Burgeoning Reporter? Sharpen Your Craft with Journalism Training (.org)

The Web journalism niche has seen a lot of pushback from traditional publications trying, understandably so, to protect their line of work. But the industry has changed, for better or worse, with the speed and ease of online publishing, so smart institutions are leveraging that understanding.

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) is one such institution. Having long taken it upon itself to help journalists hither and yon find the training they need, its latest effort, JournalismTraining.org, is a treasure trove for journalists — online and off — seeking information about professional development opportunities.

JournalismTraining.org aims to fill a collaboration deficit among journalism organizations, training institutes, individuals and academic institutions that provide journalism training.

With its searchable database of local, regional and national journalism training programs — which include over 250 journalism organizations, 50 colleges and associations, and 44 not-for-profit training institutes — users can easily find, compare and determine which training best meets their needs.

Events listed range from fellowships to Web-based training to on-site training events. Users can search from a plethora of topics, including, design, publishing and technology. (One setback - training is unfortunately limited to the United States at present.)

But the site isn't merely a search-and-compare directory. It includes journalism blogs and relevant articles for developing one's craft. These are conveniently posted in the Journalism Training Reading Room.

Users can sign up for free email newsletters, receive notifications when new training programs are added, and access additional resources.

Part of the Society's manifesto is to “inspire and educate current and future journalists through professional development.” And content creators can certainly benefit from this particular endeavor, especially as the role of a journalist has been dramatically redefined in today's world of Web-based media.

We find it encouraging that the SPJ is acknowledging these shifts in the industry, as well as the importance of professional development, which it demonstrates by promoting a tool that will help to enhance these skills.

Developed by the Society of Professional Journalists for the Council of National Journalism Organizations, JournalismTraining.org is funded by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Burgeoning Reporter? Sharpen Your Craft with Journalism Training (.org)

The Web journalism niche has seen a lot of pushback from traditional publications trying, understandably so, to protect their line of work. But the industry has changed, for better or worse, with the speed and ease of online publishing, so smart institutions are leveraging that understanding.\n\nThe Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) is one such institution. Having long taken it upon itself to help journalists hither and yon find the training they need, its latest effort, JournalismTraining.org, is a treasure trove for journalists -- online and off -- seeking information about professional development opportunities.

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