2012.12.03
Photo: Abdul Latheef 
James Talluto brings his years of experience with CBS to the video-editing course.
Skills development course big hit with union members
CWA Canada hit a home run when it stepped up to the plate to offer its members a free professional development course when there was nothing forthcoming from employers.
The five-day course, held in Toronto in November, took the 15 participants through the basics of video production using Apple's Final Cut Pro (FCP) editing system. CWA Canada covered travel and accommodation costs for out-of-town participants.
All union members were eligible to take the course, but preference was given to applicants who had recently been laid off or whose jobs were threatened.
'Wonderful Opportunity'
I wish to thank CWA|SCA Canada for the wonderful opportunity I was given to take part in the video editing course for Apple's Final Cut Pro in Toronto in November.
In my 24 years of employment at The Ottawa Citizen, through many company owners, I have never once been given a formal training opportunity such as the educational course I attended in Toronto on behalf of this union.
That it was my union that stepped in to fill this breach is in many ways not surprising to me. In my working career, I have always been fully conscious that my employment conditions are very much the result of a long history of union bargaining and activism.
What I have found surprising, and humbling, is the deep generosity of the Canadian Media Guild and CWA|SCA Canada in providing such a high level of quality in the course instruction and accommodation. Instructor James Talluto from BURST was extremely professional and a top-notch educator.
The Residence Inn Marriott was true luxury and exceeded itself at all turns in providing for its guests.
This is an experience I will always remember with gratitude and appreciation. And I will always remember who provided it.
If there is ever anything I can do to be of service in the future, please keep my name on file and know that I would step up for this union at any time.
In solidarity,
Rosemary Knes
Rosemary Knes, who took a buyout from a Postmedia daily at the end of July, said she was tearful at the thought that "someone was willing to invest in me" upon learning that her application had been accepted.
The former member of the Ottawa Newspaper Guild expressed her gratitude in a letter to the course sponsors:
"In my 24 years of employment at The Ottawa Citizen, through many company owners, I have never once been given a formal training opportunity such as (this).
"That it was my union that stepped in to fill this breach is in many ways not surprising to me. In my working career, I have always been fully conscious that my employment conditions are very much the result of a long history of union bargaining and activism," wrote Knes.
"This course is part of our effort to make the union a force for good for our members — and for society — and to put union dues to the best use," said CWA Canada Director Martin O'Hanlon.
"It's unfortunate that our employers don't invest properly in training or realize how important it is and that we have to step in. We will continue to try to convince them, but in the meantime, we'll give members what they need."
Abdul Latheef, who is a reporter/editor at The Canadian Press in Toronto and a member of the Canadian Media Guild, said this was "a very timely effort" by the union "as Final Cut Pro is fast becoming the broadcasters' choice" in video-editing software.
He added that "it was a great privilege to learn FCP from a terrific teacher like Jim (Talluto)," who spent 27 years as a technician and editor at CBS.
The video-editing course was created for the CWA/NETT Academy by the Broadcast Engineers Resource for Specialized Training (BURST), with whom Talluto now works. He has been providing instruction to members of The Newspaper Guild and other CWA Locals all over the United States.
Latheef, who previously worked in television in Dubai and was familiar with tape-to-tape editing, knew that Avid, a complex video-editing software was most commonly in use. But he wanted to expand his skills by learning Apple's FCP, which is in great demand.
"One week of training will not get you a job," he noted, but it will allow you to explore further, plus "it looks good on a résumé."
Knes, who had moved in the Fall of 2010 from the news desk to the Citizen's online operation, saw video editing as "kind of another missing link" in the range of experience she would require because "I'm going to have to create it (a job opportunity) for myself."
Without that kind of professional development, she said, "everybody's going backwards."
Leah Shaw, a member of the Canadian Media Guild who has held several long-term contracts at the CBC and has done a lot of production work and editing for radio, said she jumped at the chance to beef up her skills in video editing.
The Salmon Arm, B.C., resident lost work when funding was cut or curtailed for Radio One programs such as Ideas that included her own Legends project, but now is continuing with other multi-media ventures which include video.
Shaw said the five-day course covered the basics, but the benefits went beyond that: "Once you get your hands dirty, then you are learning editing concepts."