Media Helping Media’s free comprehensive training plan for journalists and media managers
Find out how to make the best use of the training material on Media Helping Media.
Try our introduction to journalism curriculum then take the MHM news professionalism test.
Media Helping Media provides free journalism and media management training resources.
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Media Helping Media is proud to be hosted by the Fojo Media Institute.
Gender equality in the media
The role of the journalist in rectifying gender imbalance in media is multifaceted, and it involves both individual actions and contributing to broader systemic change.
Facts, context, perspectives, and the truth
The primary role of a journalist in covering a news story is to uncover verifiable facts, provide context and present the information to the audience.
Journalistic roles and responsibilities
Journalism involves many tasks that requires a wide variety of skills. We look at some of the jobs journalists do.
Updating an online news item
Journalists working on a news website are responsible for publishing content on every device their users to turn to in order to access information.
Creating a strong fact-checking system
It’s the job of the journalist to try to find and present the truth, but fact-checking isn't easy. It requires a methodological approach to verification.
What is data journalism?
Data journalism, also known as data-driven journalism, is the process of finding, understanding, and processing information in order to produce news stories.
Unconscious bias and journalism
Bias is a prejudice or favour for or against an individual or group. It is often an inaccurate and unfair judgement. We are all biased. It’s normal, although it is not desirable.
Conflicts of interest
In journalism, public trust is essential for credibility. One of the most significant threats to that trust are the many possible conflicts of interest that might confront journalists.
Accuracy in journalism
A piece of journalism should have many admirable qualities but one is more important than all the rest: accuracy. Rule Number One is: get it right. If you cannot appreciate and respect that rule, there is no point in going into journalism.
Adopting the ‘big story’ approach
Planning is critically important in the news business. It’s the mark of professionalism and the essence of good coverage. But there are some things you can’t plan.Big stories happen out of the blue. And when they happen you have to spring into action immediately.
Diversity in journalism
The importance of diversity in journalism extends beyond representation, it is also about enriching the news coverage produced and ensuring its relevance to a wider audience.
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.
The skills of media project management
If you are planning a media project - whether it be a new programme, covering a live event, launching a new product, there are certain rules you should observe.
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.
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.
Journalistic ethics – scenario
In this scenario a reporter feels ethically compromised after accepting hospitality from a developer who subsequently pressured them for favourable coverage.
Returning favours – scenario
In this scenario a naive reporter's early success with a government minister leads to an ethical dilemma when a 'favour' is demanded in return.
Interviewing integrity – scenario
In this scenario, an award-winning journalist is offered a top job at national TV station, but soon after starting her new job she discovers corruption in the media house.
Media training requirements
For international media training to be successful, tried, tested and proven case studies from a similar region are needed.
What it takes to be a media trainer
Media trainers must have recent, valid experience of all they teach. They will not earn the respect of course participants if they can't relate to the issues they face.
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