Citizen Journalism Training

Note: The Groupon offer has expired.

Citizen Journalism is a form of broadcast journalism where the individual is the reporter, camera operator and editor. These individuals have the ability to get into their neighborhoods and communities to get the stories that matter to them. These reporters are vital to getting the word out in Montgomery County.

Groupon and Montgomery Community Media partner to offer a 6-week Citizen Journalism Course only available through Groupon's Metropolitan Washington, DC offerings.

Professional instructors at Montgomery Community Media teach classes of students how to report, film, produce, and edit their own feature news stories, which then air on The Montgomery Channel and Access19. Over the six weeks, students attend 4 three-hour hands-on sessions, learning shooting basics, story composition, camera setup, and interview techniques. One week is reserved for each student to set out on their own to film their chosen story, and another week for editing the video for that story. The class includes all materials, use of editing software, and use of equipment such as Sony Bloggie High-Definition cameras. After students film their feature story, they learn to edit it using Final Cut Pro software, with the finished piece airing on local cable TV channels, posted online, and burned onto a DVD.
There are three sessions available through the Groupon offer:

• Session 1:
• January 31, February 7, February 14, February 21, February 28, March 6
• Session 2:
• March 27, April 3, April 10, April 17, April 24, May 1
• Session 3:
• May 29, June 5, June 12, June 19, June 26, July 3

All hands-on classes are on Tuesday evenings, starting at 7pm.
All sessions are held at:

• Montgomery Community Media
• 7564 Standish Place - Suite 101
• Rockville, MD 20855

If you have any questions, contact us here or call 301.424.1730 x 313.