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Media Helping Media (MHM) aims to preserve essential journalistic skills at a time of fake news, misinformation and disinformation. Our exercises, workshops, lessons, course modules, and tools are free to download, adapt, and use.
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Letting the pictures tell the story
Letting the pictures tell the story is an important skill for TV journalists
How to create a broadcast news package
Discover how to create concise, compelling TV and radio packages that capture audience attention and deliver information effectively.
How news value is assessed
The job of the journalist is to sort through daily events and package them into stories in order to inform the public.
Handling story leaks and tip-offs
A critical factor for journalists when handling and disseminating leaked material is the need to take account of the motives of the leaker.
How to run an effective news meeting
Here we offer 50 suggestions for helping editors run stimulating news meetings that guarantee a steady stream of original stories.
Planning effective election coverage
Planning is essential for journalists to produce effective election coverage.
Fairness in journalism
Fairness in journalism means exploring all sides of an issue and reporting the findings accurately.
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.
Impartiality in journalism
For journalists, being impartial means presenting information without demonstrating favouritism towards any specific viewpoint or party.
Community radio running order
The following is a 24-hour daily schedule for a community radio station, balancing core programming elements with listener engagement and local relevance.
When a ‘big story’ breaks
Big stories happen out of the blue. And when they do newsrooms have to spring into action immediately.
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.
Community radio project plan
Launching a community radio station is a complicated exercise with lots of overlapping elements. The most important thing to do, before you do anything else, is to stop and think.
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.
Organisations supporting independent media
We have compiled a list of organisations that offer operational, strategic, and financial/business support for independent media, helping outlets survive, grow, and enhance their impact.
Public interest – scenario
This scenario looks at some of the issues that need to be considered when deciding whether a story is in the public interest.
Accuracy – scenario
In this scenario a reporter witnesses a mass walkout of workers from a factory affected by industrial action. The company claims it's business as usual; the union says all workers have downed tools.
Transparency and full disclosure – scenario
In this scenario a reporter embedded with the military and closely monitored in a war zone wanders off and discovers a story the army wouldn't want him to tell.
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.
Tool: Optimism index for media trainers
The 'Optimism Index' is a tool designed for trainers of group journalism sessions to gauge and ultimately improve the participants' hope for the future.
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