BBCÂ’s virtual newsroom in Iran

ZigZagmag.net consists of an audience-focused online space where young Iranian trainees from all over the country can experience the day-to-day activities and interactions of an online newsroom. The site works alongside mentored online journalism courses, delivered through distance learning tool - iLearn. The trainees receive feedback from an online community of seasoned journalists, other trainees and the site's users. This often results in discussion threads developing after the publication of new articles, both in the virtual newsroom between trainees and trainers and, at a later stage, in the public space of the website. Building on the Iranian popular culture of blogging, ZigZagmag.net has generated a pool of media aware trainee reporters. The site provides an opportunity for users to find out about aspects of Iran which are often under reported (from gay Tehran to illegal salsa classes). As user generated content continues to transform the way we consume our media, we feel proud to combine training (which includes 'old fashioned' topics like impartiality, accuracy and fairness) and a new media user space that allows young journalists to get their first BBC by-line. Articles have provided content for BBC Persian, which has been reprinted and rebroadcast by Persian media inside and outside Iran. In many countries citizen journalists are seen as a welcome addition to a media landscape which features a variety of free, fair and independent media outlets. In Iran they might be the only journalists reporting accurately from a remote province, or about a particular topic. To work so closely with them is not only an innovation but an investment in the future. BBC is also using new media to conduct research and measure impact. We've used online surveys, interviews and web metric analysis to explore the initiative's multiple audiences (trainee journalists, registered users and visitors) and how new media has facilitated learning and communication. The radio component of the project, which acts as a training ship for aspiring broadcasters, can be heard every Thursday on BBC World Service airwaves. Launched on 12 October 2006, the one-hour live programme is broadcast at 18:00 GMT on Thursdays. It features phone-ins, discussions, underground music and radio features covering a wide range of topics of interest to young people. The radio programme and website were developed in conjunction with the BBC Persian Service. Source: BBC World Service Trust

User comments

"It's even better!" Author: Hadi Nili Time: 22.04.2008 18:49 Comment: I am one of those lucky trainees who have been instructed by iLearn and now write for zigzagmag.net. The experience to get involved something like this is even better and effective than it sounds in this brief article. After 6 yeras of journalism, this is the best and the most informative experience in journalism I've ever had! We do appreciate BBC World Trust for its care about Iran and Iranian journalists.

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