In association with Fojo Media Institute, Linnaeus University, Sweden

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.

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Language and style – basics

Learn how to write clear, impactful sentences for better understanding and discover why choosing the right language is essential for your readers.
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Facts, context, and perspectives

The primary role of a journalist in covering a news story is to uncover verifiable facts, provide context and present the information to the audience.
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Journalist writing at a typewriter in army fatigues. Image created with Gemini AI

Militaristic words used in journalism

Here we look at some of the most common militaristic words that are regularly used in journalism, along with their intended meaning and possible non-militaristic alternatives.
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Passive and active voice graphic by Anders Behrmann

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.
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The inverted pyramid in journalism

The inverted pyramid

The inverted pyramid model puts key news first, followed by supporting details, with the least important background information at the base of the article.
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Image courtesy of Gerlos and released under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0

Spotting a news story

How does a journalist know when they are on the right track? What are the telltale signs that distinguish fact from fiction? 
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Image by Cathy released via Creative Commons BY-NC 2.0

Fact-checking and adding context

An essential part of the editorial process is to examine everything we are told to make sure it is factual.
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Word Power graphic by Media Helping Media released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

The power of words

Journalists need to understand the power of using the right words when writing news stories
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Lessons

Lesson: AI and investigative journalism

This lesson plan sets out how journalists can use artificial intelligence (AI) in investigative journalism.
Management

Creating a vibrant newsroom culture

The output of a news organisation is determined by how well the newsroom is run. A well-managed newsroom is more likely to produce compelling and engaging content focused on audience need.
Advanced

Making a documentary

A free step-by-step guide for journalists who want to learn how to make documentaries.
© Content on Media Helping Media is released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 unless otherwise stated.