Christians in publishing from countries as far flung as India, Brazil and Ukraine are receiving professional training through Magazine Training International’s (MTI) online learning program.

Although MTI has offered on-site training for 27 years, the online training program began only in 2013. To date, some 270 Christians in publishing from over 40 countries have attended a live workshop, either live or on-demand.

“Through our online program we’re able to offer high quality training from acknowledged experts in the field to publishers who otherwise would never be able to attend an on-site conference,” says Sharon Mumper, president of MTI.

The MTI Online program includes bi-monthly live workshop and two four-week, instructor-led online courses a year. Topics in both live workshops and online courses include magazine writing, editing, management, design, and digital publishing.

Workshops are presented live and recorded for on-demand viewing. A live question and answer session concludes each live workshop.

MTI offers online courses in spring and fall. Each course has limited enrollment of only 20 students so that the instructor can provide individualized feedback on assignments and answer questions. Participants also have the opportunity to interact one-on-one with the instructor and communicate in a private forum to exchange ideas among themselves. A certificate is awarded on completion.

The next live workshop will be offered in July by Rick Edwards, a ministry and publishing veteran of near 40 years. He will speak on “Casting a Larger Net: Utilizing Multiple Platforms to Build a Larger Audience.” Edwards is former associate publisher of Salem Media Group’s publishing division with its eight magazines and seven websites. Today he has his own publishing business, Seven Interactive, specializing in digitally-delivered curriculum. He also operates five websites for publishers, authors, and the church.

Prior participants responded with enthusiasm to the live workshops. “I was finally able to sit down and view this live workshop,” said Sally Isáis, editor of Mision Latinoamericana de Mexico.  “It was great, practical, interesting and down to earth! Thanks for your part in this.  It inspired me to keep doing what we are doing and to work harder at it!”

The online courses have also received accolades. “I praise God for raising up an institution like yours which is a great boon to people like me who are new to this kind of ministry,” said Jason Victor, a magazine designer in India.

The fall 2016 online course to be offered in September will cover digital publishing.

The next on-site MTI conference is planned for October 2017 in Europe. The three-and-a-half-day “Crisis Publishing Initiative” is for Christian publishers who must report on crises.

by Jennifer Howard, communications director