Basic journalism

TV and radio production training in Buon Me Thuot, Dak Lak, Vietnam. Image by Media Helping Media released under Creative Commons

This section contains modules covering the basics for those starting off in a career in journalism. It covers what makes news, how to write a story intro and script, interviewing tips, fact checking, the public interest test and whether your journalism passes the 'who says' test.

Filters
List of articles in category Basic journalism
Title Author
From citizen reporting to citizen journalism Written by David Brewer
News sources, numbers and the 'so what' factor Written by David Brewer
The importance of creating a story plan Written by David Brewer
Referencing published information, attribution and plagiarism Written by David Brewer
12 tips for producing strong news stories Written by Jeff Hodson
For journalists, clarity is as important as accuracy Written by Vince Ryan
Keeping the sub happy: tips for print journalists Written by Vince Ryan
Deciding whether news is in the public interest Written by Bob Eggington
Journalists and bloggers - stop stealing pictures Written by David Brewer
Tips for journalists attending job interviews Written by David Brewer
What editors look for when recruiting journalists Written by David Brewer
The importance of attribution in news Written by The news Manual
Tips for writers on spotting errors in copy Written by David Brewer
Producing compelling radio with limited resources Written by David Brewer
The role of the media during elections Written by Bob Doran
How to find and develop important news angles Written by David Brewer
Tips for writing radio news scripts Written by David Brewer
News production tips for radio journalists Written by David Brewer
What makes a news story? Written by The News Manual
Journalism's roles and responsibilities Written by The News Manual
Writing the intro in simple steps Written by The News Manual
Writing a news story in simple steps Written by The News Manual
How to use quotes in news and features Written by The News Manual
Interviewing tips for journalists Written by David Brewer
The importance of fact-checking for journalists Written by David Brewer
Applying the public interest test to journalism Written by Bob Eggington
Court reporting tips for beginners Written by Bob Eggington
Old news is no news; old training is no training Written by David Brewer
The language of heat of the moment reporting Written by David Brewer
Does your journalism pass the 'who says' test? Written by Don Ray
How to avoid make-believe journalism Written by David Brewer
Crime reporting tips for beginners Written by Bob Eggington
Parliamentary reporting tips for beginners Written by Bob Eggington
24 tips for journalistic productivity Written by David Brewer
10 tips for producing radio bulletins Written by Beat Witschi
10 tips for spotting a news story Written by Jaldeep Katwala
10 tips for reporting conflict and abuse Written by Jaldeep Katwala
10 tips for interviewing politicians Written by David Brewer
What it takes to be a journalist Written by Bob Eggington
20 tips for TV and radio packaging Written by Jaldeep Katwala
20 interviewing tips for journalists Written by Jaldeep Katwala
News writing tips for beginners Written by John Allen
50 tips for budding journalists Written by David Brewer
Are journalism and activism compatible? Written by David Brewer
Interview tips for video journalists Written by Don Ray
Creating a distinctive radio station sound Written by Phil Hilton

Try all our journalism training modules

We have more than 100 free training modules in our journalism training section.