Media Helping Media is hosted by the Fojo Media Institute and is one of its official training resources.
From our BASIC JOURNALISM section
What it takes to be a journalist
Our journalism should be factual, accurate, and easy to understand, and we must be committed to finding original stories and telling them in a way that makes sense to the audience.
What is news?
Here we consider what makes one thing worth reporting, while another thing is not. We offer a test for news which can work in all societies. We consider what makes some news stories stronger than others.
From our EDITORIAL ETHICS section
Accuracy in journalism
A media organisation will be judged on the accuracy and reliability of its journalism, which must be well-sourced, supported by strong evidence, examined and tested, clear and unambiguous. Verified facts must form the basis of all news, not rumour or speculation.
Fairness in journalism
Fairness in journalism means exploring all sides of an issue and reporting the findings accurately. Members of the public should never be used to exaggerate the importance of a story.
From our ADVANCED JOURNALISM section
How to handle a breaking news situation
An example of how an international TV and digital news organisation deals with breaking and developing news, including when and how to update information shared on all the station's channels.
The art of engaging viewers and listeners
TV and radio steal something from you as you try to present news, features, and documentaries. Part of who you are is diminished and there’s a serious risk of coming across flat, possibly a bit lifeless. Riz Khan shares some tips on how to overcome these problems.
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Compiling an investigative journalism dossier
Discipline, order and a well thought out plan are essential for successful investigative journalism. It starts with the compilation of a solid dossier built with meticulous precision and executed with an attention to detail.
20 ways a suspect can help a journalist
Sources are one of the most valuable resources for a journalist. Without sourced information, the reports produced may end up being padded with rumour and personal opinion.
How to investigate official documents
The investigative journalist never takes things at face value. They probe and question in order to get to the truth. If you are to uncover the story you need to keep asking questions.
Adopting the ‘big story’ approach
Planning is critically important in the news business. It’s the mark of professionalism and the essence of good coverage. But there are some things you can’t plan.Big stories happen out of the blue. And when they happen you have to spring into action immediately.
Setting up a refugee media operation in exile
This section deals with how refugee communities can set up and operate a successful news organisation in areas which are often poorly covered by the mainstream media.
Prioritising production with the content value matrix
How to prioritise newsroom effort
There are many demands on a newsroom. There is the routine flow of news releases and stage-managed events that need to...
The skills and techniques of media project management
What is needed to manage a successful media project from start to finish. The second training module in our series on project management.
Setting up a media business – four essential steps
A media business is like a table with four legs. These are the media organisation's target audience, the core editorial proposition that it offers to that audience, the values that the business holds dear, and the market that sustains the business. Each leg has to be strong and firm. If one leg is weak, the table wobbles. A shaky media organisation is not good.
Content sharing for the benefit of all
Small news organisations, eager to offer their audience a wider choice of news, can now take advantage of a free international wires service currently syndicating in 90 languages.
Accuracy – scenario
Scenario: There has been a strike at a steel works. The union claims all its 100,000 members were out on strike, but the employer says 50% turned up for work and defied the picket line. You were reporting from the main gates of the steel plant all day and you didn't see anyone crossing the picket line. What do you report?
Returning ‘favours’ – scenario
In this scenario you are a parliamentary reporter being put under pressure to cover a story by a politician who says they did you a favour in the past.
Off-the-record chat – scenario
What should a journalist do with off-the-record information? Should they agree to conditions on its use? Should they ignore any conditions and do the story anyway? Or should they use what they have been told as background information and dig further? Try our scenario and decide what you would do in the circumstances.
Maximising the impact of media training
Thorough research is the essential if you are to deliver high-impact media training. Never accept a brief from media managers without question - they could be wrong and often are.
Adopting the right attitude for media training
A trainer must not shout at participants or get into loud arguments. They must not make those attending their courses feel small or humiliate them. Some fairly strong points made by participants.
How to design a successful media training plan
A well-designed media training plan could make the difference between the success and the failure of a media business. Get it wrong and you could be adding to the problems you were asked to address.