Journal-News, Fitton Center team up for free digital literacy class

Credit: provided

Credit: provided

The Journal-News and Fitton Center for Creative Arts are teaming up next month to help folks in Butler County not only access but navigate the newspaper’s ePaper and digital tools.

“The Journal-News wants to keep getting its local news to everyone on a variety of platforms, and as the drive to turn to digital continues, we are here to educate and assist anyone who needs our help getting access to our content,” said Journal-News Editor Mandy Gambrell. “We have a strong relationship with the Fitton Center and are grateful for the opportunity to meet with its members and the public for this purpose.”

Earlier this month, the Journal-News made a change to its Saturday edition, discontinuing the print product but still publishing the digital version online via the ePaper. On June 1, the Journal-News staff will lead this free technology class at the Fitton Center.

The ePaper is different than the Journal-News website. It looks exactly like the print product, and readers can turn page-by-page like the printed paper. It is complete with daily local and investigative news, TV listings, advertising and classifieds, comics and other daily benefits. Unlike the print version, there is updated news and sports scores, deeper dives on current events, interactive games and access to past newspapers.

Fitton Center Executive Director Ian MacKenzie-Thurley said digital access has been a well-established norm for getting information from smartphones, tablets or computers. He said the course is for anyone, especially those who may be a little less tech-savvy.

“So we’re really excited about this opportunity to partner with the Journal-News ― they have been strong partners with the Fitton Center for many years ― to make our tech studio available to bring in people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, and have had different engagements with technology for some instruction, some refreshers of how to how to engage digitally with media, and most particularly the Journal-News,” he said. “So, it’s an exciting opportunity, I think, for all partnerships.”

The free June 1 tech class is being made possible as the Fitton Center has recently invested in reopening its technology center focusing on digital art and digital art creation. It’s hosting its first-ever Digital Art Summer Camp in June with the help from NetJets, a Columbus-headquartered company devoted to private air travel that donated 10 refurbished iPads campers will use to create their artwork.

Participants are encouraged to bring their smartphone, tablet, or laptop to follow along, or, for those who don’t have their own device, people can use one of the iPads at the Fitton Center.

The course, named “Digital tools and your local news: How to use the Journal-News online” ― will help people sharpen their digital skills and learn how to unlock the digital benefits of their newspaper subscription with the free class, which will discuss ways the subscription gives them the most immediate, timely access to the news as it happens every day. The class will also show participants how to get the most from the ePaper, email newsletters and the Journal-News websites.

There will be two sessions on June 1 ― 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. ― at the Fitton Center, 101 S. Monument Ave., and each session will be limited to the first 20 registrants. Register for the event online at fittoncenter.org/special-events or call the Fitton Center at (513) 863-8873.


FREE JOURNAL-NEWS TECHNOLOGY CLASS

The Journal-News and Fitton Center are partnering to offer a pair of free technology classes for readers of the Butler County newspaper. Classes are at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on June 1.

To register for the free event, visit online fittoncenter.org/special-events or call the Fitton Center at (513) 863-8873.

The name of the class is “Digital tools and your local news: How to use the Journal-News online.”

DIGITAL ART CLASS AT THE FITTON CENTER

The Fitton Center, 101 S. Monument Ave., is offering a Digital Art Sumer Camp from 1 to 4 p.m. on June 26 to 30 for ages 12 to 16. For more information on the camp, visit www.fittoncenter.org/summer-camps/teen.

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