Find out how to make the best use of the training material on Media Helping Media.
Preserving the fundamentals of good journalism
Media Helping Media (MHM) works to safeguard the core principles of accurate, impartial, public-service journalism. We offer free training materials in multiple formats designed to be downloaded, adapted, and used worldwide.
More than 200 articles on journalism best practice
More than 100 free training resources
Try our introduction to journalism curriculum then take the MHM news professionalism test.
Find out Developing important news angles
Seeking out new angles on a breaking, developing or running news story is an important part of the editorial process.
What editors look for when hiring
What's the best preparation for a career in journalism? Media Helping Media asked some experts in the field what they look for when hiring staff.
Translation in journalism
If you are a journalist working in a multilingual society, you may have to work in more than one language.
Respecting privacy as a journalist
Journalists face a difficult balancing act. They must respect privacy, but they must also investigate issues that are in the public interest.
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.
Impartiality in journalism
For journalists, being impartial means presenting information without demonstrating favouritism towards any specific viewpoint or party.
Tool: Story Weighting System
Different news stories have a different value for your audience and for your business. Giving news items a 'weighting' can lead to impact and efficiencies.
Avoiding manipulation
One of the roles of the journalist is to scrutinise the decisions made by politicians and report the implications to the public.
Editorial independence during elections
Election coverage is one of the most critical responsibilities of the media. It shapes public discourse, informs voters, and plays a vital role in safeguarding democracy.
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.
How to investigate corruption safely
Investigating and reporting on corruption involves risk. Here we look at how investigative journalists stay safe when covering stories that are likely to anger those who are determined to keep their secrets hidden.
How to investigate official documents
The investigative journalist never takes things at face value. They probe and question in order to get to the truth, especially with official
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.
Setting up community radio
Launching a community radio station is about more than just broadcasting news, it’s about creating a hub for local voices, sharing vital information, and building community spirit.
How to be a hands-on editor
A hands-on editor should be visible and positive, lead well-prepared news meetings with strong communication skills, be present when big stories break, praise publicly, correct privately, and trust their staff.
Forward planning for media organisations
This module looks at how media organisations need to plan ahead in order to produce original content that informs the public debate and makes the most efficient use of resources.
A proven way to finance independent media
The Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) offers a distinctive route to media sustainability, combining mission-driven financing with deep strategic support to strengthen independent journalism worldwide.
Funding the news – a guide to sustainability
A list of sustainable business models for media managers who are planning to start a media outlet in economically challenging circumstances.
Journalistic ethics – scenario
In this scenario a reporter feels ethically compromised after accepting hospitality from a developer who subsequently pressured them for favourable coverage.
Scenario: Conflict of interests
In this scenario you are a political correspondent working for a national public service broadcaster. A lobbying company offers you a significant amount of money to train lobbyists in how to influence the media. What do you do?
Covering a tragedy – scenario
In this scenario we look at how a journalist should act when they witness a tragedy unfolding and have to decide whether to help, or to stand by and report.
Evaluating the impact of training
The evaluation process at the end of a media training session begins the moment you are engaged by the media organisation you are being asked to help because this is when you know the expectations and deliverables.
Basic rules for delivering training
One of the first steps in delivering training is to articulate the ground rules. Participants need to know what to expect and what is expected of them
Tool: MHM Training timetable
This sample training timetable has been created for the benefit of any trainers who are planning to download and adapt one of our MHM lesson outlines for their own specific purposes.
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