Poynter News University and the European Journalism Centre (EJC) Launch Innovative New E-Learning Course

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Poynter Institute's News University (NewsU) and the European Journalism Centre (EJC) jointly announced the launch of "Reporting & Writing About Development in the World," an innovative three-month e-learning course for 40 journalism students from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The course introduces students to the fundamentals of covering international development and is funded by the European Commission's V4Aid project, which promotes awareness of development issues in the European Union's new member states.

"Reporting & Writing About Development in the World" helps prepare students for the challenges of covering the political and economic issues inherent in international development stories. The course features live video lectures and lessons drawn from five self-directed modules on NewsU, Poynter's e-learning platform. Students attend live online lectures and chats, and complete weekly readings and assignments.

The course is led by veteran journalism instructor and Poynter Institute adjunct faculty member, Bill Mitchell, a former Vienna bureau chief for the Detroit Free Press. Jim Breiner, a digital journalism consultant and trainer with a specialty in the business of online journalism, helped create the structure and training. Other Poynter faculty and adjuncts also will participate throughout the 12 weeks.   

"This international partnership to help the EJC with its journalism training is exciting and very important," said Howard Finberg, Poynter's director of interactive learning. "Poynter is increasing its efforts to work with organizations around the world to strengthen journalism through the training of professionals and students. This is truly an innovative approach to journalism education."  

In addition to lectures and assignments, each student will produce a Capstone Project, which will be a report, blog or website on international development that gives citizens of the student's home country or region relevant information on the topic. The four students who produce the best projects will have the opportunity to participate in a reporting assignment in Kenya this fall.

This e-learning course is just one of several activities EJC is conducting to bring media attention to development issues within the European Union. Other projects include a media leaders roundtable and an editorial series on reporting opportunities for Central European journalists.

"I am delighted that EJC has the opportunity to bring Poynter to the middle of Europe for this ground-breaking project," said Wilfried Rutten, director of the European Journalism Centre. "Together we can play a unique role in training Europe's future journalists and engage them with a global perspective to journalism.  Utilizing Poynter's cutting edge e-learning technology will give our programming a wider reach and impact."

About Poynter's News University
Poynter's News University (http://www.newsu.org) offers training to journalists, journalism students, teachers and the public through more than 250 interactive e-learning modules and other forms of training. It has more than 212,000 registered users in 225 countries.

The Poynter Institute trains journalism practitioners, media leaders, educators and citizens in the areas of online and multimedia, leadership and management, reporting, writing and editing, TV and radio, ethics and diversity, journalism education and visual journalism. Poynter's website, (http://www.poynter.org) is the dominant provider of journalism news, with a focus on business analysis and the opportunities and implications of technology.

About the European Journalism Centre
The European Journalism Centre (EJC) (http://www.ejc.nl) is an independent, international, non-profit institute dedicated to the highest standards in journalism, primarily through the further training of journalists and media professionals. Building on its extensive international network, the Centre operates as a facilitator and partner in a wide variety of training and research projects. In addition, the EJC plays a unique role at the European level as a partner and organizer for media companies, professional organizations, journalism schools and governmental bodies.

The European Journalism Centre project consortium includes four partners from Central Europe led by People in Need Foundation based in Prague; Polish Humanitarian Action of Warsaw; PMVRO Slovak NGDO Platform and Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia of Bratislava; and Foundation for Development of Democratic Rights in Budapest.

CONTACT
Howard Finberg, Director of Interactive Learning, The Poynter Institute
[email protected]

Jessica Blais, Director of Marketing, The Poynter Institute
[email protected]

Marjan Tillmans, Project Manager, European Journalism Centre
[email protected]

SOURCE Poynter's News University