Basic journalism
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.
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.
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?
Assessing news value
The job of the journalist is to sort through daily events and package them into stories in order to inform the public.
Shoe-leather reporting
Digital noise is everywhere, but shoe-leather reporting - getting out and talking to people - remains a foundational skill for the modern journalist.
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.
Developing important news angles
Seeking out new angles on a breaking, developing or running news story is an important part of the editorial process.
Grammar for journalists
Journalists need to observe important grammatical rules when writing news stories and avoid common mistakes that could confuse the audience.
The qualities of a journalist
Journalism is a demanding profession that requires a unique combination of intellectual curiosity, linguistic skill, and a deep understanding of the world.
Clarity is as important as accuracy
Journalists must write clearly as well as accurately using accessible language that the audience can understand.
The evolution of an original news story
Original journalism starts with a question. Our investigations transform enquiries into vital news stories with far-reaching consequences.
Journalism’s roles and responsibilities
Journalism demands a diverse skill set across various roles. Explore the different tasks and career paths available to modern journalists in our guide.
What is news?
What is news? Beyond facts, it’s the stories that truly matter to people. Explore why human interest and personal relevance are at the heart of every headline.
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.
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.
The roles of reporters and sub-editors
Streamlined newspaper workflows with minimal editing benefit reporters and sub-editors, ultimately enhancing publication quality.
SIFT for fact-checking
Journalists who are committed to fact-checking, as we should all be, have several methods available to help them deal with fake news.
Covering a news event
Check our news event coverage guide with tips on preparation, on-site reporting, ethical interviews, and capturing compelling photos and video.
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.
Lateral reading
When it comes to fact-checking and adding context to news articles, journalists need to apply ‘lateral reading’ in order to broaden their knowledge.
Interviewing ‘off the record’
Journalists’ sources sometimes agree to talk only off the record. Here we examine what that means and how to handle it when sources place...
Writing a radio news script
Radio journalists must write clear scripts that weave together compelling audio clips, ensuring listeners understand a news story's significance.
The questions every journalist should ask
There are six questions that journalists should consider asking. They are What? Why? When? How? Where? and Who?