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.

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

Discover how public service journalism exposes abuses of authority, ensuring politicians, bosses, and public servants face the consequences of their actions.
Image by Kelly Static released via Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0

Investigating election irregularities

What should journalists look out for when covering elections? We look at five areas.
Image to illustrate specialist reporting created with Google Gemini

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. 
"Working late" by Alan Cleaver is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Why follow-up journalism matters

Most news stories need following up. If the original has any value, there will be angles worth developing. If you fail to do so, you let your audience down.
Image by Anthony Karanja released via Creative Commons CC BY 2.0

Editorial independence during elections

Election coverage is one of the most critical responsibilities of the media. It shapes public discourse, informs voters, and plays a vital role in safeguarding democracy.
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.
Image of a journalist in a refugee camp - created by Microsoft's AI Image Designer

Using AI for story development

How artificial intelligence (AI) can help a journalist brainstorm a story in order to discover multiple news angles
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?
Current affairs programme training in Vinh, Vietnam - image by MHM

Planning a radio current affairs programme

Explore the difference between radio news and daily current affairs programmes, and learn how they work together to keep audiences fully informed.
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.
Image of the earth from space created with Gemini Imagen 3 AI by Media Helping Media

Causes of climate change

Journalists must avoid providing false equivalence and false balance when covering news stories – particularly climate change.
Media coaching image courtesy of Delanoye released via Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0

How to handle a media-trained interviewee

How do you interview someone who has been trained to avoid your questions? You have to recognise the techniques, stay calm, and keep digging for facts.

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