The post Module: Investigative Journalism first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>Created from training resources on Media Helping Media, it provides a robust foundation in investigative journalism, equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and ethical considerations necessary to conduct in-depth, impactful reporting.
The module, which can be tailored to meet local needs, covers essential topics such as sourcing, document analysis, dossier building, interviewing techniques, ethical considerations, and the evolving role of AI.
The module incorporates practical exercises and real-world examples to equip students with the foundational knowledge needed for a career in journalism.
It is released under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence so that educational institutions can make use of the material free-of-charge.
Course philosophy: This course emphasises the critical role of investigative journalism in a democratic society. It aims to equip students with the skills, ethics, and resilience to pursue impactful stories that expose wrongdoing and promote transparency.
Course structure: The course is divided into six thematic modules, each building upon the previous one. Each module will incorporate:
Module 1: Foundations of investigative journalism (Weeks 1-2)
Module 2: Sourcing and interviewing strategies (Weeks 3-4)
Module 3: Document analysis and data management (Weeks 5-6)
Module 4: Investigating corruption and sensitive issues (Weeks 7-8)
Module 5: Risk management and legal considerations (Week 9)
Module 6: AI and the future of investigative journalism (Week 10)
Assessment:
Technology integration:
This module is designed to be adaptable and can be tailored to the specific needs and resources of the institution.
This comprehensive investigative journalism module aims to equip students with essential skills, knowledge, and ethical understanding through a structured six-part course, covering foundations, sourcing, document analysis, corruption investigations, risk management, and AI integration.
Utilising practical exercises, case studies, and guest speakers, students will learn to navigate the complexities of investigative reporting, build investigative proposals, conduct in-depth projects, and develop portfolios, all while emphasising ethical considerations, legal awareness, and the use of relevant technology, with assessments focused on participation, practical application, and project development.
The post Module: Investigative Journalism first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>The post Lesson: Story Development first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>It’s based on the article ‘Story development‘ which we recommend trainers read before adapting this lesson outline for your own purposes.
Students will identify and analyse multiple news angles for a breaking story, focusing on the complexity and interconnections of the issue. They will evaluate the significance of each angle to enhance public understanding and debate.
Show students a recent news headline about a natural disaster. Ask them to jot down answers to the following questions:
Have students share their responses with a partner. Then, select a few students to share their thoughts with the class. This will activate their understanding of basic journalistic questions and prepare them to explore multiple angles in news story development.
Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through a structured activity to practice identifying and analysing news angles.
Ask students these questions:
Some suggested answers:
The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.
The post Lesson: Story Development first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>The post Lesson: Proactive Journalism first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>It’s based on the article ‘Proactive journalism‘ which we recommend trainers read before adapting this lesson outline for your own purposes.
Students will investigate and analyse stories of significant public interest by applying proactive journalism techniques. They will demonstrate the ability to anticipate and explore potential stories, moving beyond traditional reactive reporting.
Present students with a recent news headline. Ask them to identify what they notice and wonder about the story. Encourage them to consider potential biases, missing perspectives, and underlying issues. Allow a few minutes for individual reflection, then have students share their thoughts with a partner. Conclude by discussing as a class, focusing on how proactive journalism could deepen understanding of the story.
Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through a proactive journalism exercise.
Ask students to answer these questions:
Suggested answers:
The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.
The post Lesson: Proactive Journalism first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>The post AI and investigative journalism first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>We look at the ways AI can assist a reporter carrying out an investigation.
In conclusion, AI is rapidly transforming the field of investigative journalism, providing journalists with powerful tools to uncover the truth and hold those in power accountable.
If you are a trainer of journalists we have a free lesson plan: ‘AI-powered investigations‘ which you are welcome to download and adapt for your own purposes.
The post AI and investigative journalism first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>The post Lesson: Investigative Dossier first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>It’s based on the article ‘Compiling an investigative journalism dossier‘ by Don Ray, which we recommend trainers read before adapting this lesson plan for your own purposes.
Students will compile a comprehensive investigative journalism dossier by identifying and organising essential information through a structured checklist. They will evaluate the accuracy and relevance of gathered data to ensure a disciplined and precise approach to investigative reporting.
Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through a structured practice activity using the dossier checklist.
Ask students these questions:
Suggested answers:
The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.
The post Lesson: Investigative Dossier first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>The post Lesson: Interviewee Motivation first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>It is based on the article ‘Why would anyone talk to a journalist?‘ by Don Ray, which we recommend you read before adapting this lesson plan for your own purposes.
Students will analyse various motivations for why individuals might choose to speak with journalists. They will evaluate these motivations to understand the complexities and challenges faced by investigative journalists in obtaining information.
Begin with a brief discussion prompt: “Think of a time when you shared personal information with someone. What motivated you to do so?” Allow students a minute to reflect silently. Then, ask them to share their thoughts with a partner. After a few minutes, invite a few students to share their insights with the class. This activity primes students to consider personal motivations, setting the stage for exploring why individuals might talk to journalists.
Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through a structured reflection on motivations for speaking to journalists.
Ask students these questions:
Suggested answers:
The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.
The post Lesson: Interviewee Motivation first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>The post Lesson: Investigating Documents first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>This lesson plan is based on the article ‘How to investigate official documents’ which we recommend trainers read before adapting the material below for your own purposes.
Students will critically analyse official documents to identify their origin, purpose, and any potential biases or inaccuracies. They will also evaluate the document’s context and related records to uncover deeper insights and verify the information presented.
Present students with a simple, fictional official document, such as a “Changes in immigration processing regulations”. Use Google Gemini AI or any other free AI tool to design a sample document for educational purposes. Here is an example of such a document created using AI. Display it on the board. Ask students to spend a few minutes observing the document and jotting down their initial thoughts. Prompt them with questions like:
Afterward, facilitate a brief discussion where students share their observations and hypotheses. Record the main points on the board to highlight the importance of questioning and analysing documents. This primes students for deeper investigation skills in the lesson.
Present an example of an official document, such as a government-issued permit. Guide students to identify the document’s creator and purpose. Discuss the importance of understanding who created the document and why. Use questions like:
Provide solution steps for analysing the document’s origin and purpose.
Introduce a second document related to the first, such as a regulation that necessitated the permit. Again consider using AI to draft a sample document. Instruct students to examine the content for jargon, acronyms, and codes. Discuss how these elements can obscure understanding. Use questions like:
Provide solution steps for decoding and contextualising the document.
Present a scenario where the document’s information might be inaccurate or biased. Encourage students to question the document’s reliability and explore potential biases. Use questions like:
Provide solution steps for evaluating the document’s credibility and identifying biases.
Think, Pair, Share Activity
Ask these questions:
Suggested answers:
The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.
The post Lesson: Investigating Documents first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>The post Lesson: Investigative Journalism first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>It’s based on the article ‘Investigative journalism best-practice‘ which is published on Media Helping Media. We recommend trainers read the article before adapting the lesson plan for their own requirements.
Students will identify and evaluate best practices in investigative journalism in order to avoid common pitfalls that often occur during complex investigations. They will apply these practices to hypothetical scenarios, demonstrating their understanding of effective research, interviewing, and ethical considerations.
Begin with a brief discussion on the importance of research in journalism. Ask students to brainstorm what types of sources they might consult when starting an investigation. List their ideas on the board. Then, present a short scenario: “Imagine you’re investigating a local environmental issue. What initial steps would you take to gather information?” Encourage students to think about diverse sources, such as official documents, expert interviews, and community input. This primes them for the lesson’s focus on investigative journalism best practices.
Think, Pair, Share: Facilitate a collaborative exercise to reinforce investigative journalism best practices.
Assignment
Ask students to answer these questions:
Here are some suggested answers:
The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used as a basis for converting the original article into a lesson plan.
The post Lesson: Investigative Journalism first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>The post Lesson : Privacy first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>It’s based on the article ‘Respecting privacy as a journalist‘ which is published on Media Helping Media.
Students will evaluate scenarios where journalistic investigation may conflict with privacy, identifying when public interest justifies privacy intrusion. They will apply ethical guidelines to determine appropriate actions in these situations.
Student-facing objective: By the end of this lesson the student will be able to assess when it’s okay for journalists to investigate private matters if it’s considered to be important for informing the public.
Standards: Students will learn how to respect privacy while also being thorough as they investigate issues that are in the public interest.
Notice and wonder: Display a brief news clip or article headline related to a public interest story. Ask students, “What do you notice? What do you wonder?” Give them a few minutes to think and discuss with a partner. Then, have several students share their observations and questions. Record these for all to see. Guide the conversation towards questions about privacy and public interest, setting the stage for the lesson.
Think, Pair, Share
Circulate to observe and support students as they work through these exercises.
Ask students to answer these questions:
Here are some suggested answers:
The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.
The post Lesson : Privacy first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>The post Systems thinking for journalists first appeared on Media Helping Media.
]]>Done well, it can lead to a greater awareness of any connected elements which could provide broader context and reveal any important dynamics behind a news story.
News reporting involves far more than providing updates about unexpected and pre-planned events, it also involves investigating beyond what is happening to try to find out why it has happened.
Systems thinking can then help journalists to try to find out how related factors could impact the story and the bearing they have on events. Journalists can use this approach to try to understand the bigger picture behind the news.
In some aspects systems thinking is similar to some of the research methods outlined in two other articles on Media Helping Media, ‘Story development techniques’ and ‘How to develop news angles’.
Both those pieces focus on the need to think through various aspects (angles) of a news story in order to provide the most comprehensive coverage. Systems thinking is about linking those angles to try to find the root cause of the issue being covered.
By using systems thinking, journalists can:
Using systems thinking means shifting from reporting events as a solo news story and, instead, looking at the structures and patterns behind those events. This involves:
Here’s a step-by-step approach journalists can follow:
To practice systems thinking all your really need is lots of paper and pens. A newsroom whiteboard is good for this, as are flip-boards with lots of removable sheets and marker pens. Sticky notes are good, too.
If you want to be more professional about it there are several free and premium systems thinking tools that journalists might want to experiment with including Insight Maker, Kumu, Miro, and SageModeler.
Systems thinking helps journalists go beyond surface-level reporting and uncover deeper truths about society. By connecting events to larger trends and structures, they can provide more meaningful news that helps the public better understand the world.
The team at Journalism + Design has created a free systems thinking toolkit for journalists based on exercises “developed through years of research and running workshops for news organisations”.
The toolkit contains an introduction to systems thinking for journalists, along with activities and ideas that reporters, editors, and newsroom leaders can use to explore new angles in their news coverage and help them explain complex situations simply and in a way that informs the public debate.
If you are a trainer of journalists we have a free lesson plan: Systems Thinking which you are welcome to download and adapt for your own purposes.
The post Systems thinking for journalists first appeared on Media Helping Media.
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