Alongside large-scale and long-term projects, IRMI continues to respond to the immediate, practical needs of journalists working in rapidly changing conditions. Recently, at Media Base Khmelnytskyi, our colleague and IRMI mobile journalism expert Yurii Vasyliev led a two-hour online workshop on MOJO — mobile journalism — for aspiring media professionals.
The session brought together participants eager to work more flexibly and creatively using modern visual storytelling tools. While technical skills matter, the trainer stressed that effective mobile journalism begins with understanding the principles of visual storytelling itself: how to structure a story, identify compelling characters, and build a narrative that resonates with audiences.
Participants also explored how to turn a smartphone into a primary video production tool — from setting up devices correctly to framing shots, choosing angles and shot sizes, and working with composition and background. The workshop covered the rule of thirds, interview filming, recording high-quality sound, and the basics of fast, effective editing. Particular attention was paid to selecting the right shots to create a coherent visual narrative.
The discussion also addressed highly practical questions raised during the webinar itself: which free editing apps are worth using, what equipment is actually necessary, and how to produce engaging video content for social media and YouTube.
Mobile journalism remains one of the most in-demand topics among participants at Media Base Khmelnytskyi, says its coordinator Olha Zahoruiko — largely because of the realities journalists face today.
“Our team received more than eighty applications for this training, with over half arriving during the very first week after the announcement,” she says. “What participants valued most were the trainer’s practical insights drawn from real experience — advice on filming and editing, useful shortcuts, and the debunking of common myths. Media Base Khmelnytskyi and its participants are definitely looking forward to continuing this conversation.”
