A StoryLab combines a design-thinking workshop with Mobile Journalism immersion story production to create enriched storytelling experiences with university students.

I have produced story labs with the University of Stockholm, Michigan State University, Danish School of Journalism, and EFJ News school of Journalism, Paris.

I’ll be leading a Mobile Journalism Storylab at The American University in Cairo in October.

In the Storylab format, students get the guidance to produce high quality, original video prototypes that can be tested with target audiences, shown to clients and included in their portfolios.

In Berlin, I lead visiting students from Michigan State University in a story finding project.

In Paris I lead a four-day intensive video prototyping project foe EFJ Students.The school invites an external client who wants to develop video story formats for their publication.

At the Danish School of Journalism, we have run storylabs with mid-career professionals and their students are required to complete both online courses from the Smart Film School each semester: Design Thinking and Mobile Journalism.

For the United Nations I lead six-week certificate course with their public information officers. This combines the Design Thinking and Mobile Journalism courses with a private Facebook Group for instructor-led support.

At Ohio University E.W. Scripps School of Journalism I lead a week of Mobile Journalism training for the Kiplinger Fellows using similar techniques.

Sample schedule

The Storylab approach provides several advantages for getting good engagement.

It is collaborative, challenging and competitive. And the students have a chance to make portfolio pieces.

  • Day 1: Design thinking workshop – Lead student teams develop an action plan so they can prototype an original story concept and format.
  • Day 2: Mobile Journalism Workshop with field exercises. Level 1
  • Day 3: Mobile Journalism Workshop with field exercises. Level 2
  • Day 4: Students film mockup scenes of their prototype story and develop their 3-minute pitch
  • Day 5: a.m. – Final edit their film and press. p.m. Present their pitch and mockup film sample in a mini-film fest.

Students get feedback from us professors and a green light to make their projects before the end of the year.
That will allow them to submit them to the Mobile Journalism Awards, for example.

I will be based in the USA this Nov. and Dec. (San Francisco, Chicago and Orlando) where I will be making Storylab and Mobile Journalism workshops.

 

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