now given the constraints, all course members were working from home, it involved a discussion and understanding of the various issues and challenges they would face together with the research methods they would use.
Who were the participants? The three day course, four hours each day, were made up of seven to ten participants drawn from journalists and production staff across Aljazeera - news, documentaries and online. There were various levels of experience from those who already had several film credits to others starting out as assistant producers.
What worked and what didn't? Adapting the course into virtual class using Zoom but still using many of the previous elements including practical exercises was successful. Overall there seemed to be a high degree of engagement and participation.
But as a recent convert to Zoom (my first experience was in running the family quiz during lockdown!) using the many various elements available - Powerpoint, video clips from various sources, practical exercises and breakout rooms - was pretty daunting. At times I felt myself on a very steep learning curve!
How did you overcome Zoom fatigue ? I had been advised to break-up' the workshop into 10 minute chunks - using a mix of the various available media without making it feel too scattergun. Even within the e-learning environment, I tried to maintain regular discussions and interaction with the participants.
Were there moments you sensed you were losing your audience and acted successfully to re-engage it? I think it's inevitable that there are occasions when the participants start to flag.' For a start the course was taking part in the afternoon in Qatar, after several of the course members had already been working. In those circumstances as the course trainer, I would break off from speaking and would divert attention either onto a group discussion or a video clip from a documentary.
What did the e-workshops achieve? Hopefully to give the participants a grounding in the key skills and methods required for investigative journalism and film making. So far the feedback has been extremely positive.
How did it compare with previous face to face courses? This was a pretty intensive three day course combining many of the features of the previous workshops. There's no doubt that squeezing in 10 days of learning into three four hour sessions is a challenge, but the advantage is that there is always something happening.
Is it possible to introduce a practical element to these e-workshops? The short answer is yes.' While sending out participants into the field to make their own films or reports may not be viable, there are a variety of ways to introduce practical elements. The best example is research, which can be done using the internet from the workplace or home office. This doesn't just apply to journalistic research but in, say, preparing for interviews - working out just who to talk to, framing the questions and having some sense of what the responses are likely to be.
How effective is this practical work within the confines of an e-workshop? Personally, I think it is essential. e-workshops can be pretty intensive both for those taking part and for the trainer. Asking anyone to concentrate on the screen - whether it's on Zoom or Teams or some other method for more than 10/15 minutes is risking losing the audience. Minds tend to wander, concentration lapses and teaching and learning becomes much less effective. Having a practical element is one of several devices that gives everyone a chance not just to put into practice what they are learning but also breaks up the presentation.
As you get more involved in this virtual world of training what tips would you give fellow trainers? Work out in advance what elements of your e-workshop can be done practically - maybe as a way of adding to the mix' of how you teach but also to reinforce what you are teaching. Don't think that the practical element need necessarily simply be a matter for individuals - sometimes putting participants into small groups and asking them to come up with a solution for a particular issue or theme can also be rewarding.
What about future? While initially I had some apprehension about my ability to handle the technology and just how to keep the learning stimulating, I can see many advantages in this type of learning. For a start e-workshops such as these reduce the need for either the traditional classroom or trainer to be in the same physical location. That means learning becomes completely transportable. All that's required is an internet connection!
Related content
A class of
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
Grounded by Covid-19, our trainers have been learning new skills to be able to impart their expertise to their journalist trainees with promising results. 
