"Stop covering the 'Men in Suits' and tell people's stories" was the message Rick Thompson gave 28 young journalists from seven countries gathered in Budva, Montenegro. The workshop, sponsored by CIRCOM, (The European Association of Regional Television) and supported by IREX Serbia, lasted for a week. Three tutors and four technicians helped the journalists produce a TV news magazine program on issues facing coastal Montenegro.

Issues tackled by the young journalists included the traffic fatality rate and police efforts to curb it using tough, and unpopular methods, tourism, the environment, and the use of the hotel's swimming pool for birthing a baby. Journalists learned how to tell the story using pictures, sound and people's comments to bring their scripts alive. Techniques for training included lectures, demonstrations, practice, and finally, producing stories. Sony loaned the workshop digital editing equipment so the journalists could learn techniques for the future.

IREX not only contributed funds for the program but loaned its trainer Russell Peasgood as one of the tutors. He joined Rick Thomson, formally of the BBC and Kicki Hultin from Swedish TV in Gothenburg. In return Rick Thompson will teach at an IREX sponsored workshop in Novi Sad. Serbian participants represented the three regional centers of Radio-TV Serbia and four municipal stations. The seven Montenegrins came from two private stations, TV Crna Gora and one Municipal station, the host, TV Budva. Technical staff came from the BBC as well as the Bulgarian National Film Academy, and TV B-92 in Belgrade.

The workshop was held from March 18-24 2001.

Click on picture to enlarge!

Opening Press Conference	Rick Training	Masa Masic
Russell Peasgood discussing shots	Russell Peasgood with students	Karol editing
Kiki and Russell	Kiki Hultin and Sanja Velimirovic	Car wreck
Beach - long	Beach - wide	Car wreck - wide