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Palo Alto Online to host second video academy
Citizen Journalist Academy offered in conjunction with Media Center

Palo Alto Online is looking for residents interested in covering community issues and events on video.

Partnering with the Media Center, the four-week Citizen Journalist Academy will teach video production and reporting skills, after which participants would be ready to produce videos for community access television and PaloAltoOnline.com.

The course is part of an industry-wide trend of bringing the voices and passions of community members into the mix of digital media.

Hands-on classes begin Saturday, Sept. 10, and continue with Tuesday evening sessions (6:30-9:30 p.m.) on Sept. 13, 20, 27 and Oct. 4 and Saturday morning sessions (9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) on Sept. 17 and Oct. 1.

Field shoots will be conducted the weekend of Sept. 24, per the participants' schedules.

Those enrolled will learn to use video cameras, audio equipment and how to edit video on the computer. They'll also learn how to plan and produce video segments. The course is pen to anyone older than 16. The participant fee is $250.

Once trainees complete the program, they'll become community correspondents, be eligible to use Media Center video equipment and produce and submit videos to Palo Alto Online. In joining Palo Alto Online's team, online video correspondents will cover community events, conduct interviews and produce short video features about activities going on in the Palo Alto community.

The Citizen Journalist Academy launched with a summer session in June. Videos by graduates of the course included pieces about closure of state parks, the "sharing revolution" and a Palo Alto garden. The videos are posted at youtube.com/mczoomin.

Those interested in applying can contact Becky Sanders at becky@midpenmedia.org. For more information, email editor@paweekly.com or call Tyler Hanley, online editor, at 650-326-8210.

— Palo Alto Weekly staff