Executive summary - Learning community regional journalism:How can Omrop Fryslân create a learning community for regional journalism within its (corporate and) cultural context while fostering reciprocal learning?

Abstract

This document aims to clarify the research inquiry: “How can Omrop Fryslân create a learning community for regional journalism within its (corporate and) cultural context while fostering reciprocal learning?”. This broadcaster has an interest in creating a learning community to make a permanent place for new perspectives, a more diverse work floor, cater to new generations and gain future staff. The central question arises around the feasibility of establishing a learning community and the strategies required to achieve this objective. Our project comprises three main sections: Background, Research and Practical advice. The background part presents Omrop Fryslân, exploring its identity and position in the region, conducting a problem analysis, and presenting insights into the current journalistic education in the Netherlands along with information about learning communities, including examples. The research part consists of a literature review on reciprocal learning, and findings from the interviews with staff, students, trainees, and a journalistic professor. Using this, individual SWOT analysis for Omrop Fryslân and for the learning community were conducted. Our findings indicate a largely positive attitude among staff concerning the concept of a learning community, acknowledging the need for diversity on the work floor. On the other hand, the trainees presented us with the company culture and argued that the learning curriculum has room for improvement, but the previous learning trajectories at Omrop Fryslân were reviewed positivel