nzaid | journalism and ICT training

journalism and ICT training (amended)
cook islands journalism association
(in reformation)

NZAID Funding for in-country training is now available for the financial year 2006-2007. Training proposals are invited to be submitted to the Department for National Human Resources Development by 21st May 06.

Title of the Training

cija
journalism and ICT training

Objective of the training

Train Cook Islands journalists in the basics of journalism, including in an ICT environment.

Give media stakeholders – information officials, public relations people and NGO media officers – skills in media relations, online publishing and content creation.

The need for the training (background)

Accurate, balanced and ethical journalism is a corner stone of national development.

So too is the provision of basic information to those journalists.

Emerging email-based web publishing technologies allow a wide range of sectors to produce governance information including mainstream journalists, community groups and public and private sector organisations.

The purpose of the training

This funding application sees training in three main areas – basic journalism, simple online skills and search skills.

Firstly, funding this ICT training application will give Cook Islands journalists basic skills in journalism including the five w’s, codes of ethics, and writing to deadline.

Secondly, giving journalists and other governance information stakeholders the ability to apply these skills online, using simple, free tools to establish and - equally important - update their own websites, or to add weblog tools to existing websites.

Thirdly, Information. Vast quantities of information are available online – but the sheer volume often overwhelms less experienced users. This training will enable participants to filter through web clutter and quickly find and recognise information rich sources.

Training programme outline (summary of what’s to be covered in the training)

> Five days with two daily sessions: 8am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 5.30pm.
> Morning sessions for daily and weekly journalists.
> Afternoon sessions for NGOs, government information officers and any outer islands delegates.

Day one

1.1     What is the internet ?
1.2     What is the (world wide) web?
1.3     Where the internet lives (right next to phone calls and faxes)
1.4     The importance of websites
1.5     Updating by email – how web log site services are changing the internet
1.6     Understanding search engines
1.7     Simple search tips
1.8     Testing simple search tips
1.9     Unlocking the power of Google
1.10     Testing Google power tips

Day two

2.0     Web logs
2.1     Weblogs
2.2     Blogs
2.3     Who uses blogs
2.4     How blogs fit into your media / business / NGO / ministry
2.5     Let’s set one up
2.6     Setting your secret email-to-web address
2.7     Adding links
2.8     Changing the look
2.9     Setting up your free email
2.10     Adding your RSS feed for Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail
2.11     Promoting your web log / website

Day three: for journalists

3.0     Ethics – overview
3.1     Ethics – history
3.2     Codes of ethics in the Cook Islands
3.3     Applying codes of ethics in your newsroom
3.4     Gaining management buy-in to codes of ethics
3.5     Making codes of ethics sustainable

Day three: for media stakeholders

3.0     What can I put on my site?
3.1     How often should I update?
3.2     Using my mobile phone camera to update my site
3.3     Using your own community as a source of material
3.4     Sources of information – newspapers, radio, TV, newsletters, show you are a part of your community
3.5     Pictures, photos, stuff you’ve seen on the web
3.6     Your views

Day four

4.0     Setting up your own gmail
4.1     Setting up your own blogger weblog site
4.2     Fine tuning your weblog site.
4.3     Problem solving on your weblog site – where to get help

Day five

5.0     Content creation – filling your weblog site
5.1     Online resources – where to find statistics, information and graphics
5.2     How to create your own online content
5.3     Updating your website – when and how
5.4     Conclusion – reviewing the review

Expected outcome of the training (what benefit will the participant gain after the training).

Journalists and media stakeholders will be able to rapidly access information online as well as on their own desktops.

Participants in both groups will be able to create accurate, balanced and ethical information and content online.

Budget – will only cover the following costs: (a) trainer fees (b) resource material (c) air/boat travel and per diem costs if trainer and trainees have to travel internally (d) some refreshment costs

Trainers fees
$35 per hour x 80 hours     2,800

30 hours preparation including further development of this proposal, 40 hours of training and 10 hours follow up assistance and development of next phase training with journalists and media stakeholders, with at least three in-country trainers involved.

Resource materials: Computer rentals and internet access
10 x computers x 5 days @$30 each     1,500

While computer rentals and internet access do not appear to be specifically outlined in the funding application advertising, teaching journalism ICT skills are impossible without them.

Resource materials: others
50 pages x 20 participants @ 30 cents     300

Refreshments
$50 x 2 x 5 days (morning and afternoon tea)     500

Rarotonga subtotal     5,100

Airfares*
Penrhyn     1,600
Manihiki     1,500
Rakahanga     1,500 + 500
Pukapuka     1,500
Nassau     1,500 + 500

Atiu     400
Mauke     400
Mitiaro     400
Aitutaki     300
Mangaia     300

Per diems
$60 x 10 x 7 days     4,200

Outer islands component subtotal     14,600

Total ICT workshop training budget     nz$19,700

* if NZAID/DNHRD decides outer islands participation is a priority.

Funding application

Prepared by Jason Brown for Cook Islands Journalists Association (in reformation)