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Training without borders


R


achell Howells, project manager of NUJ Training Wales, describes adapting its training programme to digital


only as a rollercoaster. Once lockdown occurred all the classroom-based workshops and courses were cancelled, and the training programme, subsidised by the Welsh government, had to be quickly reimagined. “It’s been a mater of trial and error,” said Rachel (pictured). “Early on we ran a brilliant two-hour session with simple, engaging slides, but another three-hour course with too much information on the slides, proved less successful. “We learnt a lot from these


experiences and commissioned two hour webinars, on coronavirus and its impact on journalism, wellbeing during this very uncertain time, and a new series we’ve called Lockdown Skillbuilders to help journalists and communications professionals use this time to diversify into new areas and bump up their CVs.” Te project has now it run its first


day-long interactive workshop with Dan Mason on launching a podcast in one day, as part of the Lockdown Skillbuilder series. “We were concerned that people might find a 10.30am - 4pm day on Zoom


too long and tiring, but the course offered a great mix of learning styles and plenty of breaks, which made it enjoyable. You almost forgot you were on Zoom,” she said. “And we’ve had some fantastic feedback.” Rachel is looking forward to geting back to face-to-face classes, but greater digital learning, open to the most remote parts of Wales and beyond, will remain as an important part of the project. Te NUJ’s four-stage reps’


programme will soon be online; a reps’ stage 1 pilot took place on Friday 22 May. NUJ Training Scotland has also launched an excellent programme of online professional development courses and the Federation of Entertainment Unions has secured a fantastic deal for freelances, allowing them to take part in the BBC Academy’s Lockdown Learning professional development courses. Branches are encouraged to contact tutraining@ nuj.org.uk if they have a need for bespoke training.


Te Journalist: the next three editions of the magazine will be sent out digitally to all members, making necessary savings in the union’s budget aſter a drop in income and increased legal service costs. Around a third of members receive a digital version with the rest printed and posted. Te affected issues are those which run to the end of September. Encourage branch members to send updated contact details, including their email address to membership@nuj.org.uk


Lockdown Learning


Online courses available from the NU include: podcasting, creative writing, writing for TV and film, collaborative leadership, editing on i-devices, tackling stress, video editing, social media networking, geting started on Instagram, plus many others. Go to NUJ Active for more details: htps:// www.nuj.org.uk/comms/archive/ active/615.html


TRAINING


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