NewsBeat

July 2023 NewsBeat 23 T o help newsrooms struggling with staff shortages, the New York York Press Association this sum- mer will begin offering training to com- munity members interested in covering news for their local paper. The first sessions of the Press Pass program, will be July 10-13. Current plans are to offer the live, online course four times a year. Ongoing business pressures, includ- ing drops in advertising and subscriber revenue as well as increases in produc- tion costs, have led to substantial re- ductions in staffing in most newsrooms across the country. But many editors say hiring reporters to fill existing openings has become increasingly dif- ficult. Supplementing existing coverage with trained community correspon- dents will help newspapers fill gaps in existing coverage, especially in small towns. The training will give partici- pants basic guidance to build upon on the job under the supervision of edi- tors. The four-part online program will focus on journalism basics such as eth- ics, accuracy in reporting, interviewing techniques and writing clearly. To earn certification, participants must in-per- son complete all four sessions and pass a written test. The training is being offered free through NYPA's member newspapers. "We're not aiming to replace tradi- tional journalists with this program," said Judy Patrick, the association's vice president for editorial development. "We're working to expand local news coverage and build on our indsutry's longstanding tradition of community correspondents." "The program requires in-person attendance in part to encourage ques- tions as well as discussion about the topics we'll tackle," she said. While the program's first round will be late afternoons Monday through Thursday, subsequent sessions may follow a different schedule, depending on demand. "We're trying to make accessing this program as convenient as possible," she said. "The response to our initial offering should provide some guidance about scheduling the program going forward." More information on the program is available by contacting judy@nynews- papers.com. Judy Patrick is NYPA's vice president for editorial development. By JUDY PATRICK Looking for help covering your communities? NYPA to offer free online training for correspondents New York Press Association Press Pass program Four one-hour programs to be offered online Part One: Introduction to journalism • First Amendment explainer • Ethics • Difference between news and opinion: news and advertising • News literacy • Business of newspaper explainer Part Two: Accuracy • Checking the facts • Writing clearly • Sticking to style (discuss AP style and what style is in general) • Explaining off-the-record, on background, etc. • Basic newswriting, the inverted pyramid and how to write a lede • Libel Part Three: On the job • How to comport yourself on the job • How to interview • How to find news • Different kinds of stories (hard, soft, feature) • How to find and develop sources • Why deadlines matter, why stories get cut, why you can't make promises about publication Part Four: Working the beat • The basics of local government in NYS • Covering budgets • Covering education • Covering politics • Basic investigative tools • Open government tools in NYS • Social media

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