The New England First Amendment Coalition launched in 2020 a monthly educational series featuring short, practical lessons on journalism and the First Amendment. The goal of the program — called “30 Minute Skills” — is to provide reporters and other citizens knowledge they can use immediately in newsgathering, data collection, storytelling and other areas of journalism and First Amendment law. The lessons are provided in a 30-minute format to accommodate the demanding schedules faced by many working in New England newsrooms. The program is free and open to the public. Registration for each lesson is required.
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UPCOMING CLASSES
May 17 | 30 Minute Skills | How to Develop a Beat
June 11 | 30 Minute Skills | Protect Yourself Online
July TBD | 30 Minute Skills | Freelancing 101 | Registration Open Soon
Aug. TBD | 30 Minute Skills | Freelancing 102 | Registration Open Soon
Sept. 10 | 30 Minute Skills | Audio Reporting
Oct. TBD | 30 Minute Skills | Copyright Law 101 | Registration Open Soon
Nov. TBD | 30 Minute Skills | Copyright Law 102 | Registration Open Soon
Dec. TBD | 30 Minute Skills | How to Pitch Your Photojournalism | Registration Open Soon
RECENT CLASSES
Climate Reporting
Instructor: Annie Ropeik
According to a recent article in Nieman Reports, “everyone is a climate reporter now.” For many newsrooms throughout New England, climate coverage is considered a separate beat. But as severe and extreme weather patterns become more common, climate-related issues are an increasingly important part of all local news coverage. By viewing this lesson, you’ll learn: • How to identify and report climate change tie-ins across all beats. • How to best communicate dry energy stories or complex science. • How to make climate connections clear in everyday weather stories.
Campaign Reporting 102
Instructor: Ted Nesi | WPRI-Providence
This lesson is the second of two that will prepare you for covering political campaigns and show how this coverage can be incorporated into all beats. View the first lesson here. Specifically, you will learn: • How to follow the money being received and spent by specific campaigns. • How to report responsibly on current polling. • How to handle opposition research.
Campaign Reporting 101
Instructor: Ted Nesi | WPRI-Providence
As we near the 2024 election season, coverage of local, state and national campaigns will surge. This lesson is the first of two that will prepare you for covering political campaigns and show how this coverage can be incorporated into all beats. By viewing this lesson, you’ll learn: • How to organize your reporting and manage specific coverage objectives. • How to immediately begin easy campaign stories. • How to develop best practices for communicating with candidates.
How Journalists Can Begin Using AI
Instructor: Retha Hill | Arizona State University
While some journalists have responded to newsroom AI with apprehension, the technology’s positive potential is beginning to emerge. Newsrooms of all sizes are starting to embrace the use of AI and incorporate new tools into their operations. By viewing this lesson, you’ll learn: • How to use AI for storytelling. • How to create images using AI. • How to query and upgrade old documents.
Data Visualization 102
Instructor: Maggie Mulvihill | Boston University
This is the second 30 Minute Skills lesson on data visualization using Flourish, a free tool helpful to those working with large datasets and driving home the visual elements of a story. By viewing this lesson, you’ll learn: • How to navigate Flourish and use its basic functions. • How to develop simple visualizations such as charts and maps. • How to create a searchable database using the software.
Digging Deeper in Broadcast Journalism
Instructor: Kevin Rothstein | WCVB-Boston
Broadcast journalists experience many newsroom demands unique to the industry. This lesson focuses on how anyone involved in gathering information for broadcast news can use investigative techniques in his or her daily work despite the constraints of busy newsrooms and deadline pressures. By viewing this lesson, you’ll learn: • How to incorporate data into your stories (and convince your editor to let you do so). • How to use public records to strengthen your reporting. • How to find exclusives and best pitch them to your manager.
How to Find People Online
Instructor: Izaskun E. Larrañeta | The Day
Whether to locate a hard-to-find source or to dig into the background of someone featured in a story, knowing how to find people online can be an invaluable skill for journalists. By attending this class, you’ll learn: • What databases — free and paid — are available to help with your search. • How people can be found through social media accounts. • Other locations online to find information about potential sources.
How to Interview Hostile Sources
Instructor: Jenifer McKim | GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting
While many difficult interviews can be foreseen, the preparation leading up to them remains crucial and often challenging. Hostile sources can derail an interview — or avoid one altogether — if journalists are not adequately equipped for the confrontation. By viewing this class, you’ll learn: • How to lay the foundation for a productive interview with a hostile source. • The strategies needed to keep a confrontational interview safe and on topic. • Ways to follow up with a hostile source to prevent unnecessary confrontation during future interviews.
Develop a ‘Document State of Mind’
Instructor: Jenifer McKim | GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting
According to investigative journalist James B. Steele, a ‘document state of mind’ is always assuming material with information you need exists and can be found. Reporting with this mindset will not only help you locate difficult-to-find information but it will also strengthen your stories with more context and data. By viewing this class, you’ll learn: • The principles behind a “document state of mind” and how this perspective can help you. • Key questions to ask that will lead you to documents and other information necessary for your stories. • Useful sources of documents and good practices you can immediately incorporate into your reporting.
How to Pitch a Story
Instructor: Maggie Mulvihill | NEFAC, Boston University
Whether you are a student journalist or a seasoned professional, pitching a story can be difficult. It can often be a challenge to anticipate the needs of a particular editor and effectively communicate the value of your story. By viewing this lesson, you’ll learn: • Why pitching a story is a critical skill for journalists of all backgrounds and employment status. • How to develop relationships with those who will be considering your pitch. • How to craft and deliver the most effective pitch for your stories.
How to Invoke the Fair Report Privilege
Instructor: Matthew B. Byrne | Gravel & Shea
According to the First Amendment Encyclopedia, the fair report privilege is a widely recognized, state-law defense to libel actions when journalists report on or republish defamatory statements made by government. By viewing this lesson, you’ll learn: • How the fair report privilege works and current legal questions about the protection it provides. • Where to find out if your state has a fair reporting privilege and, if so, its scope of protection. • Good practices you can begin now to make your reporting more likely covered by the privilege.
Making Democracy Reporting Part of Your Beat
Instructor: Geoff Foster | Common Cause Massachusetts
Coverage of democracy-related issues has found its way across all parts of the newsroom, overlapping with many of the beats assigned to journalists. By viewing this lesson, you will learn: • How to strengthen your beat coverage with democracy-related stories. • Potential sources for stories on topics relevant to our democracy. • Specific democracy-related story ideas that you can immediately begin working on.