Advanced journalism

Our advanced section explores specialised topics for experienced journalists seeking to deepen their expertise. Develop your skills in data journalism, multimedia storytelling, investigative techniques, and complex narrative structures that elevate reporting to the next level. All our material is free to download, adapt and use. Scroll down our site map for all the content in this and other sections.

Content value matrix - created by David Brewer of Media Helping Media

Tool: The Content Value Matrix

The newsroom content value matrix is a free tool for helping journalists prioritise information and resources to focus on the stories that matter to audiences.
Image of computer screen Markus Spiske on Unsplash

The glossary of Information disorder

The following information disorder glossary is designed to help journalists understand the most common terms used.
Image of history books by Raysonho released via Creative Commons CC 1.0

Why historical context matters in news reporting

News coverage too often reports events without the historical context. Here we look at why understanding the past is essential to explaining the present.
The author, Ruhina Ferdous, working with journalism students at Dhaka University

The sub-editor: roles, skills, and responsibilities

What does a sub-editor do? This guide covers the core skills, key responsibilities, and modern demands of sub-editing across print and digital newsrooms.
Uk Prime Minister Keir Starmer interviewed by the BBC - image by Number 10 released under Open Government Licence v3.0

How journalists hold power to account

Public service journalism plays a crucial role in society by ensuring that those in power are held accountable for their actions. Discover how that plays out.
Image illustrating climate change created with Gemini Imagen 3 AI by Media Helping Media

Covering climate change

Reporting on climate change presents journalists with major hurdles, as it's a topical, controversial subject rooted in complex scientific research.
Image of a confidential document changing hands - created using Imagen 3 by David Brewer of MHM

Handling story leaks and tip-offs

A critical factor for journalists when handling and disseminating leaked material is the need to take account of the motives of the leaker.
Image by Bram Cymet released via Creative Commons CC BY-NC 2.0

Tips for motivating journalists

Daily news meetings should be inclusive and agenda-setting. Editors must foster a culture of original ideas and risk-taking to keep staff motivated and alert.
Image by Russell Trow released via Creative Commons CC BY 2.0

Media safety during elections

Journalists covering elections should never carry a weapon, should have first aid training, dress appropriately, listen to the locals and avoid confrontation.
Slide by David Brewer released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0.

The importance of keeping records

Journalists who want to inform the audience need to keep records so that they can add context to breaking news stories without having to rely on others for background information
Journalism Role - a MHM training resource graphic

The essential role of journalism

Journalism isn’t just reporting, it’s witnessing history, challenging power, amplifying unheard voices, and making sense of a chaotic world.
A researcher at The National Archives - image by The National Archives (UK) released via Creative Commons

How ‘critical history’ differs from historical context

Historical context explains why a story matters. Critical history is about finding stories that have been buried. Both are essential elements of journalism.

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