Hold your camera steady, make sure you take long shots, and off you go to make a news item.

We've got ourselves a great bunch of loud, funny and enthusiastic participants. Each morning it's like a cloud of cheerful noise entering the building. There they are, ready to learn some new video skills.

The participants started one and a half day ago with their video training. They held the camera like a baby, finding out where all the buttons are for, how to attach the wires of the microphones, how to put the battery on and off. And then they were ready for their first big exercise, to make a short movie about one of the shops close by.

Like real reporters they explained the shop owners about their training and told them what they were willing to know. The owners of a beauty salon, snack bar and tiny supermarket were happy to be the main characters. The feedback session afterwards was very helpful to find out about things that went right and what they needed to adjust.

Today the tripod and boom pool were introduced and they watched a short clip about the essentials of a news item. We're curious what local news they are going to report about... They should be back before tea break.