Training opportunities (especially for Big Data analysis, digital research methods, and collaborative online tools for investigative journalism) are not regularly provided; however, those who wish to participate find ways and means to do so. One of the best and well-known sources of such professional training courses is JUADN, something most journalists are aware of.
In effect, the obligation for continuous training is not embedded in journalists’ or Greek media organisations’ culture. Therefore, the participation in training networks (e.g., for digital research and investigation methods) is not a matter of media outlet or gender; rather, it is clearly an individual option or decision. This lack of a widespread training culture is justified on the grounds that journalists are distracted by the daily hunt of news in their great attempt to earn their living. “In terms of education, everyone fights it alone. It is primarily left to individual training and the struggle and the effort is to focus on living from hand to mouth”, mentioned an editor-in-chief of a radio station.
Nevertheless, the lack of contemporary professional training is not a common feature among media outlets, since television organisations appear more consistent on this task, with the exception of public service broadcaster ERT. For instance, the media group ΑΝΤ1 occasionally (once or twice a year) conducts educational courses on new technologies, addressing employees from the sector of news editing and entertainment. An editor-in-chief said:
The ANT1 group holds seminars once or twice a year for the media group’s employees as a whole. It has to do overall education […] how we interact in today’s market conditions, what the audience wants nowadays, how much the presence of social media has affected the media.
Another prime example is the recently rebranded TV MEGA, where the use of new-coming high standard technological equipment has led journalists to pursue seminars on new technologies, data journalism, and fake news. An editor-in-chief confirmed that journalists had been provided with seminars in order to use high technology (employed in the television station). “One of our journalists is already a member of the International Federation of Research Journalism having a very systematic contact [with data journalism and new research journalism tools]”, he added.
Compared to private television channels, ERT lags behind in providing organised or systematic training. In the past (2007–2008), some rudimentary efforts were made with the aim of enhancing staff’s knowledge and skills. However, they proved to be clearly temporary and far from being based on a well-thought strategic plan. A public service radio journalist explained this and highlighted the lack of implementation:
There is no organised education or staff training in public service broadcaster (ERT) in general. In 2007–2008 some efforts were made. At first, it all started with a little good mood […]. However, today, there is no training within ERT, neither for the administration, nor for the technical staff and journalists. There is nothing about data analysis. Something relevant is implemented with regard to new media in collaboration with the Athena Research Institute and the European Communication Institute, […]. However, it is not implemented at an institutional level.
As opposed to private television channels, radio stations attribute minimal or no importance to professional training courses, mainly due to limited resources. However, the economic recession that afflicted the media market has dramatically affected the ability of the media outlets to invest in staff training, even in the case of the traditional press organisations. According to an editor-in-chief of a mainstream newspaper, before the crisis, everyone had the right to go to training courses. Especially for everyone from the group of editors who were involved in new technologies, the newspaper relied heavily on their own specialisation and their own promotional energy to improve themselves. Lately, “it is definitely not happening as often as it used to”, he added.
As to the question of whether women journalists are supported and encouraged to participate in training courses on digital research, investigative methods, or leadership skills, the answer is plain, given by a representative of JUADN: “There is no discrimination in the attention paid to women compared to their male colleagues in terms of professional training. Women are given the same attention as men”, he argued.
