Guyanese media receive training in effective reporting

The 2018 media training hosted by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to share effective reporting techniques for online media concluded on Sunday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown.

More than 40 media personnel from various entities attended the two-day interactive session spearheaded by award-winning digital media producer Lily Ciric Hoffman.
Topics covered during the training included the digital first mindset, writing stories for web to inform the public, enhancing online stories with multimedia elements, ethics and properly crediting online sources and promoting stories on social media.
The workshop was a mixture of lectures, case studies, demonstrations, and practical sessions.
At the workshop, participants were able to learn of the difference between producing stories and writing for online media as opposed to the traditional way of reporting, writing for the web, multimedia storytelling and promoting stories on social media.
The participants were also able to put into practice the new information gained by working in groups following which the information shared was recapped by participants and corrected where necessary.

According to Hoffman, who has both web design/development and journalism degrees coupled with more than a decade of experience, it is the aim of PAHO to educate and enhance the skills of the media.
Media personnel in attendance were also encouraged to submit stories for the PAHO media awards to be hosted later this year. Panellist Denis Chabrol led an interactive session based on the freedom of the press as well as law and ethics.
He discussed the dos and don’ts when reporting on sensitive issues such as sexual offences and domestic offences among others.
The workshop concluded with brief remarks from PAHO/World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative, Dr William Adu-Krow, who applauded the initiative and encouraged the hosting of more of a similar nature in the future.