We offer you a few more exercises: Interview Write an interview. Choose a subject. It can be a close relative, a friend, or an interesting person who might appeal to a broader audience (a local artist, writer, or blogger). You can conduct the interview in person or agree on a remote format and send your …
Continue reading ‘Interesting Exercises for Aspiring Journalists’ »
The ethics of using sources is a crucial component of a journalist’s daily work. Violations in this area undermine trust in both the journalist and the media outlet, complicating future interactions with people and information sources. Experts highlight the following key points: 1. Using verified information sources and vetting new ones. Some sources are inherently …
1. Post/Essay: Let’s Learn to Write Start with something simple—a post for your social media page. Write a text that resembles an essay (a short, freeform composition). In your text, answer the following questions: How did I get the idea to study journalism? How did I find suitable courses online? What do I want to …
Continue reading ‘Practical Exercises for Aspiring Journalists’ »
Answer “yes” or “no” to the following questions: Do you enjoy taking photographs and capturing moments from life? Do you pay attention to details and notice things that others might overlook? Do you often think about how a shot will look in terms of composition? Do you feel comfortable in unfamiliar environments or around strangers? …
Continue reading ‘Test: “Do I Have a Predisposition for Photojournalism?”’ »
Answer “yes” or “no” to the following questions: Do you enjoy reading books, articles, and analyzing complex information? Do you often ask questions to better understand what’s happening? Do you feel the need to share your thoughts and observations with others? Is it easy for you to connect with unfamiliar people?
An interview is one of the most common genres in journalism. The main goals of an interview are to gather interesting information and reveal the personality of the interviewee through conversation. An interview is simply questions asked by a journalist and the answers given by the interviewee. Just questions and answers. However, asking the right …
Continue reading ‘Life Hacks for Preparing and Conducting Interviews’ »
We are moving on to interviews. An interview is a conversation between a journalist and the interviewee. Question-answer, question-answer. Typically, the interviewee is an expert, a public figure, or someone of societal significance. This is where the journalist’s talent and skills shine—asking the “right” questions that elicit interesting, detailed responses.
It is hard to imagine a journalistic report without photographs. Therefore, let’s talk about the general rules of photography in journalism. Many novice journalists do not understand what types of photos are interesting to editors and readers. Additionally, some press services send very poor-quality images. Examples of such subpar images include a photo of a …
Reportage is information from the scene of an event. A journalist is personally present where something is happening and conveys information with details and specifics. The reader or viewer (if it’s a video) should feel as if they are part of the event. To achieve this, the journalist provides vivid details, describing events in real …
Although the main goal of a headline is to grab attention and encourage reading, journalistic headlines should not merely be “clickbait,” designed solely to generate clicks. A headline must reflect the essence of the material and not mislead the reader. Striking a balance is essential—it should attract attention while accurately conveying the information in a …
Continue reading ‘On Headlines and Leads in a Journalistic Article’ »
The vast majority of journalistic materials published on news portals, by information agencies, and in newspapers are news articles, often referred to as “news briefs” or “news reports.” A news article is the most important journalistic genre and serves as the foundation for learning how to write. In such articles, you briefly describe an event, …
Now, pay attention and take our advice. Save press releases, correspondence, photos, voice recordings, screenshots, and any other information that proves you didn’t make up the published information yourself. If anyone questions you, you’ll be able to show the original source. And remember, learning journalism is 10 percent theory and 90 percent practice. Read press …
In their daily activities, journalists obtain information from the following sources: First source of information. Participation in events where the journalist is a witness to the event. Typically, organizers themselves invite journalists to the events they hold. This could be a rally, a sports competi
Every aspiring journalist will eventually conduct their first interview, and proper preparation is essential! Start by getting yourself mentally ready—build confidence and courage. The most important step is to prepare your questions. To do this, thoroughly research the interviewee’s biography, read about their creative and professional achievements, and look up their previous interviews. Think about …
We’ve been working in journalism for many years and have had only limited involvement in blogging. However, in today’s world, bloggers and journalists, and what they do, have a lot in common. At the very least, both create content (text, photo, or video), have an audience, and use social media to promote their work.
A headline in journalism is like the title of a book or movie, a shop sign, or a brand name. It’s the first thing a reader sees, and based on it, they decide whether to continue reading. While the main goal of a headline is to capture attention and encourage further reading, in journalism, headlines …
Continue reading ‘How to Write Attention-Grabbing Headlines’ »
What is ethics anyway? It’s people’s behavior based on moral principles. Yes, the deeper you go, the less clarity there seems to be. And moral principles are about the very question of “what is good and what is bad.” Journalism, too, has its own ethics and moral principles, which should not be neglected.
There are many definitions of the concept of “journalism.” Here is a compact yet content-rich one: “Journalism is public activity focused on the gathering, processing, and periodic dissemination of current information through mass media, such as print publications, online portals, television, and radio.”
Learn to ask good questions. These should be the right questions, ones that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” — they are also called open-ended questions. Closed-ended questions, which can be answered briefly and definitively, can sometimes be used as clarifying questions if you didn’t understand something and want to clear it …
A journalist must remain neutral—this is fundamental, the very foundation of true journalism. If a journalist is promoting a politician or fighting against some Protestant religious movement, then it’s anything but journalism (propaganda, PR, social activism)—but not journalism.