Haiti: Digital reporting on hostile environment
Eighteen journalists from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, participated in a two-day workshop on Digital reporting on hostile environment organized by USAGM’s Office of Business Development.
Participants explored topics including the hostile environment for journalists, emergency first aid, security, demonstrations, civil unrest, kidnapping, and using digital video techniques to cover news in a hostile area, and as well as using mobile devices to produce media reports.
Charles Sellens from Global Guardian, designed and conducted the 8-hour long training on hostile environment. Journalists participated in both classroom-based learning and scenarios to simulate situations that journalists may encounter in the field.
Journalists were trained by VOA Central News Editor Sandra D. Lemaire on how to use mobile devices to produce media reports, upload them and develop social media campaigns. Participants received tips from Sandra on the best methods of shooting and sequencing when taking videos, ways to tell a story with just one picture and a checklist for conducting interviews.
Attendees practiced shooting and editing video on mobile phones and created a WhatsApp account to share experiences and communicate about news events in Haiti.
Participants praised VOA training for its journalist standards and professionalism.
“VOA workshop was intense and professional. Instructors talked about simple things we never pay attention, like angles, lighting, shoots and free apps. For me was important to learn to produce small videos quickly with a simple mobile phone, and then how to use my skills and gadgets in a dangerous zone or during a protest”, Lauture Dimitri from Storm TV.
In a closing ceremony, graduates received USAGM certificates of training completion in Port-au-Prince on September 19, 2018.