Tips for journalists attending job interviews. Tips for journalists attending job interviews Details Published on Tuesday, 03 April 2012 00:00 Written by David Brewer An interview for a job in the media is often the culmination of weeks of hard work searching for opportunities, filling out application forms and waiting. So it's important to make the best impression on the day. You must prepare well, know about the competition, present yourself professionally and answer the questions you are asked. The following tips are offered by media professionals who’ve had experience sitting on the other side of the interview table. Interview picture courtesy of bpsusf and released under creative commons 1: Familiarise yourself with the output Bob Doran media strategy consultant and trainer says you must prepare for your interview "Make sure you're familiar with the programme, station, newspaper, or website concerned.
Make sure you're familiar with the programme, station, newspaper, or website concerned. "They never got very far. 2: Media awareness. How to motivate journalists - tips for editors. How to motivate journalists - tips for editors Details Last Updated on Saturday, 16 June 2012 07:32 Published on Tuesday, 20 March 2012 00:00 Written by Assorted Contributors Your daily news meeting should set the tone for everything your news organisation does.
It should be dynamic, brimming with original ideas and angles, inclusive and agenda-setting. The news meeting should be something members of your news team prepare for and look forward to, not sleep through or dread. They should arrive eager to get their story ideas accepted and there should be an atmosphere of risk-taking and adventure. To achieve this editors must motivate staff, develop an ideas culture, ensure people are alert, keep the news meetings moving and allow enough time for discussing story development and treatment. The following tips have been submitted by media professionals either directly to this site or via a discussion on the Media Helping Media LinkedIn group. 1: Encourage ideas 2: Instil confidence And don't forget... What editors look for when recruiting journalists.
Wanted, your media know-how. Wanted, your media know-how Details Last Updated on Sunday, 17 June 2012 08:02 Published on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 00:00 Written by David Brewer Have you got some journalism expertise to share with others? If you are a journalist, media manager or media trainer and have some tips to share, please consider submitting a training module to this site so that journalists worldwide can benefit from your experience. We have a growing collection of free tips and tutorials on the site which are regularly copied and translated into many languages and shared worldwide. Transferring skills and building capacity In many countries journalists and media managers are using the modules from Media Helping Media to train their staff and set up media training centres. It’s all about sharing ideas, giving away tips, transferring skills and building the capacity of journalists in countries where the media is still developing.
Anyone can pitch in, and it’s not a one-way street. Available for all to use. Five alternative business models for journalism. With newsrooms downsizing, money is tight and the profit-making model of traditional journalism warrants nostalgia. With major publications like the Washington Post turning to employee buyouts, it's time for journalists to seek alternative business models. For journalists venturing out on their own, taking on entrepreneurial projects or working for newsrooms relying on flaky advertising-based approaches, options exist. Here are a few: Community-funded. Crowdfunding campaigns raise money from everyday citizens with a vested interest in stories that are often overlooked.
Some of these models are more idealistic than achievable in their current state, but which business model do you think makes the most sense for journalism? The importance of attribution in news. The importance of attribution in news Details Last Updated on Thursday, 02 August 2012 06:28 Published on Friday, 10 February 2012 00:00 Written by The News Manual It's essential that journalists attribute all quotes to the people who gave them, and credit all sources of other information. The audience needs to know who said what and where information and opinions originate from. This is an edited piece from The News Manual and unlike other material on this site is not covered by Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.
What is attribution? Attribution is stating who said something. It is essential in all the media, including radio and television. Journalists do it so that readers or listeners can know who is speaking or where the information in the story comes from. You can use attribution for both spoken and written information. Attribution can be used to make clear whether information has been gathered from interviews, speeches, reports, books, films or other newspapers, radio or television stations. How to use quotes in news and features. How to use quotes in news and features Details Last Updated on Monday, 16 July 2012 08:35 Published on Wednesday, 30 November 2011 00:00 This module is a one of six from The News Manual reproduced here with permission. The correct use of quotes is an important part of journalism. In this training module we look at some of the basic rules for adding quotes to news stories and features.
We will look at the different types of quotes - including partial, incomplete and scare quotes - how they should be used and how they should not be used This is an edited piece from The News Manual and unlike other material on this site is not covered by Creative Commons BY-NC-SA. What is a quote? A quote is the written form of the words which people have spoken. Occasionally it will also apply to words they have written down, perhaps in a book or a news (press) release.
The alternative to using a quote is to rewrite the sentence into what we call reported speech. Always say who is speaking. Why use quotes? Tips for journalists: Spotting your own mistakes. Details Published on Monday, 06 February 2012 00:00 Written by David Brewer Most journalists need a second pair of eyes to check through their copy in order to spot any factual, grammatical or spelling mistakes. This is because it's often difficult to see where you have made errors. However as more of us blog alone without anyone to check our work, mistakes can get missed. Here are a few tips from journalists on how to reduce embarrassing errors. Image by Peter O'Shea and released under Creative Commons Getting sloppy with copy This article started off as a discussion on the Media Helping Media LinkedIn group . I posted asking for advice on how to spot my own mistakes because I write a lot of stuff on the move. The copy always looks fine to me when I write it, but when it's published I regularly spot silly mistakes.
Perhaps it's because I am sloppy; perhaps it's because I am a fast touch typist. Please add any tips in the comment box below or in the discussion on our LinkedIn group 1. 2. 3. Exiled media: The challenges and opportunities. Exiled media's challenges and opportunities Details Last Updated on Sunday, 17 June 2012 17:41 Published on Tuesday, 31 January 2012 00:00 Written by David Brewer Media in exile face three main challenges. The first is remaining relevant to the target audience despite being removed from those they hope to inform.
The second is creating an independent, financially sustainable media business. The third is keeping safe. Social media and strategically placed journalists on the ground help in terms of remaining alert to audience need. Developing a business strategy that looks to the Diaspora audience to bring in revenue can help pay the bills. But security remains a major concern. As a result, two training sessions for two different groups of exiled African journalists and media managers from two different African countries have just been held in two different African capital cities where they felt safe enough to travel and meet. Business focus, editorial integrity and the safety of journalists. The role of the journalist in exile - About Journalism. How to find and develop important news angles. How to find and develop important news angles Details Last Updated on Thursday, 02 August 2012 17:34 Published on Friday, 13 January 2012 00:00 Written by David Brewer Exploring news angles 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 process usually takes place in news meetings where editorial staff discuss the implications of events in order to decide which deserve further investigation. Image courtesy of Vladimir Khmelnytskyi and released under Creative Commons How a story develops News stories often break first on the news wires.
However, the facts may sometimes be thin in terms of detail. It's a bit like being handed the skeleton of a story and our job is to add flesh to the bones on behalf of those who expect us to publish or broadcast a comprehensive and informative report. The story reads: Tips for writing radio news scripts. Tips for writing radio news scripts Details Last Updated on Friday, 03 August 2012 07:23 Published on Monday, 05 December 2011 00:00 Written by David Brewer Writing a script for a radio news package Image courtesy of Media Helping Media and released under Creative Commons Keep it short and simple Radio journalists need to be able to pick the best newsworthy audio clips and write clear and informative scripts introducing the material they have collected.
The script is what makes sense of the sounds. It’s not just about sounds; it’s about words, too. The script should be written in simple, short sentences. Use everyday language and avoid complex concepts Use the script to introduce the audio The script should offer the audience introductions to the audio you are including. If you have good clips you need good scripted links Grab the attention of the audience You are crafting a tease into material that is designed to make people stop and listen.
The script has to be good from start to finish The ending. Interviewing tips for journalists. Interviewing tips for journalists Details Last Updated on Saturday, 06 October 2012 08:38 Published on Monday, 28 November 2011 00:00 Written by David Brewer Always be polite, know what you want, do your research, listen to the person you are interviewing and remain alert for unexpected news angles - just a few tips for getting a strong interview. Interviewing should be one of a journalist's main skills. It is through interviewing that you find facts, hear diverse perspectives and understand the issues you are covering more fully.
It's more than a yes/no process, the skill is to extract information missed by others. 1: Always be polite When you request an interview, you are asking someone to give their time so that you can gather information for a news story. However, public figures are expected to be accountable; your interview is a way for their actions to be scrutinised, although even they don't have to agree to be interviewed if they don't want to. Remain polite throughout the interview. Production tips for journalists. News production tips for radio journalists Details Last Updated on Thursday, 02 August 2012 17:42 Published on Friday, 02 December 2011 00:00 Written by David Brewer The importance of planning a news feature The more planning you put into producing a radio news package, the better the finished piece is likely to be. Make sure that you know your facts before conducting the interviews, review the material afterwards, ensure that you've not missed anything and that it makes sense.
If you have any other production tips, please add them to the comment box below 1: Planning the story What issue are you intending to cover? Time spent preparing could save hours of work later 2: Producing the material Have you done your research? Draft a script, but be alert to any new news angles 3: Setting up the story Logistics - who does what? Check and double check and be professional in all you do 4: Reporting back and initial quality control What material has been gathered? 5: Production review. News writing tips for beginners. News writing tips for beginners Details Published on Tuesday, 04 August 2009 12:16 Written by John Allen A journalist writing a news story is the author, organiser and decision maker. Without them the story may never be told. They assemble the material they have at hand and which they have researched and uncovered, and then they make the most important decision of all by asking the question - is there a story?
Thousands of possible stories disappear each day because they fail to make it through this first stage of the production process. Image by Hans and Carolyn released under Creative Commons If you decide that there is a story, you then need to think through which part or parts of it are of potential interest. This affects how should you tell the story, what angle you should take and the main points you should try to get across. There is almost never enough time or space for all your material. Knowing what can be left out is a skill The source: The subject: Does it fit my output? The people: Who. Online journalism and media ethics - Pakistan. Will publishing journalists’ notes enrich or confuse the public debate?
Poynter. Media Helping Media. Old news is no news; old training is no training. Old news is no news; old training is no training Details Last Updated on Monday, 06 August 2012 07:36 Published on Tuesday, 30 August 2011 12:00 Written by David Brewer Journalism is an ongoing commitment to update and rewrite. As soon as we press the save button the news we are publishing is likely to be out of date. This means that, as with news, journalism training needs to be continually modified, and text books and online modules continually revised and refreshed. Image is from the newspaper archive room at The Chronicle in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. I was reminded about this when reading a piece by Alexa Capeloto @lexcap on Media Shift last week entitled How e-Textbooks, Online Modules Could Keep Journalism Education Current. “The long wait between writing and publication usually means at least portions of a book about journalism will seem outdated when it finally reaches the hands of college students.
Alexa is spot on. Media Helping Media health warning “We don’t deal in old news,” he said. HOW TO BUILD A NEWSROOM TIME MACHINE « journoterrorist. Want to freak out a newsroom full of college journalists? Sit them down at manual typewriters and ask them to plunk “2011″ onto a piece of paper. They’ll only make it halfway. “Mine’s broken!” One reporter at Florida Atlantic University yelled a couple of Saturdays ago, when we launched the inaugural ALL ON PAPER project. “There’s no number 1 key.” “This one is busted, too!” “They’re not broken,” I replied. “Seriously?” “That’s totally fucked up!” Some pessimists predicted ALL ON PAPER would be an exercise in futility. “Man, I forgot how much I forgot,” pro photographer Mike Rice whispered to me as he advised the photo students on how to set up a darkroom (which he did in a men’s room – more on that later). Rice had a ratty old textbook stashed in his camera bag, which he referred to furtively and often.
I, too, had trouble: How many words in a column inch again? (Yup, you just circle the AP-Style-offending word or numeral, and the typesetter knows what the hell that means.) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Poynter. UK journalists use social media despite fears of impact on quality - News Releases - Canterbury Christ Church University. If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done correctly | Mind your language | Media. Ugly BBC Interview Touches on Deeper Issues in London Riots - Global. A Pledge For Online Video Responsibility - A Video Code Of Ethics. Damn or fear it, the truth is that its an insurrection. Private Eye tops current affairs magazine sales again in 50th year. Riots are an opportunity for long-form data journalism. Should the ‘oxygen of publicity’ be a journalistic concern?
Media Helping Media Blog - Helping journalists where media is still developing. Google and AP Announce New Scholarships for Aspiring Digital Journalists. 6 tech tools to improve your online journalism skills. The Banned List: Top 100. Last call for contributing to the Media Ethics survey! Be part of our worldwide research! Journalists should not bury their heads in the sand. Should journalists deal in rumour? Why would anyone want to talk to a journalist? Is your journalism open to manipulation? Big Journalism | Top sites for journalists. Journalist's Toolbox | Social media kitbag. The Media Briefing | Top sites for journalists. The Register | Top sites for journalists. Roy Greenslade Blog | Top sites for journalists. IRE - Investigative Reporters and Editors | Top sites for journalists. A journalist kicking it old school on Twitter. Brand Republic | Top sites for journalists. Digital Spy Media | Top sites for journalists.
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You don't need to learn about journalism to be a journalist. Investigative journalism gets easier thanks to social media tools. LittleSis - Profiling the powers that be | Social media kitbag. Live from #SABEW11: 3 ways social media is changing journalism. Free journalism training resources in more than 50 languages. Wikinews, the free news source | Top sites for journalists. What is Graphic Journalism? Should journalists always link to primary sources? Social media checklist for international journalists. Social media kitbag. The essential mindset for investigative journalism. Journalists making do without moaning. Newsgathering tips for crushing the opposition. Advanced English lessons. News organisations fight PSNI request for riot footage.
The tone and language of heat of the moment reporting.