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Quick Guides
Our free quick guides are short checklists designed as self-teaching aids highlighting the main points from some of our training articles. All are linked to the articles they summarise. Visit our site map for all the content in this and other sections.
Quick Guide: Respecting privacy in news
Journalists must balance privacy with robust public interest reporting. This might require necessary and justified interference to ensure thorough coverage.
Quick Guide: News writing
Journalists must research, identify a story, and choose a sharp angle. Learn how to refine your material and decide what to cut for maximum impact.
Quick Guide: Developing and handling news sources
Use this checklist to ensure you build and manage credible news sources so that your journalism remains authoritative, original, and high-quality.
Quick Guide: Interviewing politicians
Interviewing politicians is an vital skill for a journalist. Your role is not to win an argument, but to act as a bridge between those in power and the public.
Quick Guide: Fact-checking and adding context
Journalism isn't just relaying information, it's about rigorous fact-checking. A vital editorial step is scrutinising every detail to ensure accuracy.
Quick Guide: Avoid editorialising in news
Journalism should be fact-based and impartial. Understand why news reporters must leave their opinions at home to guard against conscious and unconscious bias.
Quick Guide: Assessing news value
As a journalist, your primary job is to find information that is interesting, relevant, and important to your audience. Not every event is news.
Quick Guide: Diverse perspectives in news
Diverse perspectives are essential if journalists are to reflect the true complexity behind the news. Varied viewpoints add depth to reporting.
Quick Guide: Evidence-based reporting
Journalists should always rely on facts rather than feelings. Evidence-based reporting means your stories are built on data, documents, and witness accounts.
Quick Guide: Grammar for journalists
Journalists must follow key grammar rules to write clearly. Avoiding common mistakes is vital. Explore these news writing style tips.
Quick Guide: Conducting interviews remotely
This checklist sets out the main considerations when conducting an interview remotely if an interviewee is not available for a face-to-face meeting.
Quick Guide: Managing conflicts of interest
Use this checklist to manage conflicts of interest and protect your journalistic integrity. It's designed to maintain audience trust and professional standards.
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