Basics
Our basics section provides foundational knowledge for aspiring journalists. Learn essential skills from news writing to interviewing, and master the core principles of accurate reporting. See our site map to view the complete list.
Letting the pictures tell the story
Letting the pictures tell the story is an important skill for TV journalists
Developing and applying news sense
How do we know what is “news”? There are millions of things going on in the world all the time and only some of them become news stories.
Editorialising is not for news
The free training materials on Media Helping Media are all aimed at encouraging one particular kind of journalism: accurate, fact-based, impartial news reporting.
Gender equality in the media
The role of the journalist in rectifying gender imbalance in media is multifaceted, and it involves both individual actions and contributing to broader systemic change.
How news value is assessed
The job of the journalist is to sort through daily events and package them into stories in order to inform the public.
Language and style – basics
This training module from The News Manual looks at language and style in news writing. It offers guidance on how to write sentences for maximum understanding, and examines why care over language is important.
How to create a structured news report
This module was written for trainee journalists in Zimbabwe who were keen to learn how to produce in-depth video reports about life in their remote rural communities.
Clichés, journalese, and jargon
Journalists need to recognise and then avoid using journalese, jargon, and clichés. Their writing must be clear, easy to understand, and informative.
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Data journalism glossary
The following words and terms are commonly used in data journalism. Data journalists might want to familiarise themselves with them.
Lesson: Systems thinking for journalists
This lesson plan is designed to help journalism students understand how to apply systems thinking to their news stories in order to develop more comprehensive reports.
Refresher: News writing skills
This intensive, one-day news writing skills course is designed to equip aspiring journalists with the advanced techniques necessary to enhance precision, style, and clarity in their writing.







