DS & Knight Editorial TrainingFebruary 17, 2017

• NPR Training o 400 NPR newsroom staff over two years beginning in 2008o Developed training curriculum for radio journalists

• Station Training Pilots (2011) o Week-long intensive: KPLU, WBUR, KQEDo 12-week online program: WAMU, KCUR, WUSF

• Knight 2.0 o 11-week online intensive programo Partially subsidized on-site training o Application required

• Modular-Based Training All of our training session are developed around modules that last anywhere from 2-5 weeks -- typically one hour a week

NPR Digital Training History 

• Weekly Webinarso Beginning Feb. 29 with the three-week module on Digital Literacy & Strategyo Available to everyone, up to 30 stations per module

• 11-Week Online Intensiveo Beginning March 21 with first group of 10 stationso Knight funded, 70 stations over two years

• Limited On-Site Trainingo Beginning June 2012o Knight subsidized, eight stations over two years

• Applicationo Deadline: March 15 for 2012 trainings, opens again in November for 2013

Training Initiatives

Weekly Webinars

Stations can attend modules that fit their schedule and skill set. Think of each module as a planned curriculum that develops over time. Each module is comprehensive and can be paired with other any other module. These sessions are open to anyone. Modules are limited to 30 attendees per session.

Pros:1. Stations can take training sessions they’re interested in, building their own training agenda ala

carte as modules are offered2. There's a limited time commitment, however we encourage stations to complete an entire module,

but it’s not require3. Modules are designed to work together, so over time it’s a comprehensive training curriculum

Cons:1. Larger training groups2. There’s less individual attention3. Sessions are only offered once a week, though all sessions are archived.4. It’s not as structured as other training options

Weekly Webinar Details

We'll look at the most effective ways to write for your online audience. Experiencing a story on air vs. online is quite different, which is why it's important to know the audience you're writing for. We will cover techniques to convert existing radio scripts into web stories, and take a look at excellent web-first storytelling by member stations.  Features and SpotsRadio features have different structures from online features. In this session, we  will look at those differences and share what works best for the online audience. We will also have a brief introduction to online user habits.  Headlines and SEO Headlines can make or break a story. Headlines have become even more important as more and more people use search engines and social media to find your stories. In this session, we'll take a look at ways to improve headlines to grab readers and grow your online audience. Breaking News This will be a Q&A session with a member station reporter who has done breaking news online. We'll hear about coordinating resources, relevance in the local market and the impact on online audience engagement after the event is over.  

Web Writing -- Three Weeks

11-Week Online Intensive

Each 11-week training program begins with a three-day, in-person leadership conference that is partially paid for by the grant. The training then shifts to webinars and one-on-one critiques with the DS editorial team. We’ll cover four main topics: Digital literacy and strategy, writing for the web, social media, and visual storytelling.

The make-up of each week will change depending on the topic, but for the most part it'll consist of a weekly webinar, staff conversations and bi-weekly leadership check-ins. We’ll also have take away assignments for staff that will be critiqued. 

Pros:• Smaller training groups -- 10 stations per group• Individual station critiques• Dedicated trainer that will track each station’s progress• Some ability to influence curriculum• Training sessions are repeated multiple times during the week

Cons:• Customizing the curriculum is limited to the level of experience within each group• Stations commit to 3-5 hours a week• Application is required

 

11-Week Online Intensive Details

Leadership: Three-day conference including travel, bi-weekly check-in, final week of training host a retrospective with staff or optional one-day on-site visit. Facilitators: Identify a point person for engaging staff in training, including hosting webinars, tracking staff participation and overall training goals. Time: 3-5 hours a week, including weekly check-in with DS training team Station staff: Staff will attend weekly webinars, group discussions and may be required to participate in workshops and assignments. Time: 2-3 hours a week

11-Week Training Expectations

On-Site Training

We’ll offer a limited number of on-site training at select member stations. These training are customized to each station. We’ll work in collaboration with each station’s management team to develop the curriculum based on the station’s digital goals. The training can focus on specific skills, such as social media or web writing, or cover a range of topics, and can run anywhere between three-five days. There is a fee associated with this training. However, trainings can be subsidized by the Knight grant, based on financial need. 

Pros:• Training is custom-build for each station• Depending on the station’s need, training can be as broad or specific as the station  needs• Training is built in collaboration with station’s management• Training is on-site and hands-on• During training, we can alter curriculum based on feedback

Cons:• Stations commit to having staff attend• Curriculum is developed in partnership with the leadership team, so they should be

available for feedback• Application is required• Fees associated

 

On-Site Training Details

Questions?

Visit: editorial.digitalservices.npr.org/Write: editorial@npr.ds.org

Call: 202-513-2424