A transformation has begun in the newsroom of Searchlight newspaper, as it prepares to enter a new era of how news is gathered and disseminated.

Videography trainees (from left) Eldonte Samuel, Tyrique Thomas and Kyle Williams editing a 60-second promotional video created during the workshop.

On July 22 and 23, eight persons were engaged in a training course delivered by videographers Ricardo Redman and Selwyne Browne of Oversight Corp of Barbados.

The training formed part of a ‘digital retooling’ project sponsored by Caribbean Export and the European Union, whose grant funding also allowed for the acquisition of video and computer equipment and accessories.

“It was an insightful training course and we learned a lot. It prepared us for the next stage of transformation,” production assistant Adib Medford said.

He added that techniques learnt through the training course last weekend will definitely help the newspaper to implement aspects of video production into products offered.

Network Administrator Adrian Shallow (third from left) familiarizes himself with the drone controls while (from left) Eldonte Samuel, Bria King, trainer Selwyne Browne, Katherine Renton and Kyle Williams look on.

“For me, it was very interesting and interactive…I liked the hands-on training that we got. It wasn’t mostly theory; we got to see how everything worked. It was a fun two days,” Shenee Farrell, Searchlight’s webmaster said.

Other participants also praised the trainers for their hands-on teaching methods, which they said helped them to retain all the information imparted over the two-day period.

The training course familiarised participants with video and computer equipment, and accessories, through theoretical and practical sessions, which delved into the stages of pre-production, production, post-production/editing and publishing for broadcast and livestream.

Participants were given a brief to create a story around the ongoing training course, which was completed and presented as a 60-second promotional video.

This video, which was created by the eight-member group using the skills taught in last weekend’s training can be viewed on Searchlight’s Facebook Page or Youtube channel.

Other Searchlight employees, Adrian Shallow, network administrator and reporters, Katherine Renton and Bria King also benefited from the training programme. Training was also extended to three young, local videographers: Eldonte Samuel, Kyle Williams and Tyrique Thomas.