News Reporter Course

Lesson 1 • What News Reporting Is

Defines journalism's social function and distinguishes news from opinion and entertainment. Anchors all subsequent reporting skills in professional purpose.

Lesson 2 • News Values and Story Selection

Introduces the criteria editors and reporters use to judge whether a story is worth publishing. Students apply these values to evaluate real headlines.

Lesson 3 • Journalism Ethics and Standards

Covers accuracy, fairness, independence, and minimising harm as professional obligations. Establishes the ethical framework students carry through every chapter.

Lesson 1 • Verification and Fact-Checking

Establishes a repeatable process for confirming facts before publication. Directly applies the accuracy ethic from Chapter 1 to real research scenarios.

Lesson 2 • Types of Sources and Their Value

Distinguishes primary, secondary, and documentary sources and explains when each is appropriate. Grounds source strategy in the accuracy standards from Chapter 1.

Lesson 3 • Digital and Open-Source Research

Introduces advanced web search, social media monitoring, and open-source intelligence tools. Equips students to find leads and verify claims online efficiently.

Lesson 4 • Public Records and Document Research

Covers how to request and analyse government documents, court filings, and public databases. Connects documentary evidence to the verification standard introduced in Chapter 1.

Lesson 1 • Conducting Effective Interviews

Teaches active listening, follow-up probing, and managing difficult subjects. These skills convert prepared questions into newsworthy answers.

Lesson 2 • Preparing for an Interview

Covers background research, question design, and logistical planning before meeting a source. Preparation directly determines the quality of information gathered.

Lesson 3 • Using Quotes and Attribution

Explains direct, indirect, and background attribution and when each is appropriate. Accurate attribution is the bridge between interview and published story.

Lesson 1 • News Style and Language

Covers AP-style conventions, plain language, and avoiding jargon and bias in word choice. Consistent style signals professionalism and aids reader comprehension.

Lesson 2 • Writing the News Lead

Focuses on crafting the opening sentence that answers the five Ws and H concisely. A strong lead determines whether readers continue and editors publish.

Lesson 3 • The Inverted Pyramid Structure

Introduces the most-important-first story structure used in hard news. Mastering this form is the prerequisite for all writing chapters that follow.

Lesson 4 • Story Structure Beyond the Lead

Teaches nut graphs, transitions, supporting evidence, and endings for longer news pieces. Builds on the inverted pyramid to handle complex, multi-source stories.

Lesson 1 • Breaking News Reporting

Covers rapid information gathering, live updating, and accuracy under deadline pressure. Builds on all prior chapters in a high-stakes, time-compressed context.

Lesson 2 • Feature and Human-Interest Stories

Introduces narrative structure, scene-setting, and character development for longer pieces. Expands the writing toolkit beyond the inverted pyramid.

Lesson 3 • Profile and Personality Reporting

Covers research, observation, and interview techniques specific to profiling individuals. Combines skills from Chapters 2, 3, and 4 in a character-focused format.

Lesson 4 • Data and Numbers in Reporting

Teaches reporters to read, interpret, and present statistics accurately and accessibly. Prevents common numerical errors that undermine credibility.

Lesson 1 • Audio and Podcast Reporting

Covers recording, scripting, and editing audio news content for broadcast and podcast formats. Translates print reporting skills into a listening-first medium.

Lesson 2 • Photography and Visual Storytelling

Introduces composition, caption writing, and ethical use of images in news. Visual literacy strengthens every story type covered in Chapter 5.

Lesson 3 • Video Reporting and Live Coverage

Teaches on-camera delivery, mobile video shooting, and live-streaming basics. Prepares students for the video-first demands of modern digital newsrooms.

Lesson 4 • Writing for Digital Platforms

Adapts news writing for web readability, SEO, and hyperlink structure. Builds on Chapter 4 writing skills for the digital publishing environment.

Lesson 1 • Legal and Safety Awareness

Introduces defamation, privacy, and reporter safety concepts relevant to investigative work. Reporters must understand legal risk before publishing sensitive findings.

Lesson 2 • Confidential Sources and Whistleblowers

Addresses secure communication, source protection obligations, and managing anonymous tips. Extends the source ethics from Chapter 2 to high-stakes investigative contexts.

Lesson 3 • Publishing and Defending Investigations

Covers pre-publication review, right-of-reply obligations, and post-publication response. Completing an investigation responsibly requires as much rigour as gathering it.

Lesson 4 • Advanced Document and Data Analysis

Builds on Chapter 2 document skills with spreadsheet analysis, database querying, and pattern recognition. Data analysis is the engine of evidence-based investigations.

Lesson 1 • Developing a Beat and Coverage Strategy

Guides reporters in owning a subject area through systematic coverage planning. A well-developed beat produces consistent exclusives and source depth.

Lesson 2 • Handling Sensitive and Controversial Topics

Provides frameworks for covering race, gender, mental health, and political conflict responsibly. Applies all prior ethics and framing skills to the most challenging story types.

Lesson 3 • Measuring Journalistic Impact

Introduces metrics, reader response, and policy change as indicators of story impact. Closes the course by connecting reporting quality to real-world outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Advanced Story Framing

Examines how framing choices shape audience understanding and public discourse. Reporters who control framing produce stories with greater clarity and impact.