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Training background & context 

This was the third EBU workshop given at TeleRadio Moldova (the others were in Spring and in Summer 2003). After a detailed and sometimes difficult preparation process, it was agreed that this latest project would involve not journalists but news managers (i.e. editors and producers) and would focus on newsroom management techniques.

 A key component would be the observation of the news managers at their daily jobs. This approach was a “first” for EBU Intl Training and the workshop was carefully prepared for this specific group of participants. 

Participants 

Number of participants: 26 

Participants professional profile (type of job & experience): 3-4 top editors (three TV, one radio), 14 junior “editors” (many of whom were listed as “journalists” in the last two workshops at TRM); 6-8 radio reporters. 

Content & delivery 

Module 1: Editorial policy & approach 

Objectives: 
1. to identify the elements that define TRM’s editorial approach 
2. to be able to identify key differences between TRM and its competitors 

Methodology: 
Lecture + (oral) examples + debating, based on simple graphic sketches. 

Results: 
It worked very well as the topic offered some kind of an intellectual framework for the rest of the week, which we could each day refer to. People were not used to hearing an abstract analysis of the environment and identity of a TV-program. They reacted and were very interested. 

Module 2: Newscast analysis & Public vs. private news 

Objectives: 
1. to compare and discuss the previous night’s newscasts on TRM and on the competing private station, ProTV Chisinau 
2. to examine, discuss and evaluate the key differences between public and private broadcasters 

Methodology: 
Began with “what do you remember” discussion; review of previous night’s newscasts; video examples provided by trainer of public/private approach to a political story (examples were from Germany, RTL (private) and ARD (public) and comparison of their coverage of the resignation of the ruling party’s leader country’s president; discussion of participant and trainer observations of public/private news coverage; detailed practical exercise involving editorial choices made by public and private stations. 

Results: 
There was an excellent, lively discussion of Public vs. Private news based on the examples brought by trainer and principles were introduced (Want vs. Need, Presentation vs. Content, editorial approach, sources of funding, role of Public broadcaster vs. Private). When the first comparison of TRM and ProTV news was introduced in the workshop, it was clear that this was a big hit for all the participants (even among radio people). It was fun, and involving for everyone, so much so that it took the rest of the morning and the planned practical exercises were dropped. Ended the morning session with a brief discussion of formatting alternatives (kept brief because it was producer/manager oriented and less useful for journalists and radio people). The theme of Public vs. Private is clearly relevant, interesting, and exciting for participants, particularly when such “head to head” comparisons and analysis are part of the presentation. 

Module 3: Newscast analysis, newscast formatting & press conferences 

Objectives: 
1. to analyse and discuss previous night’s newscasts 
2. to discuss and understand more compelling methods of formatting newscasts and to better cover press conferences and “protocol” stories (which was specifically requested by TRM for this workshop) 

Methodology: 
Began the day with “what do you remember?” discussion; then TRM/ProTV newscast comparison; then review of formatting discussion from previous day. Introduction and discussion of narrative structure and the value of tools such as real people and visual storytelling for protocol stories. Practical exercise (to find “real people” angle) given based on newspaper articles copied from Chisinau newspapers. In conclusion, principles in Toolkit were referred to the participants. 

Results: 
As in the previous day the enthusiastic response and very compelling comparison of newscasts dominated the interest of the group (and the trainers) and took much of the time allotted. 

Module 4: Newscast analysis & Crisis management - breaking news 

Objectives: 
1. to analyse and compare previous night’s newscasts 
2. to discuss principles of organizing breaking news coverage 

Methodology: 
Once again, the newscast review proved so popular and interesting that the much of the prepared material was dropped in favour of it. Afterwards, the trainer revisited Module 3 Press Conferences (which was a clear priority for TRM) to offer some final points a discussion. The presentation of Breaking News/Crisis Coverage was shortened to a lecture. 

Module 5: Review of the week; Time & resource management 

Objectives: 
1. review of previous night’s newscasts 
2. introduction and discussion of time and resource management; 
3. evaluation forms filled out 
4. review of week with TRM senior management 

Methodology: 
Day began with “what do you remember?” then discussion of previous night’s newscasts; then a lecture on Time and resource management. 

Coaching sessions 

Trainers practiced a lot of observation and dialogue on each afternoon in every possible place (newsroom, desks, editing rooms, feed point etc).