Hosted by the Fojo Media Institute
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.
The inverted pyramid for news
The inverted pyramid model puts key news first, followed by supporting details, with the least important background information at the base of the article.
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.
Interviewing politicians
Master political interviews: learn to navigate scripted lines and handle evasive answers to ensure you uncover the facts the public needs to hear.
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.
Citizen reporting to citizen journalism
How young citizen reporters in Zimbabwe learnt how to move beyond basic storytelling to produce journalism that properly informs the public debate.
Court reporting for beginners
Learn essential court reporting tips for beginners, covering legal constraints, accuracy, and how to report trial verdicts fairly and professionally.
Including the human angle in news
For news organisations to succeed, they must attract and retain audiences. The human touch is vital for building trust and engagement.
News writing for beginners
A journalist writing a news story is the author, organiser and decision maker. Without them the story may never be told.
Unlock your journalistic potential
The following is a collection of tips for journalists starting off in the job. It's been compiled from advice shared by senior journalists around the world.
Preparing for an interview
A journalist needs to be well-prepared when planning an interview. However, after all your research, try to keep the interview to three questions in order to avoid over-complication and confusion.
Letting the pictures tell the story
Here we explore the importance of visual storytelling in TV and video journalism, showing you how to let the pictures tell the story.
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The content on Media Helping Media (MHM) is released via Creative Commons BY NC SA 4.0.