Journalists can apply now for online Spanish course: “The New Journalistic Narrative in Times of the Internet”

The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas is offering its new online course “The New Journalistic Narrative in Times of the Internet,” from July 16 to Aug. 26, 2012. This six-week, Spanish-language course will have renowned specialized journalists as weekly instructors: María Teresa Ronderos, Daniel Santoro, Esther Vargas Emilio Fernández-Cicco, Paul Alonso, and Verónica Klingenberger.

In this tumultuous time for news media, social networks, and mobile technologies, narrative journalism still is important in the profession. This online course explores the ways for telling non-fiction stories through discussions and readings about the various new ways of story telling. Guest journalists and editors will share their experience, techniques, and materials weekly to understand the importance of this journalistic aspect in the present day, and analyze the way in which the Internet has changed or impacted the ways in which stories are told.

The course will only be available online and will be lead by six instructors who will split the weekly modules. Colombian journalist María Teresa Ronderos, consulting editor for the magazine Semana and director of the news portal www.verdadabierta.com, will offer the module about “The editor’s point of view.” The Argentine journalist Daniel Santoro, editor of the political section of the newspaper Clarín, will be in charge of the “narrative in investigative journalism.” Esther Vargas, specialist in digital topics and founder of Clasesdeperiodismo.com, will cover issues about “the multimedia narrative.” Emilio Fernández-Cicco, creator of what is called “border journalism,” will offer insight into gonzo journalism. Journalist Paul Alonso, freelancer for international news media outlets, such as El País de España, the Nuevo Herald in Miami, and Terra, will be in charge of “the profile narrative and the interview.” Verónica Klingenberger, former publisher of the magazine Dedomedio and current director of the news portal Terra Perú, will close the course providing publishing advice for magazines and digital media about entertainment and culture.

Paul Alonso, journalism Ph.D. candidate at the University of Texas at Austin and member of the Knight Center staff, will coordinate the class. “The writing of narratives still stands as one of the most creative areas in the profession. This course will be a great opportunity for students to share and learn with those journalists who, from different angles, contribute to the evolution of the genre in digital times,” Alonso said.

The registration fee for the course is $60. The deadline for journalists to apply is July 5, 2012, at 5:00 pm (ECT).

After reading online chronicler texts and material about writing chronicles, practical examples will be provided on how to use digital resources to improve narrating skills. The course also provides multimedia examples and digital narration experiments that are available online. The course is divided into several weekly modules, which contain audiovisual presentations and links to online resources. Exercises, discussions, and assignments will also be part of the program. It is estimated that participants will need to dedicate between 10 to 15 hours a week to the activities in the course.

For more information about the course, >click here.

The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas was created by professor Rosental Alves, of the School of Journalism of the University of Texas at Austin, in August, 2002, and thanks to the generous donations made by John S., and James L. Knight Foundation. The Center also received contributions from other donors, including the Open Society Foundations, and the University of Texas at Austin. The Center’s main goal is to help journalists of Latin America and the Caribbean who are interested in improving the quality of journalism in their countries.