What is Virtual Poynter in your Newsroom?

Virtual Poynter in Your Newsroom is a videoconferencing training service that combines Poynter's accomplished faculty, engaging subject matter andindividualized feedback into a powerful 60 to90-minute package that can make a meaningful impact in your newsroom or classroom.

Using a high-speed Internet connection, Virtual Poynter "brings" Poynter faculty to your newsroom with real-time, on-screen workshops.

Poynter faculty will adapt some of its most popular seminar sessions to the needs of your staff and your newsroom.

What teaching and faculty are available?

The courses below are examples of the topics that we offer. However, we will work with you to provide teaching in the areas you need most. All of Poynter's faculty are available for training.

• 10 Laws of Interactivity
• Multimedia Basics: Video
• Ethics in the Digital Age
• Handling Race and Ethnicity
• Understanding Multimedia
• Writing Tools and Tips

For educators, Poynter's faculty can help your faculty more effectively teach these and other topics across the curriculum.

What is the experience like?

If you've ever participated in one of our Webinars, you've seen the software we use. Like Webinars, most of the teaching is onscreen, but with Virtual Poynter, you'll be able to see the faculty member in a video window. Plus, with Virtual Poynter, the teacher will be able to see and hear you, as well, which allows for engaging questions and lively discussion.

The smaller the group, the more interaction you can expect. We recommend groups of 10-20. You can certainly add more, but as the size of the group increases, the experience becomes more like a lecture and less like a conversation.

What kind of equipment does it take?

You'll need a computer, projector, video camera, microphones and a speaker to enable two-way communication. You'll need to provide a conference room with wired high-speed Internet access and a screen or white wall for the projection. You'll also want to have someone handling the equipment set-up. We make it simple enough that anyone with a little bit of technical savvy can handle it.

If you don't have this equipment, Poynter will loan it to you for a fee that includes 2–3 day shipping and handling. (See technical details for more information.)

What does it cost?

That depends on the size of your organization or school. Our goal is to make Virtual Poynter an affordable option for newsrooms that haven't been able to take advantage of Poynter's seminars or site visits from faculty in the past.

How do I find out more?

Contact Regina McCombs, Faculty for Virtual Teaching, by phone or e-mail. E-mail virtualpoynter@poynter.org or call 727-553-4228.