Welcome Correspondents!

Congratulations on completing the application process and being chosen to participate in Voices of Our Future, our online new media, citizen journalism and empowerment training program for grassroots women leaders.

The goal of this program is to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to actualize and vocalize your visions for change.

This page is your portal into the training portion of this program. Within these pages you will find your monthly learning materials and assignments.

There are a total of six learning modules in the program. The first four cover citizen journalism and new media concepts; the fifth module covers video and photo slide-shows; and the sixth module is our training of trainers (Each One Teach Five).Within each module you will be asked to learn new concepts, reflect on your own experiences and complete unique assignments.

In the first four modules, we work with program partners The Global Press Institute and The Op-Ed Project, to train you on the principals of practicing ethical citizen journalism. The modules focus on: conducting an interview and writing a profile; writing about a timely issue which affects your community and is related to larger global concerns (Frontline journal); writing an op-ed; and writing a feature-length article which ties together the skills you’ve learned in the previous modules. Each learning module is designed to help you harness the power of your voice by guiding you through the process of creating well-crafted, dynamic pieces of journalism.

New media concepts and opportunities are integrated within each citizen journalism learning module. You will be taught how to streamline your online experience; use Google effectively; and use Twitter, Facebook and mobile technology as tools for journalism and social activism.

In the fifth module, you will focus on storytelling using video and photo-slideshows. In this module, you will learn how photo-slideshows and video can support your social change work; ethics, safety and security; principles of making quality videos and slide-shows; basic equipment and editing; and tips for overcoming technology challenges. We are partnering with Sehrish Shaban, an accomplished video journalist who has produced video and multi-media for Reuters, The New York Times, and PBS News hour, to help lead the module.

The sixth module is called Each One Teach Five. Through this training of trainers model, you will be given the tools to reach out to at least five other women in your community to train them on the principles of citizen journalism, new media literacy and empowerment, and bring them on to PulseWire. In this way, thirty Correspondents quickly becomes 150 empowered women.

Acknowledging that Correspondents often live and work in unfriendly media environments, we created a Safety and Security toolkit, which provides you with resources for staying safe online and offline, risk minimization tools and strategies, and links to human rights and journalist associations around the world. You are required to read through this toolkit prior to starting the program

At the end of this program, we will be selecting three Correspondents who best represent Voices of Our Future and World Pulse to come to the U.S.A to attend a five-city World Pulse media and speaking tour.

Vision Mentors and Editorial Midwives

The mentoring relationships are key factors in the success of our program. Vision Mentors are here to help you crystallize your vision for yourself and your community and complete the program. Editorial Midwives are here to help you overcome any communications or language challenges you may have in communicating your vision to a global audience.

Let's Get Started!

1. We will be mailing (snail mail) a hard copy of your welcome manual along with some other treats, but you can also download it below. This manual covers the outline of the program, your role, mentoring, editorial midwives, technology stipends, evaluation and awards. Please review this as soon as you can.
2. Review the calendar of important dates by clicking here
3. How to use the Voices of Our Future Online Classroom:
   1. Each month we will present you with a new learning module, covering different aspects of new media and citizen journalism, and an associated assignment. To access these materials, click on the link below (Learning Materials).
   2. The learning materials are organized like a book, which you can read through by clicking the link that appears at the bottom right-hand corner on the learning material pages.
   3. Printer-friendly version: We know that your time on the Internet can be expensive and limited. You can easily download a copy of the learning materials to take home and read by clicking on the link in the upper right-hand corner that says "printer friendly version," which appears on each of the learning material pages.
   4. Suggested activities: Within the learning materials, you will find "Suggested Activities". These are not required assignments, but suggestions to get you started discovering more about the learning topics.
   5. Navigating back to the main pages: To navigate back to main pages (this page, Learning Materials Page, etc.) from the learning materials, click on the "up" text in blue at the bottom of each page.
   6. Audio/Visual learners: Not all of us learn best by reading books/text! To assist those of you who learn better by watching and listening, and to make this a fully Web 2.0 experience, the first three modules are accompanied with short video recordings made by our program partners. You will find a link to these videos in each learning module.
   7. Each month we will also present you with a wellness video created by Amy Lombardo, founder of True Nature Wellness and a 2009 Vision Mentor. These videos are meant to help you with self-care. We have found that one of the things that women forget to do when they are saving the rest of the world, is to take care of themselves! In these videos, you will find suggestions about relaxation techniques, stretching, keeping good posture in front of a computer and keeping your energy levels up!
4. Safety and Security: Your safety and security are incredibly important to us. We have created a toolkit and resource list for you regarding online and offline security. You must review this information before starting the program! To access this information, click on the link below labeled "Your Safety and Security". We work with Frank Smyth from the Committee to Protect Journalists and Cristi Hegranes to help ensure your safety. If you have any questions before or during the program, please send an email directly to rachael@worldpulse and she will coordinate with these partners. We will also have time during the first Correspondent call in November to answer safety and security questions.

Getting started with the Learning Modules

1. We suggest you start by reading through the assignment to get a better idea of what we will be asking of you at the end of each module.
2. Then, read through the learning materials and/or watch the Pixetell video.
3. Write down any questions you may have at the end of the module and send these to rachael@worldpulse.com before the date of the Question and Answer (Q&A) conference call. We will answer your questions at the Q&A call.
4. Attend the Q&A conference call. These calls are meant to help answer any questions that you may have about the learning materials. You should read through the materials before attending the Q&A call. These calls are not required, but we highly suggest you attend if you can. We will be recording these calls for those of you who cannot attend
5. Take some time to reflect on the learning materials and your assignment.
6. Write a rough draft of your assignment and send it to your Editorial Midwife with plenty of time for feedback.
7. Post your final assignment in your personal journal, carefully following directions for tagging.

Time to jump in! Follow the links below to get started with your journey to the frontlines of new media and citizen journalism!

Program Donors

Program Partners and Sponsors