Tips for journalists
12 essential self-taught journalism skills
No journalism course is all-encompassing and there will always be new things to learn, so here are some skills to consider picking up in your free time
Posted by Chris Sutcliffe and Catalina Albeanu on 30/11/22Tip: Five steps to making your workplace Gen Z friendly
Hire and retain talent from a generation with different expectations at work
Posted by Jacob Granger on 14/09/22Tip: Kickstarting a mobile journalism strategy
The team behind Seen, formerly Hashtag Our Stories, share strategies on creating content with mobile audiences in mind
Posted by Jacob Granger on 13/09/22Tip: Bolster your elections coverage with voting guides
Help your readers to know exactly who and what they are voting for
Posted by Jacob Granger on 12/09/22Tip: Top skills (and people) needed in the modern newsroom
As our workplace and industry evolve, our hiring and training practices must evolve with it
Posted by Jacob Granger on 01/09/22Tip: Attract young(er) news audiences
Learn the best strategies around content creation, storytelling and production values to appeal to a younger crowd
Posted by Jacob Granger on 26/08/22Tip: Inside The Economist's Instagram growth strategy
Head of social media, Liv Moloney, reveals how the news organisation has garnered nearly 6m followers
Posted by Jacob Granger on 24/08/22Tip: Lessons from the Guardian's membership model
Simon Owens reflects on how the news publisher has encouraged 1m people to have recurring digital subscriptions without using a paywall
Posted by Jacob Granger on 23/08/22Tip: Ensure staff are taking days off work (and not checking emails)
Everyone needs sufficient time off to reset and recharge. Make sure you have a work culture that allows this to happen
Posted by Jacob Granger on 22/08/22How can journalists report responsibly on the cost of living crisis?
Journalists have a responsibility to cover economic hardship in a way that is representative, ethical and constructive - find out how
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 17/08/22Tip: Embed solutions journalism into your newsroom
It is easier than you think to tweak your coverage to include a look at what can be done about the issues you are covering
Posted by Jacob Granger on 17/08/2230 Medium publications about journalism to follow
Does your Medium daily digest need a boost? Check out these writers and publications tackling the challenges in the media industry
Posted by Catalina Albeanu and Jacob Granger on 16/08/22Tip: Schedule breaks to manage your time effectively
To work at your best, you need to pencil in downtime. That is easier said than done for those with a busy and unpredictable workload
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 10/08/22Tip: Discover eight new(ish) social media platforms
Have you heard of Locket, Supernova or Sunroom?
Posted by Jacob Granger on 09/08/22The do's and don'ts of reporting on death and grief
Press regulator IMPRESS explains some key guidelines journalists should follow to avoid intrusion into grief
Posted by IMPRESS on 08/08/22Tip: Reporting on crime? Make sure your coverage reflects your values
Trusting News recommends rethinking how the crime beat should be covered, to ensure your reporting leaves communities empowered and informed
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 01/08/22Tip: Master the art of the summary to reach a wider audience
Summaries are slightly different from headlines or standfirsts - but they are a format to practice if you want your content to reach the right people
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 01/08/22Tip: Target student readers to support audience growth
Subscribers acquired at a younger age offer news organisations greater lifetime value, so use these tips from The Wall Street Journal to gain loyalty among student readers
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 01/08/22Tip: Sell news subscriptions without going through Apple
Nieman Lab founder Joshua Benton shares advice for news publishers on how to avoid giving up 30 per cent of subscription revenue to Apple
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 27/07/22Tip: A guide to documenting international crime
These guidelines for journalists and editors walk through the process of capturing information about international crimes so that it may be admitted as evidence in court
Posted by Jacob Granger on 26/07/22How to ace public speaking and live performance
Neurobiology, psychology skills and attitude: Overcoming nerves is not purely about mindset
Posted by Olivia James on 25/07/22Tip: NCTJ's guide for providing work experience and internships
Use this set of industry guidelines to put fairer policies in place, allowing a greater diversity of talent to hone their skills in your newsroom
Posted by Jacob Granger on 25/07/22Tip: Use "stay interviews" to retain talent
When employers talk openly with staff looking to leave the company, at best they may convince them to stay, regardless they learn how to improve their workplace
Posted by Jacob Granger on 14/07/22Tip: Supercharge your audience growth
Want more readers? Use all the tools at your disposal by digging through your content archives
Posted by Jacob Granger on 12/07/22Tip: Tools for creating audio articles
Text-to-speech technology allows more people to access your best pieces
Posted by Jacob Granger on 11/07/22Tip: Finding time to be a mentor
Learn how to be smarter with your schedule and sign-up process
Posted by Jacob Granger on 08/07/22Tip: Support disabled journalists in your newsroom
Make your workplace welcoming and flexible for staff with different needs
Posted by Jacob Granger on 07/07/22Tip: Business tools for small newsrooms
Make sure your tech stack covers all the essentials without paying a fortune
Posted by Jacob Granger on 06/07/22Tip: Avoid oversimplified terms to label countries and people
As journalists, we all know the power of words. So think twice about your choice of terminology when describing countries, regions and their people
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 04/07/22Tip: Prepare and empower interviewees
Do you interview people who may not have spoken to a journalist before? Briefing them ahead of time can settle nerves and manage expectations
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 04/07/22Tip: Lessons in leading a media startup
Tobi Ordein, co-founder of Black Ballad, shares tips on work culture, vision and leadership - some of the hardest things to get right in any company
Posted by Jacob Granger on 01/07/22Tip: A style guide for trans coverage
Reporting well on trans communities requires nuance and care, and this guide by The Trans Journalists Association provides a starting point
Posted by Jacob Granger on 30/06/22Tip: Dealing with a toxic boss
Is it possible to salvage an unhealthy relationship with an editor? Yes, but you must also be prepared to walk away from the job
Posted by Jacob Granger on 28/06/22Tip: Keep burnout at bay within your organisation
Create a workplace where staff do not become overloaded with stress and fatigue
Posted by Jacob Granger on 23/06/22Tip: Incorporate YouTube Shorts into your social video strategy
The short-form video format could be your secret power play to cranking up views on the platform
Posted by Jacob Granger on 21/06/22Tip: Get inspired to do Instagram Reels
Avoid sticking out like a sore thumb on social media. Use these examples as a fast hack to fit in with the crowd
Posted by Jacob Granger on 16/06/22Tip: Start a podcast on your own for free
You do not have to break the bank to get a professional-sounding podcast. Use this essentials list of equipment and software to get started today
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 15/06/22Tip: Take climate change storytelling up a notch
Change the narrative around a global issue by focusing on inspirational or practical local solutions stories
Posted by Jacob Granger on 14/06/22Tip: Working with vulnerable sources for investigative reporting
Gain the trust of people who have difficult and personal stories to share with the world
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 13/06/22Tip: Pitch a story, not an idea, when reporting on development topics
Focus on specific case studies and characters when writing a development story
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 07/06/22Tip: Create a solutions journalism podcast
Opt for the audio medium when covering responses to societal problems
Posted by Jacob Granger on 06/06/22Tip: How to write your first book as a journalist
First-time author and TikTok sensation Sophia Smith Galer shares first-hand advice on making your book idea a reality
Posted by Jacob Granger on 01/06/22Tip: Keep your voice authentic to appeal to younger readers
Speakers at Journalism.co.uk's Newsrewired conference traded tips on producing content that grabs the attention and trust of Gen Z. One core message stood out: loosen up and be yourself
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 31/05/22Tip: Managing doomscrolling
Kick the unhealthy habit of searching endlessly for negative news and updates. Instead, limit your intake of it
Posted by Jacob Granger on 19/05/22Tip: An email template to ask readers for their support on World Press Freedom Day
On a day reminding us of the importance of democracy and independent journalism, take this chance to thank readers for their crucial support and to commit once again
Posted by Jacob Granger on 29/04/22Tip: An A-Z of online community terms
Know your AMAs from your KPIs
Posted by Jacob Granger on 28/04/22Tip: A guide to secure communications using Signal
Discover all the ins and outs of the encrypted messaging platform which has become a safe place for journalists to talk to sources
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 27/04/22Tip: The five best ways to use Instagram Stories as a journalist
Do not miss an easy chance to connect with your audience and increase eyeballs on your content
Posted by Catherine Edwards on 25/04/22Tip: Integrate a feedback culture in your newsroom
Foster innovation and solutions for your news organisation by allowing team members to pitch in with ideas
Posted by Jacob Granger on 22/04/22Next >
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Six tips to improve the audio quality of your podcast
From using noise gates to music beds, a former BBC Studios producer shares his six shortcuts to expert sound design
Posted by Daniel Green on 29/03/23