I like to train. It is usually fun. I also like to develop curricula and design training courses. I am  actually somewhat of a  course “smith” in journalism, communication and pedagogy, in Denmark and abroad.

Training menu. As a trainer I offer training of trainers, pedagogical supervision, curriculum development, course planning, open education and distance learning, communication courses and journalism training  in everything from investigative reporting to feature writing to editorial writing.  **) Please find a menu of possible courses below.

Catalyst. I enjoy training and coaching because of the close contact with those who learn. I can sense if I make a difference. Sometimes I can even see when a Eureka  moment transforms a student or participant. It is as if the student has found the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle. However, the real changes appear only after a period of time. It is a privilege to be the catalyst for such changes.

Change. If training doesn’t lead to the desired change, it doesn’t matter. Indifferent training and teaching may at best be entertaining. At worst  it leaves the participants disappointed and disillusioned. The same goes for coaching, I suppose.

Objectives.  There is no such thing as a free ride. We agree to identify the objectives from the very beginning, whether they concenr knowledge, skills or awareness. With clear objectives we can easily evaluate if we reach them. If not, you get a refund!*)

*)and here is the note on course contract and responsibility for own learning.

Methods. There is no shortage of buzzwords: Learning styles, participatory training, hands-on approach, cooperative learning, action-reflection-learning – all this is just me! My philosophical and practical point of departure is David Kolb’s Learning Cycle and the theory of the four coherent learning styles: The Activist, The Reflector, The Theorist and The Pragmatist.

Continuous learning. We know how it is: You participate in a course, learn a lot, and get back to the office only to realize that you are not implementing the newly learned material in your work. Either because the routines do not allow it, or it is hard to implement the new ways. To me, the follow-up is just as important as the course itself. Reflections and personal plans are an integrated part of any of my training courses.

As a journalism trainer, I teach at media houses and universities all over the world, in particular I am external lecturer and curriculum developer at the Danish School of Media and Journalism.

As a communication trainer, I teach staff in public offices, private companies and NGOs. I conduct courses in specielized communication for special clients  such as hospitals, ministries and banks.

Consultant

In-house training is naturally combined with management consultancy. I see the course as just one step in the course of the development that the media house wants to achieve. The steps before and after are usually more important.

However, I have often seen media managers who tend to forget their responsibility as carriers of this development. It is rarely enough to give the staff a course; the office structures and work routines must be reformed coherently. In addition, the managers must nurse their employees’ continuous learning and development after the training  with praise, challenges and sanctions.

I prefer to work on two levels as a trainer and coach for the staff and a consultant for the management,– with courses and coaching tailored to structural development.

As a member of the Peace and Stabilisation Response (FSB), I have undertaken relevant training courses e.g. Security in the Field and Conflict management as well as  Logical Framework Approach. On behalf of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs FSB  contributes to peace and stability in hotspots and fragile states.

My key qualifications include:  Project development and management; fact finding – description and analysis; organisation – initiation and development; coaching and editorial consulting; communication – PR, information and campaigns; cross cultural cooperation and communication; operating in conflict zones and fragile entities.

Internationally, I have worked as a consultant and trainer for a great number of development organisations, media institutes and universities such as:

  • The Economic Development Institute, World Bank
  • The EU-India Economic Cross Cultural Programme
  • FOJO in Sweden
  • European Journalism Centre in Maastricht, Holland
  • DanChurchAid
  • International Media Support
  • Nepal Press Institute
  • Press Institute of Mongolia
  • Uganda School of Media and Journalism
  • Vietnam Media Training Centre
  • Cambodia Communication Institute
  • a number of Balkan media institutes
  • School of Communication at Universiti Sains Malaysia
  • University of Aden and Mass Communication Institute in Sana’a, Yemen
  • a number of universities in India
  • University of Minsk, Belarus
  • Faculty for Communication and Information, Utrecht, Holland

MENU

Menu for training courses in media, journalism and communication

News writing

Proactive journalism

Electoral reporting

Investigative journalism

Editorial writing

Background journalism

News analysis

Reportage

Portraits

Feature writing

Narrative journalism

Journalistic language

Research

Interview

Conflict sensitive reporting

PR and communication

Idea development and creative thinking

Coaching and mentoring

Pedagogy and public speaking

Training of trainers in all of the above

In addition I run basic training on different beats og subject areas, e.g. environmental journalism, court reporting, business reporting.