Colombia: A Packed Lecture Hall

They also conducted a workshop at the university’s Communications Institute on using Twitter & co. for journalism. The event was part of the international conference “Cátedra Europa”, which supports exchange between Colombian and European universities. Under an agreement between DW-AKADEMIE and Universidad del Norte, DW-AKADEMIE instructors Steffen Leidel and Matthias Kopp brought their expertise to the workshop.

The two organizations are cooperating in other areas as well. As part of a long-term project which began in 2006, employees of six community radio stations have attended radio workshops covering the basics of journalism, including ethics, reporting techniques, and digital radio production. In addition, employees of the various stations have attended seminars on management, marketing and audience research.

Since 2008, the two organizations have also been conducting a long-term project with six community television stations. The goal is to pass on the basics of local TV journalism. The various modules are planned in close cooperation with the university. This year, as part of the long-term project, five additional workshops and training courses for local media will be held.

There is also a plan to establish an information center whose purpose will include planning and coordinating training opportunities for local journalists. The center, to be set up in cooperation with the German CIM (Center for International Migration), will also promote a traineeship for local journalists, certified by the Universidad del Norte and DW-AKADEMIE.

DW-AKADEMIE supports local community media and national public television in Colombia through journalism training and consulting services.

Since Autumn 2009, DW-AKADEMIE has been providing consulting services to the state television station RTVC in the capital, Bogotá, with a comprehensive organizational development plan. The first stage focuses on the development of new and community-based information and cultural programs.