Seeking out new angles on a breaking, developing or running news story is an important part of the editorial process. Journalists have a responsibility to think through and explain how news developments affect the lives of their audience.
This workshop is presented in two formats, both using the same source material from Media Helping Media. The first is a two-hour workshop designed for those who are already familiar with the topic but who would like to deepen their understanding. The second is a four-hour, half-day workshop for those who are new to the topic.
Trainers are invited to select the format that best meets the needs of those they are training. The source material for this workshop, which focuses on writing style and journalistic discipline, is how to find and develop important news angles.
The primary purpose of this training is to enhance a journalist’s ability to move beyond surface-level reporting and uncover stories that truly matter to the audience. This involves cultivating curiosity, developing strong source relationships, and upholding the highest professional standards of journalistic ethics (the moral principles that govern a journalist’s conduct).
Workshop outline 1: Two-hour session
(For trainees familiar with the topic, focusing on consolidation and deep practice)
09:00–10:00 – Session 1: Digging deeper and the 10 steps overview
- Aims: To quickly review the journalist’s responsibility to explain news impact; to identify and understand the 10 crucial steps for finding important news angles – as set out in the workshop reading material – focusing on ethical considerations.
- Presentation: The trainer delivers a concise 15-minute presentation on the concept of ‘digging deeper’ beyond news wires (agencies that provide news stories to media organisations) and official releases. The presentation must cover the 10 key steps for finding angles, stressing that ethics, transparency, and professional integrity (adherence to moral and ethical principles) are paramount. The trainer highlights that journalists must constantly check their own bias (a prejudice for or against something) to ensure fair reporting.
- Activity: Small groups (3-4 trainees) are provided with one recent major news headline from the region. They are tasked with generating five new angles on that story, specifically applying the steps of ‘cultivating curiosity’, ‘going beyond the news release’, ‘following the money’ (investigating financial trails), and ‘thinking long-term/bigger picture’. Groups must justify their choices based on audience relevance.
- Discussion: Groups present their top three angles and the rationale for each. The trainer leads a discussion focusing on the challenge of ‘following the money’ and how this process often reveals hidden agendas and systemic problems.
10:00–10:45 – Session 2: Practical accountability and managing sources
- Aims: To practise drafting challenging questions to hold power accountable; to discuss the cultivation and protection of sources while maintaining professional standards.
- Presentation: The trainer discusses the crucial link between developing reliable sources (people who provide information) and being able to ask tough questions. Emphasise that source development requires time and a demonstration of professional fairness (treating sources and subjects honestly and openly) and respect for privacy (a person’s right to control information about themselves).
- Activity: The trainer provides an official, positive press statement from a local authority or corporation. Trainees individually draft three ‘difficult questions’ that challenge the narrative, seek missing information, and anticipate potential pushback. Questions must be persistent but respectful. Trainees then participate in peer review, providing constructive criticism on the clarity and persistence of their colleague’s questions.
- Discussion: Group discussion on the ethics of source protection, the balance between the public’s right to know and the need to avoid giving offence (causing distress or indignation) unnecessarily, and the importance of accurate reporting.
10:45–11:00 – Assignment: (details at the foot of this page).
(For trainees new to the topic, allowing time for fundamental explanation and varied practice)
09:00–10:00 – Session 1: The journalist’s responsibility and the curiosity mindset
- Aims: To define the core responsibility of journalists in covering news developments; to introduce the first three key steps for generating angles.
- Presentation: The trainer clearly explains that a journalist’s core responsibility is to think through and explain how news developments affect the lives of their audience. Introduce the first three steps: Cultivate curiosity (always asking ‘why?’ and ‘what if?’); Go beyond the news release (healthy scepticism and seeking independent verification); Develop reliable sources and relationships. Define ‘scepticism’ (a questioning attitude) and ‘independent verification’ (checking facts with people or documents not connected to the original source).
- Activity: Trainees are given three different news releases (press statements). In pairs, they must list three pieces of information that might be missing from the release, and identify three potential sources (individuals) they would contact to ensure impartiality (being unbiased and objective) and explore all significant views.
- Discussion: The trainer leads a discussion on how to cultivate source relationships, stressing the need for patience and demonstrating genuine interest in the source’s stories. Focus on the value of diverse perspectives to avoid being manipulated by a single narrative.
10:00–11:00 – Session 2: Following the money and holding power accountable
- Aims: To understand the ‘follow the money’ principle; to learn how to prepare for and ask difficult questions.
- Presentation: The trainer presents the “follow the money” adage, explaining that financial trails often lead to corruption, hidden agendas, or systemic problems. Discusses the need for courage and thorough preparation for interviews when holding powerful individuals or institutions accountable. This process is built on a commitment to accuracy (using well-sourced information based on solid evidence).
- Activity: Small groups are presented with two scenarios: 1) a major public project has exceeded its budget; 2) a new law benefits a specific wealthy family. Groups brainstorm five types of publicly available records or documents they would need to access and analyse to find the facts.
- Discussion: Discuss the ethical responsibility ‘holding power to account’ (which means making those in authority answer for their actions, decisions, and performance, so to ensure they are responsible to the public). Trainer leads a review of preparation techniques, such as researching the interviewee’s history and anticipating pushback (resistance to difficult questions).
11:00-11:15 – Break
11:15–12:45 – Session 3: Collaboration, data, and ethical application
- Aims: To introduce data journalism and collaboration; to understand the long-term view; to consolidate all ethical steps.
- Presentation: The trainer defines data journalism (using publicly available data analysis and visualisation to find trends) and explains how collaboration with other journalists leads to more impactful stories. Focus on the long-term view: thinking about systemic issues, not just the immediate event. Consolidate the ethical framework: being transparent, correcting errors, and adhering to the highest standards.
- Activity: Data and angle generation: Trainees are given a set of simple data (e.g., crime statistics or local government spending figures). In groups, they must find one trend or pattern and use it to formulate a potential long-term investigative story angle, identifying how they would collaborate with another media house or organisation to strengthen the story.
- Discussion: Group discussion on the need for persistence and patience, as investigative stories take time. Final review of the ethical steps, ensuring trainees understand the practical application of transparency, respecting privacy, and avoiding offence.
12:45–13:00 – Assignment: Developing an investigative angle pitch:
Participants must select a current developing news story (either one discussed in the workshop or a new one) that affects their community. Using the 10 steps discussed in the workshop, they must prepare a comprehensive pitch document for their editor (or the trainer). The pitch must include:
- The headline and main angle: A clear, original angle that goes beyond the surface.
- The ‘Why it matters’: An explanation of how this angle affects the lives of the audience (the journalist’s primary responsibility).
- The sources and records: A list of at least five potential human sources and three public records/filings they would access to “follow the money” and independently verify the facts.
- The difficult question: The single most difficult question they would ask the most powerful person involved in the story, and how they would prepare for resistance.
- The ethical review: A brief statement confirming they have considered ethics, integrity, and fairness in their approach.
Materials needed for the workshop
- Handouts summarising the 10 steps for developing news angles (cultivating curiosity, following the money, etc.).
- Example news releases, official statements, and sample data sets (printouts or links) for exercises.
- Whiteboard or flip chart and markers for brainstorming.
- Internet access for research resources (optional, for real-time investigation during activities).
- Copies of the MHM article on which the workshop is based: how to find and develop important news angles.
Assessment
- Participation in discussions and activities.
- Quality of drafted questions and peer feedback during the session.
- Quality, originality, and thoroughness of the final ‘Developing an investigative angle pitch’ assignment.
Conclusion
This workshop provides a structured approach for journalists to improve their ability to find and develop important news angles. By focusing on curiosity, scepticism, rigorous source development, and the principle of ‘following the money,’ participants learned how to dig deeper than official statements. Crucially, all practical skills are framed by the necessity of strong professional ethics, accuracy, fairness, and transparency, ensuring that journalists fulfil their responsibility to inform the public and hold power accountable. The actionable step for all participants is to apply these 10 steps to the stories they are currently working on. The source material for this workshop can be reviewed in full here: how to find and develop important news angles.
Related material
