Online training network expands

The National Union of Journalists in the UK is launching the first in a series of online courses next month, designed to support the network of journalists across the British Isles.

Training will be based on the new NUJtraining.org web site and the first course will be for union training representatives.

New legislation introduced on 6 April means that learning representatives, who are nominated to provide training advice to colleagues in the workplace, must undertake new training every six months and are entitled to be paid for time off work spent on union work.

Deirdre Heinrich from the union's training department told dotJournalism that online training has been the brainchild of Linda King, the union's professional training manager.

"We've been providing traditional training courses for five years. Linda has been dedicated to online learning. It means that we can provide a learning network that is accessible to all our members scattered across the country," she said.

An integral part of online training will be a discussion forum where trainees can discuss their progress with the tutor and other participants.

"It won't just be someone sitting on their own in front of a computer," said Ms Heinrich.

"Part of the idea of the training representatives course is that trainees can access a network of help and advice. Through the forum, they will be able to discuss problems and successful solutions, and all of the courses will have this element of support. None of the trainees will feel isolated."

Courses are currently being tested by the union's professional training committee and will be available at a subsidised rate to all union members. New courses - including feature writing, internet research and writing for the web - will be introduced over the next few months.

See also:
http://www.nuj.org.uk
http://www.nujtraining.org.uk
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story710.html

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