Week of the News goes beyond traditional learning. It is a meeting point to discuss, analyse current news processes. Real case studies are re-enacted and explained. Week of the News is a “learn-by-doing” scenario during 2 intensive days in a friendly and international environment.
“Week of the News”, as the platform for EBU Members’ young journalists, held its 8th edition on 3 and 4 July 2006, in Portoroz, Slovenia.
Organized in partnership with RTVSLO, the Seminar gathered over 54 radio and television journalists, reporters and news editors from 21 EBU Members Organizations of 14 countries: ORF, Austria; BNR, Bulgaria; HRT, Croatia; CR and CT, Czech Republic; EE/ER and EE/ET, Estonia; MTV3 and YLE, Finland; LTV and LR, Latvia; LRT, Lithuania; PR and TVP, Poland; ROR and TVR, Romania; RTS radio Belgrade and RTS TV, Serbia; RTV SLO, Slovenia; TRT, Turkey and NTU, Ukraine.
The trainers are experienced and renowned journalists (BBC, United Kingdom; DR, Denmark; RTE, Ireland; VRT, Belgium and EBU International Training).
Week of the News 2006 objectives
Get an insight into hot issues like immigration, 24-hour news and political pressure on Public broadcasters;
Learn how new advances in technology are changing the role of the journalists;
Analyze professional problems & possible solutions with international colleagues and experts.
What participants said:
– “It was brainstorming, inspiring. We got an insight into new tendencies and learnt different aspects, different angles and different perceptions of the other reporters.”
– “This is the must for everyone to get out of daily routine and confront-gain-share-acknowledge new or already known things that never stop being important. Especially in a diverse Europe.”
– “We have tied new contacts from Eastern European countries and learnt about how journalism works there. Our ideas have been enriched by our colleagues and experts points of views.”
Programme
Training modules (lectures, case studies, interactive role-plays, screenings and discussions):
Module 1: Immigration – the next big story
How does the broadcast journalist reflect the changing profile of Europe, its peoples, and nations? How can the challenge of covering immigration become a new opportunity for the broadcaster?
Module 2: Digital storytelling – the one-man band generation
Like the musician who plays many instruments simultaneously more and more broadcast journalists are recording, shooting, writing, and editing their stories. Is there any limit to the creative potential the digital revolution makes possible? Does the new technology mean every broadcast journalist will eventually be a one man band, or is it just for a special few?
Two organizations present their views and experiences, identifying and defusing mythology and fears about one-man bands and how digital technology improves investigative technique:
Module 3: Live reporting – the challenge of continuous coverage
When a major story is developing, the 24-hour news cycle demands a continuous live presence. How can journalists “update” the story, when there is nothing new to report? How do journalists find out what is really happening behind the scenes? What do viewers want from continuous coverage, and what turns them off?
Module 4: Talk shows & political pressure
As the number of news outlets explodes, the pressure on talk shows is up. How can talk shows compete when hard news has already been broadcast and is available on-line? How are public service broadcasters‘ responsibilities towards their audience balanced against the interests of government and business?
Interview of
Tom McGuire, Regional Editor of RTE Radio 1
Tom McGuire is Regional Editor of RTÉ Radio 1, a position he has held since 2003.
Working with RTÉ since 1993, his other roles within the national broadcast organisation included that of Current Affairs Editor, radio producer and news reporter.
In 2004 his radio documentary “The Siege of Jadotville” was “Documentary of the Year” in Ireland.
Mr McGuire has been a contributor to “The Week of the News” since 2000 and his topics have included bi-media, election coverage, story gathering, divided communities and immigration.
The most important aspect of the seminar is the gathering of young journalists from all over Europe and the sharing of ideas and experiences. Over a seven-year period we have seen people who originally attended as ‘rookie’ journalists now returning as senior editors with national broadcasters.
51 professionals coming from 21 EBU member organizations participated in the 2006 edition in Slovenia. What does it mean in terms of exchanging experiences and enlarging a network?
The seminar has developed in parallel with the enlargement of the European Union and the networking, debate and discussion experienced at the event has allowed more interaction among journalists and a broader reflection about Europe in the news services of the national broadcasters.
How does Week of the News respond to the journalists’ necessity to be provided with concrete answers to daily
problems that they have to face to?
I think the most important response is that participants realise that the problems they face in their profession are not new and have been encountered and overcome by others. It is obvious that the opportunity for ‘question & answer’ sessions in each module and the informal interactivity over the three days allows a more focussed response to the queries of participants. There is truth in the old Irish saying that ‘a problem shared is a problem halved.’
You have been participating in Week of the News as chairman and trainer since 2000. Has Week of the News evolved through the years?
Over seven years I have seen the seminar evolve from a staid, static and disparate group of journalists with different agendas to a vibrant, lively gathering of young professionals anxious to dream, challenge and achieve.
The best moment...
A great moment was to see a participant from one year in the ‘Week of the News’ returning a few years later as part of the training team. Another was the increased ‘western’ participation of the last few seminars.
The most difficult...
It is always a challenge to meet the expectations of a mixed radio and television group in a plenary session, especially the technical aspects.
