Digital evolution: News Corp, Google unite to train journalists
News Corp Australia and Google have joined forces to establish a groundbreaking digital news training initiative, which will develop and enhance the online skills of journalists.
News Corp Australia and Google have joined forces to establish a groundbreaking digital news training initiative, which will develop and enhance the online skills of journalists across the country.
In a world-first partnership between Google and a media company, the Digital News Academy will provide on-the-ground reporters, editors and publishers with the latest tools, techniques and insights on online news gathering and multimedia storytelling.
The program will also include specific tutorials in data journalism, in-depth online investigative reporting, the effective operation of social media channels, podcasting and the targeting of specific audience segments.
The Melbourne Business School, the University of Melbourne’s graduate school in business and economics, will deliver the Academy’s curriculum.
The nine-month course will be open to journalists at News Corp (publisher of The Australian), as well as those from leading regional publisher Australian Community Media and some smaller media partners.
It is expected that other media organisations may sign up to the Academy in coming months.
The program will welcome its first cohort of 50 journalists in March, and it’s expected 750 media professionals will complete the course over the first three years.
Participants will have access to the Academy’s 11-member panel of experts, which includes Gerry Baker, editor-at-large of The Wall Street Journal, and Hedley Thomas, national chief correspondent of The Australian.
Google will provide access to global subject matter experts and the latest in learning resources.
News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson said: “We are delighted to partner with Google and Melbourne Business School in providing meaningful opportunities for young Australians in journalism through the Digital News Academy.
“It is crucial that young journalists fully comprehend the potential of digital reporting and delivery, but that they also be well-versed in the traditional journalistic imperative of fact-based reporting.”
News Corp Australasia’s executive chairman Michael Miller said the Academy was part of the company’s ongoing commitment to strong and fearless news reporting and advocacy.
“Journalism’s importance to the health and wellbeing of our communities cannot be overstated,” he said.
“I think the Academy will set a new standard for journalism.”
The initiative was the brainchild of Mr Miller and Melanie Silva, Google Australia’s managing director.
The pair had been discussing the idea for a few years, Mr Miller said.
“We shared an ambition and belief that we could work together on a world-leading program … that would ensure this generation of journalists and future generations of journalists tell stories in increasingly engaging ways.
“The idea evolved over a number of years into the concept of a more formalised academic curriculum – and that is the Digital News Academy.”
Despite News Corp and Google locking horns in recent times – the media company’s long-running battle to secure payment for news content used by the tech giant was only resolved last year – Mr Miller said the two organisations enjoyed a strong working relationship, and the Academy was testament to that.
“No, there wasn’t a concern. Mel (Silva) and I are very aligned on the impact we want to have on journalism, and therefore on Australia,” he said.
“News Corp Australia and Google have worked together for many years. We’ve got a range of agreements with Google. For example, News Xtend (NCA’s digital marketing agency) is one of Australia’s biggest resellers of Google products.”
Sonja Heydeman, who boasts decades of experience in Australian newsrooms and at RMIT as a journalism educator, has been appointed the inaugural director of the Academy.
“The digital landscape is changing at such an immense rate,” she said.
“This initiative is so important because it allows for journalists across the country – and it doesn’t matter if you’re with the biggest news group, or the smallest family-owned newspaper – to develop their skill sets in line with what will be required in modern and future newsrooms.”
Ian Harper, the Dean of Melbourne Business School, said: “We believe the Digital News Academy has the potential to transform the future of organisational learning, as well as journalism.”
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