Cross-border Journalists, Collaboration and Technology can fix the world!
By M. Antoinette Jerom, December 2, 2021
Speaking at the SIGNIS Asia Journalism Desk’s webinar, Journalism in a Fragmented World, panellist Augustine Anthuvan, formerly an executive producer with Mediacorp, Singapore, unveiled valuable resource material gathered over the years, during the ‘Global Village Newsroom’ session on Collaborative Journalism.
He said that collaborative journalism is unique and should not be confused with citizen, community, or civic journalism. Quoting Nieman Reports, he explained how journalism was one field which had been forced to adapt to the changing times after the pandemic. The traditional attitude of upholding the sovereignty of media houses is now trending towards collaboration. “There’s a huge reluctance for many people to come back to the newsroom,” he said. “We need to build, forward, better. We need to embrace the tools that are at our disposal.”
For beginners and those willing to explore collaborative journalism, a toolkit developed by the International Journalists’ Network is readily available. To begin with, a checklist helps assess if the collaborative effort is the best way to approach a story. Planning is a key prerequisite for collaboration. A project Coordinator who will be the glue that holds the team and external parties together, is a key resource that supports the course of action, defines timelines, and addresses challenges. Leading the team to a successful collaborative story, is the end goal.
Speaking of the key benefit of collaboration, Anthuvan shared that it also helps journalists establish strong, reliable connections across borders which are beneficial to harnessing unique stories around the globe. Referring to an example of journalists from Africa and Asia who collaborated to reveal the illicit wildlife trade, Anthuvan explained that collaborative journalism increases levels of accountability, accuracy, and transparency.
Podcasting is another medium that can be used to publish your stories, he suggested. Artificial Intelligence, social media and various other technologies are used to extract the best of journalism. At present, journalists with specialized technical skills are in demand. E-learning courses on collaborative journalism are also widely available for journalists to upskill themselves.
Other articles published on the session:
https://www.signisasia.net/collaborative-journalism-a-way-towards-sustainable-journalism/
https://www.signisasia.net/vocation-of-a-catholic-journalist/
SIGNIS Asia Journalism Desk and LICAS News Asia are the organisers of the SIGNIS Asia Journalism Fellowship Programme on the theme “Journalism in a Fragmented World,” a seven-week programme for lay Catholic and like-minded journalists working in the secular media. Offered virtually, the seven-week webinar brings together 25 selected participants from 14 countries to build capacity and promote exchange among media professionals and journalists who want to use their platform for social change. Programme details: https://www.signisasia.net/journalism-in-a-fragmented-world-webinar-2021/