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

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 .


Basic Journalism

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR BASICS SECTION

Pitching a news story to an editor

Whether you're a journalist or reporter, learn how to pitch stories effectively to ensure they are accepted by your editor every time.

Parliamentary reporting for beginners

To cover Parliament, a journalist must master local laws, procedure, and political parties, backed by a solid grasp of history.

Preparing for a job interview

Some suggestions for journalists preparing for a job interview.

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.

Offence and journalism

Rigorous journalism inevitably offends some audiences. Global broadcasters must cover all aspects of human experience to reflect world affairs accurately.

Respecting privacy as a journalist

Journalists must balance privacy rights with the need for rigorous, robust investigation into matters of public interest.

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.

Specialisms in journalism

Specialist reporting means going beyond general news coverage in order to develop deep expertise, insight and trust in a particular subject area. 

Hey AI, what are the top stories of the day?

Have you ever chaired a news meeting surrounded by blank faces with no story ideas? Well, with AI that experience could be a thing of the past.

Investigative Journalism

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR INVESTIGATIVE SECTION

The investigative journalism mindset

The investigative mindset is responsible for solving more information mysteries than probably any other factor. If you haven’t started writing down your best strategies now might be the time to start.

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.

Investigative journalism best-practice

Investigative journalism: Avoiding common mistakes

Management

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR MANAGEMENT SECTION

When a ‘big story’ breaks

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

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.

Setting up refugee media in exile

This article deals with how refugee communities can set up and operate a successful news organisation when living in exile.

Newsroom Strategy

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR STRATEGY SECTION

Forward planning for media organisations

This module looks at how media organisations need to plan ahead in order to produce original content that informs the public debate and makes the most efficient use of resources.

Funding the news – a guide to sustainability

Sustainable business models for media managers launching outlets in tough economic climates. Explore resilient strategies for long-term growth and stability.

Creating a converged newsroom

A converged news operation offers improved quality control, more efficient workflows, cost savings, a steady flow of original journalism across all devices, and new resulting business opportunities.

Ethical Scenarios

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR SCENARIOS SECTION

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.

Informed consent – scenario

In this scenario a reporter covering a disaster films a grief-stricken woman before discovering the facts about the ordeal she has witnessed.

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.

Training of Trainers - ToT

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR TRAINING OF TRAINERS SECTION

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: 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.

The MHM public service journalism curriculum

The following curriculum is designed for journalists who want to improve their skills, and for journalism trainers to adapt and use.

Training Tools

SAMPLE ARTICLES FROM - OUR TRAINING TOOLS SECTION

Tool: The MHM reporter’s notebook

If you are starting out in journalism you might find our Media Helping Media Reporter's Notebook helpful when covering your first story.

Tool: SMART objectives for media training

Those delivering media training need to focus on SMART objectives, which are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound.

Tool: Journalist wellbeing charter

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

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.