Basics

For those starting off in a career in journalism, including what makes news, how to write a story, interviewing tips, and fact-checking.

Developing and applying news sense

Basics

Journalistic roles and responsibilities

Interviewing for video journalists

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.

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.

Translation in journalism

If you are a journalist working in a multilingual society, you may have to work in more than one language.

Using the right words

Words are the essential tools of journalism. They convey meaning and help the audience understand the issues we are covering. So they need to be used properly.

Where does news come from?

The job of the journalist is to uncover the stories that shape our understanding of the world.

Attribution and plagiarism

The importance of attribution and avoiding plagiarism.

Journalism and the public interest

A journalist has no right to intrude on the personal lives of others except in cases where doing so will serve the public interest. We need to be crystal clear on what we mean by public interest.

Unlock your journalistic potential

A journalist must learn the house rules of the media organisations they are working for. All will have a set of guidelines and a style guide. But here are general tips about starting off in journalism.