Participants in a media training workshop for residents of the Danzig Street area had little to say to reporters following the
90-minute session on Friday.

The workshop was held Friday in a vacant Toronto Community Housing townhouse, and one freshly media-savvy participant said there were about 10 to 12 attendees.

``We actually just talked about the media presence and how actually helpful they are, in some ways,'' said Cheryl, who declined to give her last name.

``And talked about how much it's important for the media to be around, how you guys are doing your job,'' she said.

Other residents were skeptical about the community's need for media training.

``We don't need to know how to speak to the press. We are not stupid people around here. It's just we had stupid people come in that caused stupid problems,'' said Shelley Dupuis.

``I think they need to be focused more on what they can do to help the community get back to normal.''

Although he didn't attend the workshop, 15-year-old Jordan Spences-Lee said media training is a good idea because many residents aren't used to talking to reporters.

``It's usually not like this. It's new to get all the reporters coming into the neighbourhood.''

Scott McKean of the city's community crisis response program said residents in the Danzig Street area requested the training after finding their neighbourhood swarmed with reporters eager to interview them, and that some were upset with the way the media portrayed their community.
  
Friday's media training session is one of several workshops and services the city is providing the community to help it recover from the July 16 shooting, McKean said. The incident left two people dead and nearly two dozen injured.

(The Canadian Press)