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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.
Essential Journalism ValuesCheck out more than 250 articles on journalism best practice
Free Learning MaterialsDownload and adapt more than 140 assorted training resources
Including the human angle in journalism
For news organisations to succeed, they must attract and retain audiences. The human touch is vital for building trust and engagement.
The qualities of a journalist
Journalism is a demanding profession that requires a unique combination of intellectual curiosity, linguistic skill, and a deep understanding of the world.
News writing for beginners
A journalist writing a news story is the author, organiser and decision maker. Without them the story may never be told.
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.
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.
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.
Creating a current affairs programme
In this article we look at the steps involved in creating a radio news and current affairs programme based on the needs of the target audience.
How to set online news priorities
Increasingly, news websites are the product of a converged newsroom operating as a content factory delivering information to whatever device the user turns to in order to access information.
How to motivate journalists
Your daily news meeting should set the tone for everything your news organisation does. It should be dynamic, brimming with original ideas and angles, inclusive and agenda-setting.
Why would anyone want to talk to a journalist?
An investigative journalist has to encourage people to share information that they had previously withheld.
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.
Tips for investigative journalism
This article looks at some of the main points to consider when producing a piece of investigative journalism.
When a ‘big story’ breaks
Big stories happen out of the blue. And when they do newsrooms have to spring into action immediately.
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.
The role of the news producer
The news producer has an essential role to play in any news organisation. Their job is to ensure that the material that is published is of the highest quality.
Setting up a media business
A media business is like a table with four legs - the target audience, the editorial proposition, values, and the market.
Preparing a media corporate plan
The corporate plan is the most important tool in a media chief executive’s toolbox. Without it the media organisation can become lost and directionless.
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.
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.
Legal threats – scenario
In this scenario a local newspaper reporter faces legal threats for a factual planning application report that lacked the applicant's demanded "positive spin."
Editorial impartiality – scenario
In this scenario a reporter covering a story about medical malpractice in a hospital discovers that the consultant involved is a relative. What should they do?
Tool: Gap analysis in media training
'Gap analysis' is an essential part of any 'training of trainers' (ToT) programme because it helps identify the specific needs of participants.
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.
Media training requirements
For international media training to be successful, tried, tested and proven case studies from a similar region are needed.
Tool: News Meeting Manager
This tool is designed to help editors prepare for and run an effective news meeting that results in the production of original and informative journalism.
Tool: Training of Trainers (ToT)
Training of Trainers (ToT) courses are designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to train others.
Tool: SMART objectives for media training
Those delivering media training need to focus on SMART objectives, which are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound.
Try our introduction to journalism curriculum then take the MHM news test.
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