What problems do editors encounter mastering Mojo? What has been achieved over the set timeframe, what challenges have arisen? Are we fully utilizing Mojo to create cool, professional videos? Second-level training for representatives of regional publications participating in the project “Improving media resilience in Ukraine” was held in Lviv.
For some time, after the Mojo training in June, the newsrooms have been mastering new video production skills. The equipment that the trainees received as part of the project was being used for that. And so the trainees re-convened for another worshop to “work at mistakes”. In a participant survey the trainees reported certain difficulties in using a tripod, a microphone, during editing, framing, voicing, and others. So, these three days are both work on errors and development of new skills, covering Mojo subtleties. They ususally ask to switch off mobile phones at trainings, during these three days, though, the smartphone was the main tool, it was by using their smartphones that the participants masterfully and professionally prepared video stories – from gathering material to meticulous editing. The particpants practiced shooting pieces to camera, putting togethr leads, blitz interviews, and doing quick editing. Trainers provided a thorough “debriefing” and detailed discussion of the stories that the participants worked on.
Data visualization and data journalism are a separate essential strand. The main principles, data preparation and online tools were discussed and practiced with Yevhenia Drozdova, an expert, a data journalist and head of the data journalism department at Texty.org.ua. “Data journalism is not some other kind of journalism,” commented Yevhenia Drozdova. – It has the same goal – to inform people about what is happening in the world and around them. However, if our world is becoming more complex and saturated with information every day, journalism must respond to this challenge. So the development of journalism in the direction of processing considerable volumes of data is quite natural, just like the emergence of television and video journalism. Today, we should be actively talking about the use of AI and machine learning in journalism. And it’s not about generating content using ChatGPT, but about journalists understanding what modern data processing and analysis tools can be useful and are necessary for creating more insightful content. Data analysis can help identify trends that are not obvious at a cursory glance, as well as pick out pitfalls that require public attention.”
– In this project, there is an apt combination of very professional trainers and the team of journalists, – believes Pavlo Sukharev, director of “Nadia” broadcasting station. – Everything was valuable: discussions, practical tasks, experience exchange, creating a team that went through more than one training together. It’s cool to communicate with talented young people. During the war, our country became more polarised, so our task is to “stitch” it, both geographically and mentally. We can do it.
In our communication during the training, we heard a melody consisting of smiles, humor, friendly advice and practice – it turns out to be very atmospheric and exciting. This is our MOJO training for journalists – people who really missed not only professional training, but also communication outside the newsroom and beyond their everyday problems.
The training was part of ‘Improving Media Resilience in Ukraine’ project implemented by IRMI together with Fondation Hirondelle and financed by Swiss Solidarity.
