This intensive, full-day Newsroom Management programme is designed as a refresher for senior editors and managers seeking to get the best out of their journalists and available resources.
Over the course of the day, participants will explore the imperatives of digital transformation, master techniques for content prioritisation and team leadership, and learn to manage converged news operations, all while maintaining high ethical standards and fostering an inclusive newsroom culture.
The programme is structured around practical discussions, case studies, and reference materials linked below. It is based on the six-week module on newsroom management which you are free to download, adapt, and use.
We recommend that trainers circulate the recommended reading resources listed below and encourage participants to read them before attending this refresher.
One-day intensive: Modern newsroom management
- 09:00 – 10:30: Digital transformation, strategy, and ethics
- Focus: Understanding the shift from traditional to digital-first newsrooms. Developing a strategic vision and ensuring all digital production adheres to strict editorial ethics.
- Group activity: Develop a three-part ethical policy for using user-generated content.
- Resources (4):
- 10:30 – 10:45: Break
- 10:45 – 12:30: Content strategy and online prioritisation
- Focus: Mastering online content management. Techniques for prioritising news flow, optimising the website’s front page, and using value matrices to maximise content impact.
- Group activity: Conduct a front-page audit and propose three improvements to maximise content value.
- Resources (6):
- 12:30 – 13:30: Lunch
- 13:30 – 15:00: Team leadership and breaking news management
- Focus: Practical skills for leading a newsroom: running effective news meetings, strategies for motivating journalists, and structured approaches to handling breaking news situations efficiently and ethically.
- Group activity: Brainstorm five low-cost, high-impact ways to motivate a news team during a challenging week.
- Resources (5):
- 15:00 – 15:15: Break
- 15:15 – 16:45: Convergence, projects, and ethical leadership
- Focus: Implementing a converged newsroom strategy, the basics of project management for media organisations, planning specialised coverage (like elections), and leading an inclusive newsroom.
- Group activity: Outline a six-week project plan for a major investigative series across three platforms (print, online, video).
- Resources (10):
- Introducing a converged newsroom strategy
- Creating a converged news operation
- Convergence workflows, roles and responsibilities
- Basics of project development for a media organisation
- An example of the media project management process
- The skills and techniques of media project management
- Social media in news production and news dissemination
- Planning tips for effective election coverage
- The role of the news producer
- Ensuring female representation in news leadership and coverage
- 16:45 – 17:00: Final plenary and questions
Related material
https://mediahelpingmedia.org/management/creating-a-vibrant-newsroom-culture/=
