Sun-Times reporters begin mandatory training today on "iPhone photography basics" following elimination of the paper's entire photography staff.

"In the coming days and weeks, we'll be working with all editorial employees to train and outfit you as much as possible to produce the content we need," managing editor Craig Newman tells staffers in a memo.

From: Newman, Craig <cnewman@suntimes.com>
Date: Thu, May 30, 2013 at 3:33 PM
Subject: photo and training for editorial employees

All, thank you for your patience and understanding after today's announcement.

In the coming days and weeks, we'll be working with all editorial employees to train and outfit you as much as possible to produce the content we need.

These sessions will be mandatory and will concentrate on several areas:

• iPhone photography basics
• Video and basic editing
• Transmission and social media

And other sessions as needed or requested. We will start training this Friday with two sessions - 11 a.m and 4 p.m. - concentrating on iPhone basics in the 9 West conference room. This blog post [URL and password deleted] will offer some tips and techniques to be covered. The blog itself will become a standing resource for documentation and discussion points.

We will focus on downtown employees for this first session, but will set up similar sessions next Friday for suburban employees - details TBA.

In the meantime, I welcome any questions on training and technique. Suggestions on topics, in particular, are definitely worthwhile.

Thanks for your time.

-Craig