Journalists develop information through interviews and sources. The most successful journalists quickly master these important skill sets. The production of journalism relies on several elements: newsgathering, interviewing sources, researching and trying to find as much information as possible. The course will also teach you how to where to find information, interviewing skills and how to process information from various sources for publication.
This course is part of the Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization
Offered By
Become a Journalist: Report the News! SpecializationMichigan State UniversityAbout this Course
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Learner Career Outcomes
57%
started a new career after completing these courses
40%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 2 of 5 in the
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Approx. 21 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, English, Spanish
Instructors
Learner Career Outcomes
57%
started a new career after completing these courses
40%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 2 of 5 in the
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Approx. 21 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, English, Spanish
Offered by
Michigan State University
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 150 years.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
4 hours to complete
Earning and keeping trust
How - and where - journalists obtain information can determine if their news reports will be deemed credible and trustworthy by their audience. Finding the best sources for information and quotes is a process conducted by every professional journalist. You will learn the best ways to find information and sources for your reporting.
4 hours to complete
4 videos (Total 25 min)
4 videos
Why should journalists use sources?6m
Obstacles to reporting8m
Why should sources should trust journalists?4m
4 practice exercises
What are sources?30m
Why use sources?30m
Reporting obstacles30m
Working with sources30m
5 hours to complete
Types of sources
Successful journalists understand the need to bring in different types of information and voices to create a strong and accurate news report. You will learn how journalists carefully consider sourcing, and how to effectively and ethically interact with sources.
5 hours to complete
4 videos (Total 27 min)
5 practice exercises
Sources and diversity30m
Rules for dealing with sources30m
Protecting sources30m
News literacy and the public30m
Sourcing areas for journalists30m
7 hours to complete
Interviewing
The interview is one of the most powerful tools of journalistic newsgathering. You will learn how journalists use interviews, the different forms it can take, how you can best prepare for it, and how to be sensitive to those who have been through trauma. A good interview can make a news report. And a bad interview can sink it.
7 hours to complete
4 videos (Total 25 min), 1 reading, 8 quizzes
4 videos
How to conduct effective interviews6m
How to conduct person-on-the-street interviews3m
Working with trauma survivors9m
1 reading
Interviewing scientists and others10m
5 practice exercises
Interview prep30m
Conducting the interview30m
Person-on-the-street interviews30m
Survivors of trauma30m
The interview30m
5 hours to complete
Tools for finding sourcing
Technology and moving beyond typical sources is letting journalists reach more sources than ever before. You will learn how to use crowdsourcing, social media, press conferences and online resources as valuable tools to enhance your reporting.
5 hours to complete
4 videos (Total 28 min)
4 videos
How journalists use social media7m
Using documents6m
How to navigate press conferences8m
5 practice exercises
Crowd sourcing30m
Social media and finding sources30m
Using documents30m
Press Conferences30m
Tools for Finding Sources30m
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM GATHERING AND DEVELOPING THE NEWS
by NNJul 31, 2020
I really had a wonderful time learning from this course. The explanation was excellent in every video and it gave me a very clear understanding of the topics. Thank you so much for making this course!
by DSJun 11, 2020
I really enjoyed learning the inside parts to gathering and developing the news! This has taught me very valuable information on how to gather and put together news. Thanks,\n\nDenise S.
by HSNov 26, 2016
I like the course and the teachers. I don't like the peer review because most of the students don't work hard enough on their reviews. I do want the challenge and the feedback.
by RMMar 25, 2016
This course was a great follow up to the first one. Knowing where to go to find sources is very important. I was especially intrigued by the section on crowd-sourcing content.
About the Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization
This Specialization will develop and enhance your understanding of the global field of journalism. You'll learn best practices and ethical standards for newsgathering processes and compiling a news report through hands-on projects, peer-to-peer feedback, and issue exploration. You will also study journalism's impact on societal issues and trends, plus explore career opportunities in newspapers, magazine, social media, Internet multimedia, television, radio, corporate and community journalism. The final Capstone project will guide you through the journalistic portfolio process, where you will conceptualize, report and complete a professional-quality news report.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
- The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
- The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
This Course doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Course Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more. Online Degrees and Mastertrack™ Certificates on Coursera provide the opportunity to earn university credit.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
