Media School 2.0: Mediabaza Kropyvnytskyi facilitates paid internships in regional media outlets

Media School 2.0 participants. Project launced by the IMI journalist hub Mediabaza Kropyvnytskyi in October. Photo by Mediabaza Kropyvnytskyi

Participants in the Media School 2.0, launched by the IMI journalist hub Mediabaza Kropyvnytskyi in October, have passed the midpoint of their multi-month training course. There are still several sessions ahead of them, featuring editors of regional and national media outlets who will discuss the work of the media and paid internships.

“This is the project's second season. The first Media School took place in the spring and showed us that this model of attracting employees to the media works. We hope that at the end of Media School 2.0, the participants will find employment and work with the media in the future. During the training sessions, the young people attending have the opportunity to get in closer contact with editors and learn about job offers and the profession's nuances. This promotes interest in working in the media. Plus, this time we have provided pleasant financial incentives for the best participants in the project,” says Pavlo Lisnychenko, coordinator of the Mediabaza Kropyvnytskyi.

Mediabaza Kropyvnytskyi coordinator Pavlo Lisnychenko. Photo by Mediabaza Kropyvnytskyi

Who attends Media School 2.0

The project was joined by young people interested in working in the media, as well as by students of the local institutions:

• R. Elworthy Institute;
• Central Ukraine Technical University;
  
• V. Vynnychenko University of Central Ukraine;
• Central Ukraine Specialised College.

Media School 2.0: Teaching young people to see the media through professionals' eyes

The Media School's curriculum already included such topics as creating reportages, interviews, analysis, and investigations. The lessons also discussed the ethical principles of reporting, tools that help media professionals discover and verify information, and promoting contnent on digital platforms. Halfway through their learning journey, young people say that Media School 2.0 is a powerful educational project that gives them the opportunity to look at the work of the media through the eyes of practitioners.

“I have already completed half of the Media School and I am incredibly happy to be here, to learn something new with every lesson. Media School 2.0 is an opportunity to meet cool journalists, to learn things that they would never tell you at the university. I am infinitely grateful to everyone involved in the Media School, because all the effort is noticeable and it is clear that this is being done for us,” says Diana Bondarenko, a journalism major at the V. Vynnychenko University of Central Ukraine.

Media School 2.0 speakers: editors and journalists with operating media outlets

Media School 2.0 features lessons by editors and journalists with operating media outlets, so students not only learn the various aspects of working in the media in theory, but also have the opportunity to put thier skills to practice and learn more cases and tips for working in different media outlets.

“This is very important training that gives you the opportunity to get to know the profession. I was impressed by how sincere, accessible and professional the speakers were. I liked everyone. There was not a single boring or unpleasant lecture or speaker. Perhaps the most valuable thing is how simple and well-structured the teaching is. Starting as a complete novice, I am getting to see the field, I am starting to understand some things. I am starting to see what I could write and how I could write it. And this is very cool! Warm communication is extremely important to me. Both the speakers and the organizers are very warm and comfortable to talk to. I hope this is really my path into the field,” says copywriter Lia Ivaniska.

Media School 2.0 participants. Project launced by the IMI journalist hub Mediabaza Kropyvnytskyi in October. Photo by Mediabaza Kropyvnytskyi

“Participating in Media School 2.0 gave me practical skills, a deeper understanding of the profession and of the value of teamwork. I realized that working in the media is not just about creativity, but also strategy,” shares his insight Maksym Radchenko, a marketing major at the Central Ukraine Technical University.

After completing the 10-session training course, students will apply for a paid internship in one of the Kirovohradska oblast publications. Only those participants who attended 100% of the sessions and then completed all practical assignments will take part in this competition.

Media School 2.0 is organized by the journalism hub of the Institute of Mass Information (IMI) Mediabaza Kropyvnytskyi.

Svitlana Lytvynenko, communications officer at Mediabaza Kropyvnytskyi