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Media Helping Media is hosted by the Fojo Media Institute at Linnaeus University.
Journalism Basics
Our basics section provides foundational knowledge for journalists starting their careers and for those wanting to refresh their skills. Learn techniques including news writing, interviewing, story structure, and reporting practices that form the bedrock of quality journalism. All our material is free to download, adapt and use.
How journalists assess news value
Learn what makes a story newsworthy. This guide explains the five criteria journalists use to assess news value, with clear examples.
Pitching a news story to an editor
Every great piece of journalism starts with a pitch — and how you pitch can make the difference between being published or being rejected.
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.
Parliamentary reporting for beginners
To cover parliament, a journalist must master local laws, procedure, and political parties, backed by a solid grasp of history.
Adjectives and adverbs in journalism
When it comes to writing - not just news writing but any kind of writing - adjectives and adverbs have a bad reputation.
In journalism, good writing is plain writing
The purpose of news writing is to convey meaning clearly and effortlessly by using precise, comprehensible, and easily digestible words.
What editors look for when hiring
What's the best preparation for a career in journalism? Media Helping Media asked some experts in the field what they look for when hiring staff.
The power of words
Journalists need to understand the power of using the right words when writing news stories
The active and passive voices in news
Make your news writing more interesting by using the “active voice”. Bob Eggington explains this simple and effective technique.
How to turn editorial feedback into a journalistic win
Learn how freelance journalists can use editorial feedback as a career boost. Master the edit, build trust with editors, and secure more commissions.
For freelance...
How to conduct and Interview remotely
Here we explore the key issues journalists face when interviewing sources via electronic media instead of face-to-face and in real time.
Interviewing for video journalists
Tips about the steps a video journalist can take to enhance the quality of filmed interviews.
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The content on Media Helping Media (MHM) is released via Creative Commons BY NC SA 4.0.