For the past six years, the workshop has trained more than 70 educators from Hispanic-serving institutions who brought back digital reporting skills to their classrooms. This year the academy will also include instructors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

"It is imperative educators gain hands-on experience with new technologies to present the news," said Linda Shockley, managing director of the Dow Jones News Fund. "We expect this training will spur them to make their students skilled, competitive digital journalists."

The News Fund provides support for 16 journalism instructors from across the country to attend the academy at the University of Texas at El Paso. The fellowship covers airfare (up to $500) to and from El Paso, lodging at the Hilton Garden Inn near campus and most meals. 

Participants go out on assignment in teams in El Paso, which borders Juarez, Mexico, to produce multimedia stories published in Borderzine.com at the end of the week. The workshop simulates a deadline-oriented, real-world newsroom where instructors gain hands-on experience in how to use video, audio and digital photography in newsgathering and the latest editing software in story production. Trainers assign stories based on border-life issues, not necessarily focused on immigration. Trainers act as "fixers" for the teams, helping to set up interviews and providing transportation and coaching in the field. 

You may look at some of the stories produced in recent past sessions under the Special Projects section of Borderzine.

This fast-paced, hands-on academy has a proven track record helping journalism educators develop their skills and confidence in multimedia journalism production.