In Russia, there is a significant shortage of journalists who understand IT across various fields: technology, business, the impact of digital transformation on society, modern threats, etc. The nationwide educational project "Digital Journalism" is intended to help solve this problem.
— Information technologies are now more important and necessary than ever. In isolation mode, IT helps people work remotely, and businesses stay afloat. This is substantial support for the economy. Therefore, it is extremely important to understand the basics of technology and write about it competently, — says the organizer of the educational project, General Director of ANO "Digital Platforms" Arseny Schelcin.
According to "Digital Platforms," there are thousands of active journalists and experts in our country - representatives of significant public organizations. To provide citizens with the most up-to-date information, most of them need to improve their knowledge of IT across various fields: technology, business, the impact of digital transformation on society, modern threats, etc. This course will be useful for anyone covering important socio-economic topics.
Until the end of the self-isolation regime, the training will be conducted online via video conferencing. This format will maximize the approximation of the educational process to face-to-face format. Additionally, written homework will be reviewed in real-time by professional journalists and editors. After the self-isolation regime is lifted, face-to-face classes will begin, and it is planned to hold field events in 10 regions of Russia, namely: Moscow, Sochi, Kazan, Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Ulyanovsk, Kaliningrad, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod.
The "Digital Journalism" project aims to help authors understand how technologies and digital services transform the work of government, medical, financial, logistics, agricultural, communal, and other organizations.
— By the end of the training, project graduates will be able to understand how business processes are arranged in internet companies and internet services, analyze financial statements, search for exclusive news, understand how the media and telecom market works, navigate existing legislation, understand how modern technologies work, and so on, — adds the head of the "Digital Journalism" project Vladimir Zykov.
Leading journalists from major Russian media such as MIA "Russia Today," RNS, TASS, "Izvestia," "Vedomosti," MEDIA2, RusBase, and others, as well as representatives of well-known IT companies such as Acronis, Ru-Center, TrueConf, R7-Office, Naumen, and others, will teach the project. The project is launched with the support of a grant from the President of the Russian Federation, provided by the Presidential Grants Fund.
— Now the digital agenda has become one of the key ones for the state and media. Our task is to help colleagues understand IT and stimulate more writing about new technologies and services through training, — believe the project ideologists: chief editor of the TAdviser analytical center Alexander Levashov and marketing communications expert (formerly a correspondent for the "Vedomosti" newspaper and "Finance" magazine) Nadezhda Levashova.
During the project, it is planned to provide free training to over 3000 people from all over Russia. In total, it is planned to conduct more than 200 hours of lectures on seven educational modules: features of journalism, mass modern IT technologies, promising cross-cutting digital technologies, the application of high technologies in industries, digital law, features of regional digital transformation, the main aspects of Russian state policy in ICT. Training will be conducted on the Skillcare platform using the TrueConf video conferencing system, and all written homework will be performed on the domestic office platform R7-Office.
— "Digital Journalism" will cover not only metropolitan authors but also journalists from all regions of Russia. It is wonderful that such an exchange of experience will take place. Undoubtedly, it will be useful and in demand by regional journalists, — noted the chairman of the Union of Journalists of Russia Vladimir Solovyov.
Applications for training can be submitted not only by journalists but also by representatives of non-profit organizations involved in the promotion of the digital economy, finalists of personnel competitions "Leaders of Russia," "Digital Breakthrough," and others.
— Basic knowledge of the basics of information and communication technologies is important not only for journalists but also for those engaged in public organizations. They will be able to form a systematic understanding of the IT industry and digitalization, learn to communicate competently with people about IT. Training in the project will allow forming the necessary professional competencies, increasing their own value in the market, — said the chairman of the Commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on the development of the information society, media and mass communications journalist Alexander Malkevich.
All this has become possible thanks to the support of major Russian media and representatives of leading IT companies, as well as the Ministry of Digital Development, the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, the Union of Journalists of Russia, and the Presidential Grants Fund.
— We support any actions and any work aimed at increasing the digital literacy of the population. Digital literacy should spread both to the ability to behave in the digital environment and to professional knowledge about the programs that exist in the country, for its development and further progress. In this regard, the "Digital Journalism" project, which is being carried out by our old acquaintances and friends, will receive every support from our side, — said the Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation Alexey Volin.
All interested parties can send applications for training through the official website of the project Digital Journalism. Applications will be accepted until May 12. During registration, listeners will need to choose which educational direction they will undergo training: for journalists or for NGO representatives.
The best students based on the results of the educational project will be able to intern in well-known Russian media.
Digital Journalism on VKontakte.
Project Organizer:
ANO "Digital Platforms" — a non-profit organization created to promote advanced Russian software products and cases for transforming the priority sectors of the Russian economy and social sphere.