U.S. journalism professors come to UTEP for latest in new media training
A select group of journalism professors from Hispanic-serving institutions were excited to spend an intense week at UTEP this summer building their multimedia skills while covering real border issues in the field.
Now in its 10th year, the Dow Jones News Fund Multimedia Training Academy brought 11 journalism professors from colleges across the U.S. to El Paso May 31 to June 6 to learn and practice news reporting using a variety of digital equipment, software programs and platforms. The academy, funded by a grant from the Dow Jones News Fund, is organized through the UTEP journalism program and the stories are published in the program’s web magazine Borderzine.com.
“There aren't enough of these kinds of opportunities for faculty members, and this is arguably the very best,” wrote one participant in the program evaluation.
The academy is a unique, fast-paced new media boot camp that presents the basics of quality video and audio production while also packing in workshops and field experience on the latest digital tools and techniques from 360 video to interactive data mapping. More than 120 college instructors have completed this program and passed along the skills and knowledge they gain at the academy to colleagues and helped thousands of journalism students of color gain a competitive edge in their careers.
Feedback from the 2019 program shows that the academy continues to fill a great need for many professors seeking to gain hands-on experience and update their curriculum for today’s media landscape.
“This training gave me exactly what I needed and more. I feel more confident as an instructor and can help my students learn the skills they need to be competitive in the internship and job market,” wrote another participant in the final evaluation.
The academy director is Kate Gannon, digital content manager for Borderzine.com and an associate professor of practice in the UT El Paso Department of Communication. Academy trainers included nationally-known multimedia consultant and NPR Consultant Project Manager, Doug Mitchell; Independent radio reporter, Monica Ortiz Uribe; and broadcast TV veteran Andrew Valencia.
