Other Fellowships Available
Seeing the World Through New Eyes Fellowship
More info here.
Broadcast Journalism Fellowship
More info here.
JWF Fellowships to the Poynter Institute for Print, Broadcast and Online News Journalists
Poynter Experience
Denise Helm | Hazel MacClement | Janis Warren |  |  |
Denise Helm
Online News Director
Victoria Times Colonist
Having the opportunity to attend the Poynter Institute for Online Leaders was great timing as I had recently been appointed to the new position of Online News Director. As media look at ways to deliver information to people at anytime, anywhere, being able to learn more about this fast changing arena was invaluable. Topics included how to measure your web audience, online ethics and priorities for digital media. The calibre of instruction was top notch and the opportunity to network with fellow journalists from uk.msn.com, CNN.com, as well as other broadcast and print outlets from Hawaii to Toronto was both informative and fun (especially those informal debrief sessions over beers). I've already been able to put what I've learned into practice here at the Times Colonist.
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Hazel MacClement
Producer, "Olsen on Your Side"
CTV News, Vancouver
I want to thank the Jack Webster Foundation for the opportunity to attend the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. I took the Complete TV Producer between June 1st and 6th and found it to be an amazing experience. As a former reporter now working as the producer of Olsen on Your Side, I knew I needed something to help me get to the next level. The Complete TV Producer has given me new tools and new insight. A friend I made at the seminar compared the program to joining the Marines. For the first few days you're worn down by the awareness of all you are doing wrong. Then they build you back up as (hopefully) a better journalist and newsroom leader.
The syllabus is a good balance of practical tips and big picture courses. In a typical morning we might look at Better Storytelling, Promo Writing, or Web Research. Later, we'd look at What Your News Director Needs From You, Time Management Tips, or How to Make Tough Ethical Calls. That's just a small selection of the courses I took. I found all of it very useful. The instructors were solid and inspiring.
Of almost equal value to the course work, was the opportunity to meet other producers from across North America. Their experiences, frustrations, and coping techniques have added greatly to my knowledge base. They are also an ongoing source of support as we have pledged to stay in touch through the web.
Competence leads to confidence: that may be the single most important gain for me after Poynter. This week I'm worrying less, and doing more. I feel new, fresh with a clear vision for the path ahead. Thank you again for making that possible.
Janis Warren
The Tri-City News
It was an honour and a privilege to have been chosen as a Jack Webster fellow. I learned a tremendous amount about online journalism in my one week at the Poynter Institute in St. Pete. I hope all reporters and editors selected by the foundation can take away the same amount of knowledge as I did! Thanks again for the opportunity.