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. Scroll down our site map for all the content in this and other sections.

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Tool: News story checklist

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How to create a structured news report

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What editors look for when hiring

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How to cover an event

This guide offers comprehensive advice for anyone looking to cover an event, from meticulous preparation and strategic on-site actions to ethical interview techniques and capturing compelling visuals.

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Developing important news angles

Seeking out new angles on a breaking, developing or running news story is an important part of the editorial process.

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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.

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The evolution of an original news story

Impactful and original journalism often begins with the answer to a question which, after thorough investigation, develops into a news story with significant implications.

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Interviewing politicians

There is a fine art to interviewing politicians. You need to understand their motivation, realise they will have a script, not allow them to complicate matters, refuse to be sidetracked, and retain an open mind.

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Words that are frequently misused

It's essential for journalists to maintain precision in their use of language, especially when dealing with words that sound or look similar but which carry different meanings.