News reporters are needed more now than ever before. If you’ve got a lot of curiosity and a little determination you have what it takes.
Young woman talks on a phone. (Credit: Eliza Alves)
In News Decoder’s Top Tips, we share advice for young people from experts in journalism, media literacy and education. In this week’s Top Tip, we bring together the articles that will guide you through a reporting journey from idea to completion.Â
You can find more of our learning resources here. And learn how you can incorporate our resources and services into your classroom or educational program or by forming a News Decoder Club in your school.
Want to start reporting what is happening around you but don’t know how to start? We’ve culled the most relevant of our Top Tips to create a guide for those who want to try their hands at journalism.
You don’t have to be a natural writer or have a thick skin. All it takes is curiosity, patience, a little determination and the desire to inform the world.
Let’s get you going.
1. Start with an idea
2. Find the news story
3. Find sources
4. Talk to people
5. Find documents
6. Spotlight solutions
6. Write the story
Of course the next step is publishing. Keep in mind a story doesn’t have to be text. You can do it as a podcast or video story or photo story. You can publish on your own website. There are many free website building and hosting platforms out there, such as Wix, Weebly or WordPress. Or you can pitch it to any number of publications. You can even pitch it to News Decoder.Â
Here is a quick guide to our publishing process.
When you think you are ready contact us at info@news-decoder.com.
Marcy Burstiner is the educational news director for News Decoder. She is a graduate of the Columbia Journalism School and professor emeritus of journalism and mass communication at the California Polytechnic University, Humboldt in California. She is the author of the book "Investigative Reporting: From premise to publication."
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This story is part of News Decoder’s open access learning resources.
Whether you’re a secondary student, studying at university or simply interested in learning new things, we can help you build your journalism skills and better understand big global issues.
If you are a student or a member of a News Decoder Club, check out our other learning resources.
If you are a teacher, check out our other classroom resources:
- News in the Classroom
- Educator’s Catalog of classroom exercises
And ask us about joining the News Decoder Club program.