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 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.

400 resources

Download and adapt

Free articles, guides, and tools designed to strengthen journalism


Free Journalism Learning Materials

DOWNLOAD AND ADAPT MORE THAN 140 ASSORTED TRAINING RESOURCES

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.

How-To Guides

Our short how-to guides are designed to be checklists based on some of our more comprehensive training articles

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 .


Basic Journalism

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR BASICS SECTION

Clichés, journalese, and jargon

Journalists need to recognise and then avoid using journalese, jargon, and clichés. Their writing must be clear, easy to understand, and informative.

Introduction to interviewing

The interview is one of the basic tools of journalism. You cannot be a good journalist without being a good interviewer and a careful listener.

News sources and the ‘so what’ factor

Every news story needs at least one reliable source that is able to share information that helps the journalist get to the facts.

Editorial Ethics

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR ETHICS SECTION

Why editorial ethics are important

The Media Helping Media ethics section is designed to help journalists navigate some of the challenges they might face as they go about their work.

Fairness in journalism

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

Photojournalism and ethics

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

Advanced Journalism

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR ADVANCED SECTION

Data journalism glossary

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

Journalism and activism

Can a journalist also be an activist for a cause without compromising the core editorial values of journalism?

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.

Investigative Journalism

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR INVESTIGATIVE SECTION

Tips for investigative journalism

This article looks at some of the main points to consider when producing a piece of investigative journalism.

The investigative journalism dossier

Discipline, order and a well thought out plan are essential for successful investigative journalism.

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.

Management

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR MANAGEMENT SECTION

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.

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.

When a ‘big story’ breaks

Big stories happen out of the blue. And when they do newsrooms have to spring into action immediately.

Newsroom Strategy

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR STRATEGY SECTION

Developing a media sales strategy

Sales is one of the most important elements of a media company's commercial strategy. The sustainability of the business relies on its ability to generate income.

Audience research and segmentation

In a rapidly shifting media landscape, where consumers have more choice than ever, a deep understanding of the audience has become essential for all media companies.

Female representation in news leadership and coverage

Is your news organisation and its output male dominated? Are women fairly represented in newsroom leadership roles and the stories covered?

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.

Testing boundaries – scenario

In this scenario we look at a situation where an editor faces breaking protocol because of the strength of a story.

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.

Training of Trainers - ToT

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR TRAINING OF TRAINERS SECTION

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.

International media training

Those invited to help the media overseas need to ensure that the training they offer is continually refreshed in order to stay relevant and useful.

Tool: Learning management systems

Learning Management Systems (LMS) are increasingly becoming the digital backbone of all media training, in particular Training of Trainers (ToT) courses.

Training Tools

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR TRAINING TOOLS SECTION

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: 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: MHM Story Builder

The Media Helping Media’s Story Builder is a simple tool created to help those who are new to journalism write informative news articles.

Radio production training in Jaffna, Sri LankaCheck out our short guide setting out how to make the best use of the free training resources on Media Helping Media.

Journalism training in KampalaMedia Helping Media has no political or financial backers – it’s just professional journalists sharing their knowlege. Find out more.

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.