Digital media has revolutionised news. But many news organisations - whether in developing or developed countries - are still grappling with what it will mean to them, and how to get the most out of it.
To respond to this increasingly prevalent need among journalists, the Thomson Reuters Foundation held its first-ever training on producing strong digital content.
Tomorrow's News is a programme for media outlets in developing countries or countries in political transition that are committed to high quality journalism, and that want to produce strong digital content that increases their reach and impact - but which are uncertain what kind of content will work best, and how to produce it on a tight budget.
The programme drew on the latest knowledge on media trends from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, together with media skills from Thomson Reuters and media innovations from across the world, to offer guidance on:
- Finding out what audiences want and building a strategy around this
- Producing appropriate digital content using a range of technologies, including smart phones
- Packaging and distributing content as effectively as possible
Eight participants from Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Botswana, Nigeria, and South Africa (photographed above) gathered in Johannesburg from July 20th to the 22nd to undergo the training. Each of them was selected because they represent their media outlet and can influence their colleagues. These individuals will now act as key contact point for their news organisation.
During the course of the programme, they will receive:
- Intensive workshops on strategising and producing cross platform content
- In-house trainings or consultancies tailor made for newsrooms, plus ongoing guidance and support where needed
- Opportunities to take part in other training events and seminars, addressing key areas identified by participating newsrooms themselves
- Updates on the latest knowledge on media trends and convergence
