In June 2009, Voices of Women Media held a media training at BLINN. The workshop was a collaboration with Barbara van Erp, a journalist who briefed participants about giving interviews to the media and with Mona van de Berg, a photographer who demonstrated how to stay anonymous in photos. Voices of Women Media – concluded the workshop with an introduction to the video camera how to use and techniques on how to request to be filmed to stay anonymous.

Inspiration and training materials were provided by
Speak Up! Media Training for the Empowered Sex Worker
Training Materials Prepared by Audacia Ray and Eliyanna Kaiser April 2009

GOALS
not to be intimidated by media crews or big cameras
the women to know that they can request certain parts of their body to be filmed
to feel safe, confident and not intimidated

MEDIA
how to handle requests for photographs and interviews
how to handle media aggressiveness
that they can refuse to do an interview
can ask for questions in advance
can refuse to answer questions – how to politely decline interviewer

VIDEO TECHNIQUES
lighting in sit-down interviews, i.e. spotlights
composition of the frame, i.e. what is flattering – camera angles/profiles
request to see LCD monitor
give the women cameras to set up with tripod

EXERCISE 1: COMPOSITION
Connect cameras to beamer and go through angles and framing
Have the women participate in shooting/being filmed

EXERCISE 2: INTERVIEWS
Train the women to setup and conduct a mock interview shoot.
Introduce the “sneaky reporter” (Pooja) techniques to flatter first and then ask too personal q’s