The Danish School of Media and Journalism, NOOR Images, and the World Press Photo Foundation join forces in a new international diploma program for documentary photographers and photojournalists
Three of the major players within documentary photography and photojournalism are collaborating on an international diploma program in documentary photography. The program is designed to equip participants with skills to work effectively in the new media economy.
The transforming media landscape has rapidly decreased opportunities in editorial assignments for visual journalists. This means that the skill set of documentary photographers and photojournalists has to change.
That is why the Danish School of Media and Journalism (DMJX), NOOR Images, and the World Press Photo Foundation, have joined forces to launch a Diploma in Documentary Photography - thereby combining outstanding educational formats and content from DMJX, instruction from the world renowned documentary photographers of NOOR Images, and the World Press Photo Foundation's unique insight into current industry practices and debates.
The diploma program is approved by the Danish Ministry of Education making it a formal program within the international ECTS-system. At the same time the program is geared for enabling students to work in the real world, which is a key focus for the partners, who want to refine the skills of those already working with documentary photography, as well as those working with journalism or communication in other ways, whom have some visual media skills and ambitions.
A complete diploma – or single modules
The diploma education consists of different modules and it is possible for participants to finish a complete diploma by combining modules that fit their needs and wishes. In addition, it is possible to take a single module or selected modules if participants want to learn more about a particular topic.
The first course will begin in May 2017 and cover Documentary Photography Projects. The second course, The Short Documentary Film, is scheduled for the fall.
“As a documentary photographer you can’t just rely on assignments or tasks coming to you. You have to be able to develop, research, pitch, fund, plan and edit a photojournalistic story. Or to put it in another way: You have to be able to make your own story, that’s the focus of the first course,
says Søren Pagter, head of the popular photojournalism education at DMJX, and continues:
In the second course the students learn to supplement still photos and moving images with video and sound thereby strengthening the visual storytelling toolbox.”
Projects and individual coaching
A feature of the courses is that students will create actual projects during the course and receive individual coaching before, during and after the production of their story.
The first course starts and ends with workshops in Amsterdam, and students will work on their projects in the time in between.
“We, at NOOR, believe that it’s part of our mission to encourage and support photojournalism and documentary photographers around the world. Education is an important tool to tell stories that will impact humanity, raise awareness, and enhance a better and free understanding of the world,”
explains Clément Saccomani, managing director from the NOOR Foundation.
Three other courses are being developed and will be announced in the fall of 2017. They cover photographing people, reaching audiences with ones work, and business skills.
For more info visit: http://www.documentary-photography.net/