CMTO’s Community Journalism Training Project is empowering broadcasters through online and face to face training in community journalism skills.
Throughout 2021, CMTO delivered three rounds of the six-week online course, Introduction to Journalism In Community Media, developed in partnership with Griffith University and supported by the Collier Foundation via the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
During each course, participants from across the country recorded interviews, crafted news bulletins and pitched current affairs stories. Thirty-four broadcasters graduated from the online course and are using their new skills in their stations and communities.
Two graduates from the online course have gone on to produce stories for The Wire under the supervision of the program’s Executive Producers Eduardo Jordan (4EB) and Rod Chambers (2SER) and support from the CMTO.
Listen here:
- AUSTRALIANS ARE SHIFTING TO LOCAL PRODUCE POST-PANDEMIC- by Michelle Michels
- HOW IS THE COMMUNITY OF BYRON BAY ADDRESSING FOOD SECURITY?- by Michelle Michels
As a follow-up to the online course, CMTO developed a two-day, face to face workshop where graduates of the online course would be able to further advance their practical skills and develop story ideas in group settings.
In late 2021 CMTO delivered these Community Journalism Workshops to enthusiastic teams at 4ZZZ in Queensland and 8CCC in the Northern Territory.
Listen to the 4ZZZ team discuss their training in a story for Brisbane Line here:
Check out the 8CCC team unpacking their training experience on the 8CCC Breaky show here:
8CCC has also showcased all the work from their community journalists on their website here:
Community Journalists in Central Australia and The Barkly
This training empowers broadcasters to continue to tell the stories that matter most to their communities.
Feedback from participants and stations has been very positive and we look forward to the opportunity to deliver more great programs to communities throughout 2022.
“It was very valuable to actually practice the process of putting a package together under a deadline. It was great to work with our own individual pieces as well and get advice on them from Martin and Eduardo.” – CJTP Participant
“It was a great learning experience. Thank you for the opportunity.” – CJTP Participant
“I now have a basis for developing an audio package. I liked the practical component of it.” – CJTP Participant
“The workshop really helped me consolidate the knowledge I had prior and how I can best improve and learn more moving forward, to create engaging stories that have cut through and impact.” – CJTP Participant.
“Fantastic training package! Well done to all trainers!” – CJTP Participant.
“Ben and Eduardo are supportive and are great at answering questions, listening and being patient. Valuable to understand the process of producing a radio segment and having an understanding of storytelling. Also great to hear from the Guest Speaker, Rohan Barwick.” – CJTP Participant.
“The most valuable part of the training was getting the practical experience of researching, compiling and editing a story.” – CJTP Participant.
“Amazing learning opportunity.” – CJTP Participant.
“Thank you very much. For me the more practical aspects of the course are so highly valuable, as the content can not be easily read or studied.” – CJTP Participant.
“The most valuable part of the training was being able to produce a radio package from start to finish.” – CJTP Participant.
If you’d like to get Community Journalism training happening at your station in 2022, contact the pathways team via [email protected] or give us a call on 02 9318 9626.
