Political Journalist Course

Lesson 1 • Role of the Political Press

Defines political journalism's function as a democratic watchdog and public informer. Establishes the professional identity students carry throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • News Values in Political Coverage

Identifies what makes a political story newsworthy and publishable. Students evaluate story ideas against professional news criteria.

Lesson 3 • Core Ethical Principles

Covers impartiality, accuracy, and harm minimisation as foundational duties. Students apply these principles to real editorial dilemmas.

Lesson 1 • Digital Research Techniques

Applies advanced online search, social media monitoring, and open-source tools to political research. Students build a repeatable digital research routine.

Lesson 2 • Primary and Secondary Source Types

Distinguishes official records, human sources, and secondary materials. Students categorise sources by reliability and relevance to political stories.

Lesson 3 • Public Records and Data Access

Covers freedom-of-information principles and data request strategies. Students draft effective records requests and track responses.

Lesson 4 • Building a Source Network

Teaches proactive relationship-building with officials, staffers, and insiders. Students map their beat and identify key contacts to cultivate.

Lesson 1 • Interviewing Under Pressure

Prepares students for hostile, time-limited, or high-stakes interview environments. Techniques include managing media spin, interruptions, and emotional pressure.

Lesson 2 • Pre-Interview Preparation

Covers background research, question hierarchy, and logistical planning before any interview. Thorough preparation directly determines interview quality.

Lesson 3 • On-Record vs. Off-Record Agreements

Defines on-record, background, and deep-background conventions and their legal implications. Students negotiate source agreements that protect both parties.

Lesson 1 • Attribution and Quotation Standards

Establishes rules for direct quotes, paraphrasing, and proper attribution in political copy. Accurate attribution protects credibility and prevents legal risk.

Lesson 2 • Writing Political Features and Analysis

Extends news writing skills to longer-form political features and analytical pieces. Students structure communication narratives that explain political context and consequence.

Lesson 3 • Translating Policy into Plain Language

Converts complex legislative and regulatory content into accessible prose. Students rewrite policy documents for a general news audience.

Lesson 4 • Deadline Writing and Editing

Builds speed and accuracy under tight deadlines through timed writing exercises. Students develop self-editing habits that reduce errors in fast-turnaround work.

Lesson 1 • Covering Electoral Integrity Issues

Addresses reporting on voter access, election administration, and disputed results. Students apply verification standards to claims about electoral fraud or irregularities.

Lesson 2 • Polling and Survey Reporting

Explains polling methodology, margin of error, and responsible reporting of survey data. Students avoid common errors that mislead audiences about electoral standing.

Lesson 3 • Campaign Structure and Key Players

Maps campaign organisations, roles, and communication hierarchies. Students identify who controls messaging and who provides reliable information.

Lesson 4 • Covering Candidates and Debates

Teaches fair, comparative candidate coverage and real-time debate reporting. Students apply consistency standards to avoid favoring any candidate.

Lesson 1 • Fact-Checking Methodology

Introduces structured fact-checking workflows used by professional verification desks. Students apply a repeatable process to any political claim.

Lesson 2 • Covering Misinformation and Disinformation

Distinguishes misinformation from deliberate disinformation and covers both responsibly. Students apply amplification-avoidance techniques when reporting on false narratives.

Lesson 3 • Verifying Visual and Audio Content

Applies reverse image search, metadata analysis, and audio forensics to political media. Students authenticate or debunk viral political content before publication.

Lesson 1 • Developing and Vetting Tips

Teaches systematic evaluation of tips before committing investigative resources. Students distinguish credible leads from noise and document their vetting process.

Lesson 2 • Financial and Data Investigation

Applies financial record analysis and data journalism to political accountability stories. Students trace money flows and identify anomalies in public financial disclosures.

Lesson 3 • Managing Long-Form Investigation Projects

Covers project planning, source management, and editorial collaboration over extended timelines. Students create an investigation roadmap with milestones and contingencies.

Lesson 4 • Document-Based Investigation

Builds skills in obtaining, analyzing, and presenting documentary evidence. Students construct timelines and evidence maps from complex document sets.

Lesson 1 • Pitching and Working with Editors

Develops pitch writing and editor relationship skills essential to a sustainable career. Students write and refine pitches for news, features, and investigations.

Lesson 2 • Navigating Newsroom Culture and Politics

Prepares students for the internal dynamics of newsrooms, including editorial disagreements. Students practice professional communication and conflict resolution strategies.

Lesson 3 • Developing a Beat Strategy

Guides students in defining a focused political beat and building expertise within it. A clear beat strategy drives consistent, authoritative coverage over time.

Lesson 4 • Long-Term Career Planning

Maps career pathways in political journalism from staff reporter to senior correspondent. Students create a five-year development plan with measurable milestones.