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

Fact-checking and adding context

An essential part of the editorial process is to examine everything we are told to make sure it is factual.

Court reporting for beginners

Reporting on court hearings requires an understanding of local laws and knowing what can be reported and what can‘t.

Producing a radio news bulletin

Crafting a radio bulletin is like serving a balanced meal: it must be nourishing, digestible, and leave your audience perfectly prepared for the day ahead.

Editorial Ethics

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR ETHICS SECTION

Is your journalism ethical?

Reliable journalism is based on applying strict editorial ethics to all we do so that we can examine the issues that have the most impact on the lives of our audience.

Photojournalism and ethics

The following are commonly accepted ethical guidelines for photojournalists adopted by most mainstream media.

Fairness in journalism

Fairness in journalism means exploring all sides of an issue and reporting the findings accurately.

Advanced Journalism

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR ADVANCED SECTION

Dealing with fake news

Media experts share their advice on how to deal with fake news

Data journalism glossary

The following words and terms are commonly used in data journalism. Data journalists might want to familiarise themselves with them.

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.

Investigative Journalism

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR INVESTIGATIVE SECTION

Investigating official documents

The investigative journalist never takes things at face value. They probe and question in order to get to the truth.

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.

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.

Management

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR MANAGEMENT SECTION

Tool: The MHM newsroom staffing rota

Every news operations needs a staffing rota that provides excellent coverage during operational hours, makes maximum use of resources, and offers significant benefits for staff.

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.

Hiring and developing staff

Hiring the right journalists is one of the most critical decisions senior newsroom managers make. The following guide is designed to help editors choose the right candidates.

Newsroom Strategy

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR STRATEGY SECTION

Project management skills

Successful media projects, whether new programmes, live event coverage or product launches, rely on following specific regulatory rules and industry guidelines.

The uneasy but essential evolution of news

Empowered audiences now act as superusers, creating and sharing content to offer alternative information channels beyond mainstream media providers.

From digital denial to digital first

Failure to recognise and keep up with changing audience behaviour is one of the most common reasons for media organisations struggling.

Ethical Scenarios

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR SCENARIOS SECTION

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.

Emotional pressure – scenario

How should a reporter respond when someone uses emotional pressure and threats to try to stop them doing their job?

Journalistic ethics – scenario

In this scenario a reporter feels ethically compromised after accepting hospitality from a developer who subsequently pressured them for favourable coverage.

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.

Training needs assessment

Thorough research is the essential if you are to deliver high-impact media training. Never accept a brief from media managers without question - they could be wrong and often are.

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: Motive, veracity, and security (MVS) matrix

This free Media Helping Media matrix is designed to help journalists assess the risks and benefits of investigating a tip-off or a leak.

Tool: Journalist wellbeing charter

This tool is for newsroom managers to use to protect the psychological wellbeing of staff who encounter trauma and stress.

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.