You can’t question their commitment. Surinam’s population includes approximately 500,000 people, and the number of TV stations is 20. That’s one TV station for every 25,000 people. And this drive and enthusiasm becomes even more apparent when you realise that only a few camera crews, editors, lighting people, reporters and presenters were actually trained for what they do. Instead, people learn the trade on the job, from colleagues who mostly haven’t been formally trained either. This is reflected in the programmes, in the production process, the logistics and the quality of what is broadcast.
The “Basic Skills of Making TV” course was a two-week programme (march 2009), with a one-week follow-up later in the year (august 2009). It sought to strengthen the ability of the Suriname Television Foundation (STVS) to fulfil its public service role. The course increased the capacity of its staff so they could produce a professional, bi-weekly magazine programme.
The training covered visual storytelling techniques and broadcast formats, as well as providing technical training for camera crews, producers, editors and directors. Together, the 23 participating staff members developed and produced a new half-hour programme: Dichtbij Suriname, a light current affairs programme that mixes studio presentation and interviews with pre-produced reports.
STVS and RNTC are also working on a follow up to the tailor-made training course: the building up of a local training facility.
“Besides improving the quality of its own output, STVS wants to contribute to raising the level of TV production in Surinam in general by providing an example, and by giving production talent in Surinam the chance to develop themselves,” says Esther Obdam, of RNTC.
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