Gathering and Developing the News

This course is part of Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization

Instructors: Joanne C. Gerstner

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18,872 already enrolled

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

510 reviews

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

510 reviews

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

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Assessments

19 assignments¹

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Taught in English

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This course is part of the Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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There are 4 modules in this course

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.

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.

What's included

4 videos4 assignments1 peer review3 discussion prompts

4 videos Total 25 minutes

Sources in journalism 6 minutes
Why should journalists use sources? 6 minutes
Obstacles to reporting 9 minutes
Why should sources should trust journalists? 4 minutes

4 assignments Total 120 minutes

What are sources? 30 minutes
Why use sources? 30 minutes
Reporting obstacles 30 minutes
Working with sources 30 minutes

1 peer review Total 120 minutes

Identifying and reviewing reporting obstacles 120 minutes

3 discussion prompts Total 30 minutes

Documents and news 10 minutes
Finding expert sources 10 minutes
Why should anyone ever trust a journalist? 10 minutes

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.

What's included

4 videos5 assignments1 peer review3 discussion prompts

4 videos Total 27 minutes

Why diversity matters 8 minutes
Rules for dealing with sources 9 minutes
Protecting sources 4 minutes
News Literacy 6 minutes

5 assignments Total 150 minutes

Sources and diversity 30 minutes
Rules for dealing with sources 30 minutes
Protecting sources 30 minutes
News literacy and the public 30 minutes
Sourcing areas for journalists 30 minutes

1 peer review Total 120 minutes

Seeking diversity 120 minutes

3 discussion prompts Total 30 minutes

Using anonymous sources 10 minutes
Protecting sources...and you 10 minutes
Discussion about news literacy 10 minutes

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.

What's included

4 videos1 reading5 assignments3 peer reviews

4 videos Total 25 minutes

Preparing for interviews 7 minutes
How to conduct effective interviews 6 minutes
How to conduct person-on-the-street interviews 3 minutes
Working with trauma survivors 9 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Interviewing scientists and others 10 minutes

5 assignments Total 150 minutes

Interview prep 30 minutes
Conducting the interview 30 minutes
Person-on-the-street interviews 30 minutes
Survivors of trauma 30 minutes
The interview 30 minutes

3 peer reviews Total 240 minutes

Victims or survivors? 60 minutes
Developing questions 120 minutes
Interviewing strangers on the street. 60 minutes

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.

What's included

4 videos5 assignments1 peer review

4 videos Total 28 minutes

How to use crowd sourcing 5 minutes
How journalists use social media 8 minutes
Using documents 6 minutes
How to navigate press conferences 9 minutes

5 assignments Total 150 minutes

Crowd sourcing 30 minutes
Social media and finding sources 30 minutes
Using documents 30 minutes
Press Conferences 30 minutes
Tools for Finding Sources 30 minutes

1 peer review Total 120 minutes

Assessing documents 120 minutes

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Instructors

Instructor ratings

(92 ratings)

Joanne C. Gerstner

Michigan State University

5 Courses 67,349 learners

Offered by

Michigan State University

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Reviewed on Sep 7, 2019

this course helps me to stand again to pursue my dream job. I am very thankful to Michigan university.

Reviewed on Oct 23, 2019

Great course informative and gave helpful tips on how to conduct research via sources.

Reviewed on Nov 24, 2017

This was the brilliant course. Being a journalist I found so many new things that I did not know earlier. For beginners and for experienced, this is simply gem of a course.

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