Members of the media pose for a group photo with British High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Janet Douglas (front left); Dan Mason and BHC Political Officer, Gilly Metzgen, at the start of the two-day workshop. (British High Commission – Bridgetown)

Media practitioners from Barbados, Guyana and Dominica were given the opportunity to hone their craft and develop new skills, thanks to a UK-funded workshop delivered by Multimedia Trainer and Mobile Journalism Specialist, Dan Mason.

The two-day workshop kicked off at the office of the British High Commission in Bridgetown, and will be replicated across the Eastern Caribbean for media professionals in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis; and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The course also continues to highlight the opening of new UK offices in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines – building on opportunities to foster new relations with key regional contacts. 

Held under the theme: ‘Change Your Story’, the comprehensive workshops were designed to improve the digital media capabilities of participants and encourage a solutions-based approach to journalism.

The hands on sessions were particularly focused on creating multimedia content using mobile devices, mobile photography, podcasts and video editing on the go.

During her welcome remarks to launch the day’s proceedings, British High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Mrs Janet Douglas said:

“The old model of print and traditional media has been rapidly overtaken by the universal demand for information via the internet and mobile devices. As a seasoned journalist himself and a long time trainer, Dan knows all too well the challenges you are facing.

With this in mind, he has designed a course that will allow you to take advantage of the new and rapidly developing technology.”

Dan Mason said: “What makes this Change Your Story project so different and so exciting is that we are working with journalists across seven countries. It’s about those journalists collaborating on telling stories for the future that builds capacity both in their own skills and for the region.

“I’m really proud to be involved in this project working in partnership with the British High Commission in Barbados, and the team who have all worked so hard to make it happen.”

The Change Your Story media training comes one week after officers at the Barbados Defence Force successfully completed a Media Operations course, facilitated by retired Colonel Ronnie McCourt of the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

The UK remains committed to protecting the rights and media freedoms of journalists in the Caribbean and across the globe.

British High Commission – Bridgetown

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