The British Guild of Agricultural Journalists is to host an in-person digital training day on 24 March.
Tutor, Tim Dawson will lead the training on getting to grips with podcasting and creating video news packages using a smartphone.
Members and friends are invited to this year’s event at a brand-new venue for member training – Bragborough Hall Business Centre, located on a diversified mixed farm in the Northamptonshire countryside.
The event will incorporate a brief AGM, where members can hear what the Guild has done over the past 12 months, and ask questions.
Tickets are £40 for the whole day, including lunch. Members who just want to attend the AGM are very welcome, but still need to book a free ticket so that numbers are known for catering. Click here to make a booking.
The schedule is as follows:
9.30am – Podcasting training
11.45am – AGM followed by lunch
1.30pm – Video news package training
4pm – Close
Podcasting news, stories, and ideas
The first half of the training will cover what podcasts are all about and how the medium is evolving, why listening is vital, the potential formats – news package, first person and round table, and what hardware and software is required.
There will be an opportunity to make first recordings, edit, and host this package, and learn about discovery/driving readers.
The session will combine examples of audio material, ‘chalk and talk’ and practical instruction on making and editing recordings using participants’ own equipment. By the end the session delegates should be able to understand what podcasts are, how they can be utilised to share material, and have sufficient technical understanding to making and broadcasting audio material.
Creating video news packages using a smartphone
The afternoon session will enable delegates to learn about deconstructing an example news package, apps and hardware for great results, selfie-stick magic, and why compelling journalism depends on great questions, why sound is the key to great pictures, and how to edit video in packages.
By close of the training, delegates should be able to understand how video news packages are structured and have sufficient technical understanding to take first steps creating video news packages.
Tutor: Tim Dawson
Tim has worked for The Sunday Times for 20 years as a reporter, feature writer and commissioning editor. He has produced video packages for the NHS, Prostate Scotland and the NUJ, among others. He has podcasted for Byline Times, and Prostate Scotland. With more than a decade’s experience as a trainer; he manages professional skills training on behalf of the NUJ; and is also a member of the NCTJ accreditation board. Tim is currently developing an online training portal on safety and security for journalists on behalf of Google.
