Journalism Summer Institute London

Rationale for the Training

Journalism practice has left the outdated ‘man bites dogs’ algorithm. The practice of journalism has gone beyond literary story-writing and the power of the pen has been challenged by computer keyboard. Today’s journalism is about online data gathering and distribution using Internet search engines and computer software programmes. Contemporary journalism has gone beyond the concept of readers’ consumption of news to engagement with the news. Readers are no longer satisfied with just reading news but interacting with the news through host of online news sources and databases. Journalists no longer have to make do with what a story source dictates but to query the database and dig deeper with a view to publishing a very exclusive investigative story.

Relevance of the Training to the Job Market
In this competitive world of shrinking global labour market, Journalism graduates or practitioners must add market value to themselves in this area of digital journalism to be able to impress employers who are desperately looking to maximise profits by being the first to break the news. This course will not only make learners marketable but will also position them among the new generation of journalists on a global scale.

What participants will gain
• Confidence in conducting investigative journalism and breaking news stories through computer database.
• Good understanding of the technical-know in building and usage of journalism database.
• How to access the Freedom of Information Acts and other related resources to generate investigative stories.
• Demonstration of the ability to do thorough Internet search for related information in packaging exclusive stories.
• Good awareness of how data can be stored online for universal accessibility and how mobile devices can help in the news gathering and reporting processes.
• Understanding of how basic Microsoft programmes can be used to build and gather data for journalism.
• Confidence in embarking on online database projects.