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.

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.
Graphic showing logos of organisations offering trauma support for journalists - by MHM

Organisations offering trauma support for journalists

Check our list of the global networks and non-governmental organisations that provide resources for journalists experiencing stress and psychological trauma.
Image of hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil, by Bhatt released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.0

When interviewees dodge your questions

Question avoidance is something every journalist faces. Here we look at common tactics, what they mean, and how to handle them.
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.
Slide by David Brewer released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Managing a news website’s front page

The journalist in charge of a news website is like a shopkeeper who sets out their stall. If the items are badly displayed the customer might miss them, if they are not fresh people won't buy them.
Sebastian Solberg

Making a documentary

A free step-by-step guide for journalists who want to learn how to make documentaries.
Image of scales from Wellcome Trust released under Creative Commons

False equivalence and false balance

Journalists can sometimes present an inaccurate or false version of events by trying too hard to 'balance' a story or incorrectly treating elements of a story as being roughly equal.
Photo by Elijah O'Donnell on Unsplash

Fake news and trust chains

"Fake news" encompasses two distinct concepts: fabricated stories masquerading as truth and the dismissal of legitimate news as false.
Image of a journalist covering a climate change rally created with Gemini Imagen 3 AI by Media Helping Media

Journalism and activism

Can a journalist also be an activist for a cause without compromising the core editorial values of journalism?
Journalists in Vietnam applying critical thinking to story treatment - image by David Brewer

Critical thinking for journalists

Critical thinking is the bedrock of quality journalism, serving as the essential foundation to help audiences better understand the world.
Image by Dave Null released via Creative Commons CC BY-NC 2.0

A journalist must not have an agenda

Our role as journalists is to unearth information, prepare it and then display it for the benefit of the audience. We are not there to fabricate, manipulate or force.
An image of a news meeting created using Microsoft's AI Image Designer

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.

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