Developing and applying news sense

How do we know what is “news”? There are millions of things going on in the world all the time and only some of them become news stories.

Court reporting for beginners

Reporting on court hearings requires an understanding of local laws and knowing what can be reported and what can‘t.

Fairness in journalism

Fairness in journalism means exploring all sides of an issue and reporting the findings accurately.

Offence and journalism

Journalists must ensure that the material they use in coverage has a clear editorial purpose. Where that material is likely to offend, there need to be clear warnings of what is coming up.

Engaging viewers and listeners

TV and radio presenters need to connect with the audience, building trust and respect.

Disinformation and misinformation

Journalists attempting to deal with 'fake news' need to understand the difference between disinformation and misinformation.

MHM on FacebookCheck our Facebook page for regular updates from Media Helping Media.

Media Helping Media is proud to be hosted by the Fojo Media Institute.

Journalism training in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Photograph by David Brewer of Media Helping MediaIf you have any journalism training wisdom you would like to share please get in touch.

Journalism training at Hurriyat Sudan.Media Helping Media provides free journalism and media management training resources.

Creative Commons BY NC SA 4.0The content on Media Helping Media (MHM) is released via Creative Commons BY NC SA 4.0

The investigative journalism mindset

The investigative mindset is responsible for solving more information mysteries than probably any other factor. If you haven’t started writing down your best strategies now might be the time to start.

Tips for investigative journalism

This article looks at some of the main points to consider when producing a piece of investigative journalism.

Dealing with suspects as news sources

Sources are one of the most valuable resources for a journalist. They need to be handled with care in order to build trust and gain knowledge.

Tool: The Content Value Matrix

In this article we look at the 'content value matrix, a tool designed to help media managers prioritise effort and resources on the stories that really matter to the target audience.

When a ‘big story’ breaks

Big stories happen out of the blue. And when they do newsrooms have to spring into action immediately.

Social media in news production

Social media has fundamentally disrupted the media landscape, forcing traditional outlets to confront their operational models and redefine their role in a rapidly evolving information ecosystem.

Adapting to changing audience behaviour

Media organisations need to ensure that the content they produce is available on every device the audience turns to for information.

The value of audience research

Knowing your audience and understanding the issues they face are essential factors in developing a compelling editorial proposition.

Winning audience trust and loyalty

A media organisation needs to be clear about what it stands for in order to win the trust of the audience.

Accuracy – scenario

Scenario: There has been a strike at a steel works. The union claims all its 100,000 members were out on strike, but the employer says 50% turned up for work and defied the picket line. You were reporting from the main gates of the steel plant all day and you didn't see anyone crossing the picket line. What do you report?

Photo journalism – scenario

In this scenario a reporter tells the newsdesk that she has a strong news story only to find that the facts were not as they seemed.

Off-the-record chat – scenario

In this scenario we look at what a journalist should do with off-the-record information when it relates to a major news event.

Lesson: Refugee Media

This lesson plan is designed to help students understand the essential steps for establishing a refugee media operation in exile, encompassing legal, editorial, and operational frameworks.

Lesson: Identifying news

This lesson plan is designed to help students recognise how to spot a news story and develop it so that it informs the audience.

Lesson: SMART Objectives

This lesson plan is designed to teach how to apply SMART objectives to training programmes for journalists and media managers. It's based on the article...

Module: Training of Trainers

This free educational module provides an outline for teaching senior journalists the skills needed for developing and delivering effective training for media professionals.

Module: Digital Journalism

This free educational module provides an outline for teaching students about the challenges and opportunities facing journalists in the digital age.

Module: Editorial Ethics

This free educational module provides an outline for teaching students about editorial ethics. It's designed to be adapted by universities and colleges to meet local needs.

Wanted, your media know-how

Have you got any journalism expertise that you are willing to share with others? If so, please get in touch.

Learning management systems

Learning Management Systems (LMS) are increasingly becoming the digital backbone of all media training, in particular Training of Trainers (ToT) courses.

Training needs assessment

Thorough research is the essential if you are to deliver high-impact media training. Never accept a brief from media managers without question - they could be wrong and often are.