Media Helping Media (MHM)

Preserving and promoting the core principles of accurate, impartial, public-service journalism by offering free training materials in multiple formats to be downloaded, adapted, and used.


Free Journalism Learning Materials

DOWNLOAD AND ADAPT MORE THAN 150 ASSORTED TRAINING RESOURCES

Quick Guides

We’ve turned selected in-depth training material into bite-sized checklists for easy reference and review

Exercises

Our free one-hour exercises provide practical skill-building activities for self-directed learning.

Workshops

Our two-hour and four-hour workshops offer structured training sessions on essential journalism skills.

Lessons

Our free day-long lesson outlines are for trainers to download and adapt for specific local training needs.

Modules

Our free six-week course modules deliver structured training programmes on major journalism themes.

Refreshers

Our free day-long intense refresher courses are to help experienced journalists update their skills .


Search for training to meet your needs

BROWSE BY TOPIC, FORMAT, OR EXPERIENCE LEVEL

MORE THAN 400 FREE TRAINING RESOURCES

Everything you need to train journalists - completely free to download and adapt


Essential Journalism Values

CHECK OUT MORE THAN 250 ARTICLES ON JOURNALISM BEST PRACTICE

Accuracy

Why accuracy is essential

Accuracy means getting every single detail in your story absolutely correct.

Impartiality

Why impartiality matters

Impartiality means leaving your opinions at home when you go work.

Public interest

Serving the audience

Public service journalism covers the news that society needs to function.


Basic Journalism

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR BASICS SECTION

Reporting from conflict zones

When reporting from a conflict zone a journalist needs to be sensitive, understand history and cultural issues, and put people first

Essential elements of a news story

Pyramid journalism and the essential elements for writing a news story.

Covering a news event

Check our news event coverage guide with tips on preparation, on-site reporting, ethical interviews, and capturing compelling photos and video.

Editorial Ethics

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR ETHICS SECTION

Accuracy in journalism

Precision is the soul of journalism. Rule one is simple: get it right. If you can't respect the absolute need for accuracy, this isn't the career for you.

Impartiality in journalism

For journalists, being impartial means presenting information without demonstrating favouritism towards any specific viewpoint or party.

Integrity and journalism

Without integrity your journalism is untrustworthy and suspect. Integrity is essential if a journalist wants to investigate issues, shine a light in dark places, and to dig where others don't.

Advanced Journalism

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR ADVANCED SECTION

Climate change – language

Climate change is a complex and urgent story, demanding careful consideration of tone and language from the journalists covering the issue.

Journalism, trauma and stress

Journalists often witness traumatic events that impact their reporting. We explore the support available for managing work-related stress and trauma.

Detecting AI-generated images

How can journalists identifying fake photographs with so many dramatic images being shared at speed on social media.

Investigative Journalism

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR INVESTIGATIVE SECTION

AI and investigative journalism

The landscape of investigative journalism is undergoing a significant transformation, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a powerful ally for reporters.

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.

Management

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR MANAGEMENT SECTION

Secondary trauma in the newsroom

Up to 50% of newsroom staff viewing graphic footage face secondary trauma. Discover who is most at risk and how organisations can provide essential support.

Convergence: workflows, roles and responsibilities

A converged newsroom operates like a 'content factory', with a centralised 'command and control' desk responsible for all news intake, production and output.

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.

Newsroom Strategy

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR STRATEGY SECTION

Reviewing news output is essential

A media house needs to be continually assessing whether its output is meeting the needs of the audience and achieving business targets.

Managing people and setting objectives

Media managers need to set clear objectives for all staff in order to get the best out of those who work for the news organisation.

Project management in media

A media organisation must always remain alert to changing audience demand and behaviour. This involves continually examining what is produced to ensure that it is relevant to those who consume it.

Ethical Scenarios

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR SCENARIOS SECTION

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.

Withholding information – scenario

In this scenario a journalist comes across information that changes the focus of a story the editor had asked them to write. Should they include it or withhold it.

Doorstepping – scenario

You are a local newspaper reporter sent out to doorstep a bereaved family but you lie to your news editor because you are reluctant to intrude on their grief. 

Training of Trainers - ToT

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR TRAINING OF TRAINERS SECTION

Developing the potential of your staff

Media training is about investing in people - your staff. They are your most precious resource.

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

Improving media assistance

Media assistance is a two-way process in which providers have as much to learn as they have to give, according to those on the receiving end.

Training Tools

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR TRAINING TOOLS SECTION

Tool: Delivering trauma training

Discussing trauma can trigger emotional responses in participants, so it is vital to lead training sessions with a mix of professional advice and empathy.

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.

Tool: Training of Trainers (ToT)

Training of Trainers (ToT) courses are designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to train others.

ABOUT MEDIA HELPING MEDIA

Media Helping Media has no political or financial backers - it's just professional journalists sharing their knowlege.

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

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