{"id":42051,"date":"2023-11-20T21:15:24","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T15:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/?post_type=stories&#038;p=42051"},"modified":"2025-10-21T16:50:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T10:50:58","slug":"visual-journalism-bootcamp-empowering-aspiring-journalists-for-tomorrow","status":"publish","type":"stories","link":"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/bn\/stories\/visual-journalism-bootcamp-empowering-aspiring-journalists-for-tomorrow\/","title":{"rendered":"Visual Journalism Bootcamp: Empowering aspiring journalists for tomorrow"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||-3px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||4px|||&#8221; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;2_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.2&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;1px||4px|||&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.2&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/VRB-20Nov-23.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>From capturing powerful images to crafting compelling visual narratives, 12 young journalists are embarking on a journey to redefine journalism. Stay tuned for their remarkable work!<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Text by Syed Samiul Basher Anik<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bringing news to the public in real-time, especially through live reporting, presents unique challenges. As television stations and social media handles of online portals increasingly turn to live broadcasts, journalists have the opportunity to provide immediate updates, capture significant developments, and conduct on-the-ground interviews. However, some, like Rafsan Nijhum of Ekhon TV, have hesitated when it comes to live reporting, often avoiding it altogether.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/vrb001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Rafsan&#8217;s perspective changed during a recent visual journalism bootcamp organized by MRDI in partnership with Fojo Media Institute. This program transformed Rafsan&#8217;s nervousness into confidence, helping him master the art of flexible live reporting. &#8220;The camp not only equipped me with the skills to engage the audience effectively but also provided valuable insights into the power of real-time live journalism,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">MRDI&#8217;s flagship visual journalism bootcamp, held from October 30 to November 2, brought together 12 aspiring journalists and video storytellers from diverse media outlets to learn from seasoned visual journalists.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This unique initiative, designed to offer essential tools and techniques for a successful career in visual journalism, helped participants gain knowledge, hone their skills, and gain the confidence to excel in the field. The bootcamp covered a wide array of topics, including visual journalism techniques, the art of compelling storytelling, interview skills, research for impactful stories, and refining live reporting capabilities.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sharing his experience, Md. Shakibur Rahaman, a journalist at the private broadcast station RTV, said the practical knowledge acquired in the camp will help make visuals more attractive and engaging for reporting. &#8220;The bootcamp&#8217;s impact extended beyond refining my skills; it encouraged me to consider daily events with a fresh perspective, which will enable me to craft unique stories, even from events covered by many other journalists,&#8221; said Shakib.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the ever-evolving landscape of journalism, staying ahead requires a blend of skills that goes beyond traditional classroom teaching, and this is where MRDI&#8217;s visual journalism bootcamp stands out as an exceptional educational experience as it combines practical training, interactive learning, and valuable insights from industry professionals under a same umbrella.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Setting the bootcamp apart<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bootcamp&#8217;s success was driven by seasoned visual journalists and industry experts who generously shared their wealth of knowledge and experiences at the camp. Their practical exercises and guidance enriched the learning experience, ensuring participants left with not just theoretical knowledge but also real-world skills.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/vrb002-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"431\" height=\"250\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/vrb003-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"416\" height=\"248\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8220;The bootcamp has instilled in me the belief that journalism is not just a 9-5 job; it&#8217;s an art. It&#8217;s the art of storytelling, the art of working with light and camera, and more. I plan to incorporate these artistic elements into my future work,&#8221; said Mohona Hossain of The Business Standard.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an increasing number of young individuals entering the field each year, many newsrooms in Bangladesh struggle to provide comprehensive training programs. As a result, new journalists often rely on day-to-day on-the-job learning experiences. Recognizing this gap, MRDI introduced the visual journalism bootcamp to equip young reporters with the tools, techniques, and confidence needed for a successful career.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Right from the inception of the bootcamp, MRDI\u2019s project team has been committed to providing a unique and comprehensive learning experience for the participants. This approach is distinct because it pairs each participant with a dedicated mentor who will serve as a guiding light throughout their visual journalism journey.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/vrb004.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From day one, the project team encouraged each participant to present a story idea based on their chosen themes, which will serve as a foundation for their visual storytelling efforts. Participants will work closely with their mentors to bring these stories to life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But this commitment doesn&#8217;t end with the bootcamp itself. A month after the initial camp, the same group of participants will be reconvened for a follow-up bootcamp. This follow-up aims to refresh and reinforce the knowledge they&#8217;ve gained and provide deeper insights into various aspects of journalism.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/fojo-mrdi-2023.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1559\" height=\"227\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/stories\/blogs\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5441\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/back_button.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"83\" height=\"56\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3402,"template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p><style><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><br \/>.responsive {<br \/>  width: 100{858156b5cf3d3c2b9694763f3fb57ffe1874be2fef64d24d0664743fcc528a45};<br \/>  height: auto;<br \/>}<br \/><\/style><\/p><p><img class=\"responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/1A.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Words and pictures by Fojo media consultant and journalism trainer David Brewer<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"responsive aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Stories001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"\" height=\"\" \/><strong>The Channel 24 newsroom as the nightly news programme goes to air.<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A change in the relationship between government, corporations and the media is needed in Bangladesh if the country\u2019s publishers and broadcasters are to stay in business and thrive.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">That was a recurring theme during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bdmrdi\/videos\/1334951826837071\">an online seminar<\/a> on Thursday 21 January involving senior editors, academics and media experts following the publication of the study \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/mail.google.com\/mail\/u\/0?ui=2&ik=274ad44c61&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1689573205236333145&th=177291e0e0213a59&view=att&disp=inline\">Leadership or Stagnation: The Future of Media Viability in Bangladesh<\/a>\u201d.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The report looked at the economic challenges the Bangladeshi media faces as it emerges from the coronavirus pandemic and adjusts to a digital future. It also considered what a <a href=\"https:\/\/mediahelpingmedia.org\/2016\/02\/13\/newsroom-evolution-from-digital-denial-to-digital-first\/\">digital-first strategy <\/a>might mean for the media in Bangladesh in terms of revenue and reach.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Written by Ross Settles, adjunct professor of Hong Kong University, and initiated by the Bangladeshi Management and Resources Development Initiative (<a href=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/\">MRDI<\/a>) in partnership with <a href=\"https:\/\/fojo.se\/en\/\">Fojo Media Institute<\/a>, Linnaeus University, Sweden, the report forms part of a project for \u201cImproving Qualitative Journalism in Bangladesh:\u201d<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Introducing the session the report\u2019s author said that the entire media ecosystem is fragile in Bangladesh in a climate where the audience is starting to lose their faith in the news.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his report he\u2019d stated that the media in Bangladesh had \u201cplayed a strong role in every major political and social transformation in the country\u201d, but that the \u201cmedia environment had changed dramatically in the past two decades\u201d, and, as a result, the media was struggling to \u201ctransform itself to the changes brought about by digital transition\u201d.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said one survey revealed that one in five didn\u2019t want news, didn\u2019t consume news, thought it a waste of time, had little value, and they didn\u2019t believe it or trust it. Since 2015 the approval rating of the media had fallen dramatically by 26{858156b5cf3d3c2b9694763f3fb57ffe1874be2fef64d24d0664743fcc528a45}, he said.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Syed Gousul Alam Shaon, managing partner and country head of the advertising agency <a href=\"https:\/\/www.grey.com\/en\/bangladesh\">Grey Bangladesh<\/a>, said the country\u2019s media as a business had been sidelined as a political tool, a move which he said is \u201ckilling media houses\u201d.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cIf you are independent running it like a business they have their business plan etc. Media houses are not doing that because they are controlled by corporate houses\u201d.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, editor in chief of TV Today spoke of a lack of trust in the media. He said traditional media has not yet been confronted with fake news which is mainly spread by online media and social media. But he said a lack of investigative reporting by media houses contributes to a lack of trust.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Faruq Faisel, regional director for Bangladesh and South Asia of the human rights organisation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.article19.org\/\">Article 19<\/a> said politics and political culture was relevant to the viability of the media industry. He said journalists were being obstructed from telling the truth and being innovative which in turn led to self-censoring.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The editor of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhakatribune.com\/\">Dhaka Tribune<\/a>, Zafar Sobhan, said the media in Bangladesh was \u201cflying blind\u201d in terms of assessing the audience because of the lack of credible data available. And he called on all sides, government, media and advertisers, to work together in order to establish a way of \u201cunderstanding the actual situation\u201d as regards the media market. \u201cIf you don\u2019t know the numbers it\u2019s hard to come up with a viable solution\u201d, he said. He also spoke of the \u201ccorrosive impact of limitations\u201d of what newspapers are allowed to do.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahidul Haque, chairman of the department of communication and journalism at the University of Chittagong, said the way to engage the community and increase media literacy is to highlight the issues of democracy, freedom of expression, and freedom of the press because they are co-related. Regarding advertising he said mainstream media is losing money because of Google, Facebook, YouTube.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sayed Ashfaqual Haque, the executive editor of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedailystar.net\/\">The Daily Star<\/a> said there is no \u201csilver bullet\u201d for media sustainability and that reform is required if the media is to survive. \u201cThe government invested heavily in technology to develop its muscle to run propaganda and spread fake news and disinformation across social media. Free media is no match. It requires a lot of investment. We are living in the age of misinformation. Our colleagues are in no position to verify\u00a0 facts, and prove what\u2019s true and what is false.\u201d<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that for free media to survive, democracy is required. But, he said that in Bangladesh, democracy is not in a good shape. \u201cThis is not a good time for free media\u201d.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"responsive aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Stories002.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"468\" height=\"351\" \/><strong>The broadcast gallery at Channel 24 in Dhaka.<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talat Mamun, executive director of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.channel24bd.tv\/\">Channel 24<\/a> said Bangladesh media is suffering from mistrust and misunderstanding. He said there needs to be a strong initiative from the government, the media owners and the leaders of the journalists associations to work on a \u201cfuturistic plan including rules and regulations\u201d that all understand. \u201cWithout having anything we are in a bizarre situation, we don\u2019t know the highway, where we want to go and where we want to stop\u201d, he said.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shakhawat Liton, executive editor of <a href=\"https:\/\/tbsnews.net\/\">The Business Standard<\/a> said it was important that institutions work properly to ensure the media\u2019s protection and freedom of speech. \u201cThe viability of media will depend on economic development, but how far the development would lead to vibrant media will depend on the overall democratic environment\u201d, he said.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<img class=\"responsive aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Stories003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"468\" height=\"351\" \/><strong>The Prothom Alo newsroom in Dhaka.<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mathir Rahman the editor of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prothomalo.com\/\">Prothom Alo<\/a> said that his newspaper would always be independent and neutral, and that they will run their own business and would not take money from corporates or the government.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the role of the government was important and that at one point it had\u00a0 stopped 48 big companies advertising on Prothom Alo. He said the government had \u201ca lot of tools for making things difficult for the newspapers\u201d.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country is divided politically, the media is divided, the journalists are divided. We all are responsible.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said digital is the future and that his newspaper had moved to a digital-first strategy by converging the newsroom to operate 24 hours a day producing journalism in print, online and social media.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In August 2017 Prothom Alo, Channel 24, and The Daily Star all took part in two weeks of training in preparing a digital-first strategy and <a href=\"https:\/\/mediahelpingmedia.org\/2008\/04\/11\/convergence-workflows-roles-and-responsibilities\/\">newsroom convergence<\/a> organised by MRDI and Fojo in order to help prepare them and other media houses for the digital changes ahead.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The report the seminar was discussing had concluded that the Bangladesh news media faced two scenarios, stagnation and leadership.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his report, Ross Settles, said that to survive, Bangladesh\u2019s traditional media and new media entrepreneurs needed to begin developing specialist content and digital news formats to serve Bangladesh\u2019s large and evolving audience.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cBangladesh has a long history of cultural leadership, including in journalism. To continue and solidify this role, the current industry scenario will need reform and innovation. The alternative is a slow atrophy and stagnation,\u201d he wrote.<\/p><p><img class=\"responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/BLOG-Bar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1559\" height=\"227\" \/><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/stories\/blogs\/\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/BAck.-300x204.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"83\" height=\"56\" \/><\/a><\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":""},"class_list":["post-42051","stories","type-stories","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/stories\/42051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/stories"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/stories"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrdibd.org\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}