Advanced

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 journalist covering a health beat/round - created using Imagen 3 by David Brewer of MHM

Health reporting for beginners

Most journalists are generalists, who can cover any kind of story. But there is also a place for specialists, providing expertise on particular subjects.

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.

Evidence-based reporting

This guide provides a framework for journalists to compile in-depth reports on any topic by ensuring that all they write is based on verifiable facts.

Slide by David Brewer released via Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Setting online news priorities

Modern news sites act as converged content factories, delivering information across all user devices through a streamlined, multi-platform digital newsroom.

Online editor in Vietnam - image by Media Helping Media released by Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Updating an online news item

Journalists working on a news website are responsible for publishing content on every device their users to turn to in order to access information.

Image of robot and smartphone by Matt Brown (https://www.flickr.com/photos/londonmatt/) released via Creative Commons BY DEED 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.)

Detecting AI-generated images

How can journalists identifying fake photographs with so many dramatic images being shared at speed on social media.

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.

Handling breaking news

Journalists need to have a system in place for covering a breaking news story in order to know who does what and when.

Image by kellinahandbasket released via Creative Commons CC BY-NC 2.0

Avoiding manipulation

One of the roles of the journalist is to scrutinise the decisions made by politicians and report the implications to the public.

Image of a journalist analysing data created with Gemini Imagen 3 AI by Media Helping Media

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.