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
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Creative software developer Foundry today announced the latest developments on Nuke Stage. A purpose-built application for end-to-end virtual production and in-...
12/05/2026
Beyond the Hype: A Strategic Post-Hoc Analysis of NAB 2026 If NAB Show 2026 had an underlying theme, it was a quiet, industry-wide pivot from the high-energy sp...
12/05/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D), a Panoptec Technologies Group company, and CT Square, led by Chandresh Shah, have announced a joint venture to distribute G&D and V...
12/05/2026
With 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the tournament in the United States, has announced th...
12/05/2026
The NHL has announced the return of Stanley Pup for its third consecutive year, a 90-minute special featuring adoptable rescue dogs competing on a miniature rin...
12/05/2026
NBCUniversal presented its 2026 Upfront to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall, detailing upcoming programming across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Versant properti...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced funding for the Fandom and Social Connection Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Publ...
12/05/2026
TNDV and Live Media, both divisions of Live Media Group, supported live broadcast coverage around NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, including the March M...
12/05/2026
The European Football Alliance (EFA) has announced a content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel ...
12/05/2026
For the first time, Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S. will have two separate tel...
12/05/2026
CP Communications led a comprehensive spectrum management initiative on behalf of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, coordinating RF assets across the ...
12/05/2026
LiveU has announced a strategic partnership with DRONERESPONDERS, a 501(c)3 non-...
12/05/2026
Open Broadcast Systems has announced that BMC TV, a specialist in IP transport of broadcast content, has selected the Open Broadcast Systems 5G Flyaway solution...
12/05/2026
NEP Europe, part of NEP Group, has announced it will deliver broadcast solutions...
12/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced continued collaboration with Ravensbourne University ...
12/05/2026
Stats Perform has announced the launch of Opta Pulse, an AI-assisted video creation and distribution platform for leagues, rights holders, and broadcasters. The...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street characters into FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 programming. Conten...
12/05/2026
To date, NHL Productions has produced 19 broadcasts with commentary in American Sign Language
NHL in ASL (American Sign Language) may be just one show, but the...
12/05/2026
Google's Brian Albert: creators, athletes, highlights, nostalgia, second-scr...
12/05/2026
A still from Past Lives by Celine Song, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | p...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Tyrell Corporation, specialists in high-end live sports and entertainment broadcasts, was tasked with delivering compelling broadcast coverage of premier equest...
12/05/2026
Registration is now open for IBC2026 as the global media, entertainment and technology community prepares to converge on the RAI Amsterdam from 11 14 September ...
12/05/2026
Ross Video, a global leader in live video production technology, will present its latest innovations and integrated production workflows at BroadcastAsia 2026, ...
12/05/2026
500 selected leaders from around the world across start-ups, corporates, and venture capital. Over 50bn in assets under management among attending investors, a...
12/05/2026
CVP, one of Europe's leading suppliers of professional video and broadcast solutions, has appointed Randy Koeman as Sales Manager, Netherlands, marking anot...
12/05/2026
Taiwan Television has expanded its HD content ingest workflow capabilities by investing in the PlayBox Neo Suite - a leading multi-channel multi-server UHD/HD/S...
12/05/2026
Jigsaw24 is strengthening its media team with the appointment of Tom Laker as Client Director and Ashish Chauhan as Project Manager. These strategic hires bring...
12/05/2026
Broadcast playout leader showcases hybrid IP infrastructure and workflow automation with Videoland deployment as regional benchmark...
12/05/2026
dzjinius, the all-in-one production management platform for the media and entertainment industry, will showcase its centralised approach to production workflows...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
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. 
