Kyiv Independent J-School 2.0 Training Program (Ukraine)

The Kyiv Independent J-School 2.0 is a training program consisting of two study sessions, each lasting five days. The program includes lectures from a general track and three specialized tracks in editing, reporting, and media management. The school aims to help Ukrainian media professionals enhance their skills in English-language reporting and media management. As Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine drags on and war fatigue settles in, there is an increasing need to strengthen Ukraine’s voice internationally. This training program is designed to boost the volume of quality news from Ukraine on the world stage.

What do they offer?

• Convenient schedule:
  • The training program is divided into two sessions of five days each. There will be a three-week break between the two sessions to refresh and return with renewed energy for the program.
• Four learning tracks:
  • All participants will have five days of general track lectures and five days of specialized lectures in their chosen track. Participants will be divided into three areas based on their specialization: reporting, editing, and media management.
  • Both study sessions will include lectures from general and specialized tracks, where participants will be working in smaller groups.
• Diverse activities and practical experience:
  • During the program, participants will have tours of local and international editorial offices, screenings of documentary films followed by discussions, as well as other events, including informal meetings with trainers and experts from the program.
• Development and pitching of your own project:
  • During the training, each participant will develop and pitch their project idea to the program committee. The winning project ideas will later be implemented in partnership with the Kyiv Independent team.
• Online and in-person participation:
  • They offer both formats of involvement. Please note that online participants will have the status of “auditors.” These participants will only have access to lectures and materials, as well as the ability to ask questions, but they won’t be able to compete for an internship, pitch their projects or get feedback on their practical assignments from the trainers.
• Full coverage of accommodation and travel costs for regional participants:
  • Anyone, regardless of the place of their residence in Ukraine, can participate in-person, as all travel and hotel expenses are covered by the training program upon request.

What’s in the Program?

• General track topics:
  • No, you can’t just translate it. Differences between Ukrainian and international journalism.
  • Talking about Ukraine to the world: What has changed in 3 years.
  • How to fund your journalism.
  • Finding your audience and connecting with it.
  • Storytelling. Power of a story.
  • Lessons from Western media: Do’s and dont’s.
• Reporting track topics:
  • What makes a good reporter? Habits, qualities, and practices.
  • The art of storytelling.
  • Spotting a good story and making a pitch an editor won’t refuse.
  • Building a network of sources who will give you exclusives.
  • How to keep your front-line reporting exciting but ethical.
  • I want to do investigations for foreign audience. Where do I start?
• Editing track topics:
  • Introduction: What does it mean to be an editor?
  • Introduction: Managing a newsroom.
  • Designing your dream newsroom.
  • Editor as manager. Editing is much more than just working with articles.
  • What every editor needs. Tools and skills to be a successful editor.
  • The importance of giving feedback and how to do it.
• Media Management track topics:
  • Setting the right goals: approaches to strategy development.
  • Coordinating work chaos: processes and project management basics.
  • Financial decision-making: projecting revenues and expenses.
  • Delivering the product to the audience: marketing and distribution strategy, components and approaches.
  • Supported by the readers: general introduction into reader revenue.
  • Managing others and yourself: time management and leadership basics.

What will you take away from J-School 2.0?

• A chance to implement your project with the Kyiv Independent
  • Each participant will develop and pitch their project to the training committee at the school pitch competition. Three winning projects will have the opportunity to be implemented in collaboration with the Kyiv Independent. All projects will be disseminated or promoted on the Kyiv Independent’s platforms.
• An opportunity for a one-month internship at the Kyiv Independent
  • After completing the training program, five participants will be invited to a paid internship at the Kyiv Independent’s editorial or management team. During the internship, each intern will publish at least two stories on the Kyiv Independent’s platforms. Management interns will get training on the job, helping manage real projects and managerial workstreams, and will receive a recommendation letter from their supervisor at the end of their internship.

Eligibility Criteria

• Journalists, editors, media managers, and freelancers from Ukrainian independent media outlets.
• Ukrainians abroad and senior university students in journalism, communication or management programs with the aspiration to work in the media industry.
• Media professionals who hold a decision-making role in a regional or hyperlocal newsroom (e.g. editor, chief editor/CEO, head of department etc.)

Requirements

• At least one year of experience in journalism.
• Strong command of English language (B2-C1 level).
• A desire to develop professionally in international journalism and work with foreign media.

For more information, visit The Kyiv Independent.