We provide reporters, watchdogs and other curious community members the 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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RECENT CLASSES
Copyright Law 101
Instructor: Robert A. Bertsche | Klaris Law
Copyright law can be a complex and nuanced area for journalists and non-journalists alike. Questions of ownership, fair use and other intellectual property concerns are especially relevant to newsgathering as more information is found through social media and other online sources. This is the first of two classes introducing copyright law and suggesting best practices. By viewing this lesson, you’ll learn: • How to identify a creative work that may be protected. • When permission is likely needed to reproduce that work. • Good practices to avoid infringement claims, generally.
Audio Reporting 101
Instructor: Jeff Cohen | WBUR
A study by the Reuters Institute last year found that many publishers are increasingly focused on digital audio compared to other types of media. Newsrooms are investing in audio to reach new audiences and journalists are looking for ways to sharpen their audio reporting skills. But for many reporters, the question remains: where to start? By viewing this lesson, you’ll learn: • Strategies for identifying effective sources of audio and how to listen in new ways for sound. • How to begin recording sound for your stories. • How to incorporate audio recordings into your reporting.
Election Coverage 101
Instructor: Emma Platoff | The Boston Globe
Local journalists need to look beyond conventional reporting to inform audiences about the consequence of their votes. National stories leading up to, during and after the elections can be challenging to localize and relate to smaller communities. Reporters must find new and effective ways to connect with voters, develop sources and engage with their readers, viewers and listeners. By viewing this lesson, you’ll learn: • How to approach voters and find relevant, timely sources for your stories. • How to identify new election-related stories and report on under-served communities. • How to localize stories about national elections and keep election coverage relevant to your audience.
How to Protect Yourself Online
Instructor: Stephanie Sugars | U.S. Press Freedom Tracker
As threats against journalists become increasingly common, reporters must take measures to protect themselves while newsgathering. This lesson will focus on online risks and how they can be mitigated. By viewing this lesson, you’ll learn: • The necessities for protecting your electronic devices, such as encryption, 2FA, passwords and phishing awareness. • How to reduce the risk of doxxing. • How to develop best practices for social media when used for both personal and professional purposes.
How to Develop a Beat
Instructor: Alexa Gagosz | The Boston Globe
Whether you are expanding your existing coverage or starting from scratch, developing a new beat can be challenging. New relationships need to be formed. Familiarity with different communities may be required. Trust needs to be built. Stories need to be found. By attending this class, you’ll learn: • How to identify key sources on your new beat and develop relationships with them over time. • How to find the authoritative voice on a complicated beat to get exclusives and drive coverage. • How to use social media to identify new stories and find sources within your beat without having a huge following.
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.