Free Course Image Learn journalism

Free online courseLearn journalism

Duration of the online course: 5 hours and 6 minutes

3.7

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Build real reporting skills with a free journalism course: write clear leads, find reliable sources, film interviews, and publish fair, compelling stories.

In this free course, learn about

  • Define what counts as news and distinguish factual reporting from opinion
  • Use the 5Ws (who, what, when, where, why) to write clear lead paragraphs
  • Find and evaluate news sources; get unique angles from common sources
  • Structure stories with the inverted pyramid for fast, scannable reporting
  • Apply fairness principles, including what the Fairness Doctrine is/was
  • Understand what the camera sees; use simple exercises to improve framing
  • Set up a camera correctly, including managing gain and exposure basics
  • Shoot "for the editor" and build trust through reliable, usable footage
  • Prepare and run strong indoor and street interviews, including setup steps
  • Choose how many people to interview in quick street/flash interview formats
  • Select and use common mics; place lavaliers with the "loopy Lou" technique
  • Know when to use a mixer and why; manage audio levels in online journalism
  • Create a low-cost green screen setup without buying pro equipment
  • Understand fair use and how to legally use copyrighted materials in stories

Course Description

Strong journalism starts with knowing what truly counts as news and being able to explain it clearly, quickly, and responsibly. This free online course helps you build that foundation while developing practical skills you can apply to modern digital reporting. You will learn how to separate news from opinion, shape information into a story people can trust, and create coverage that is both engaging and fair.

As you progress, you will practice the journalist’s habit of asking the right questions to get to the heart of any event. You will also learn how to work with sources in a smart, ethical way, including how to get fresh angles from information that many others can access. The course focuses on how stories are organized so audiences understand the most important facts first, helping you write and edit with clarity even under time pressure.

Because journalism increasingly includes video, you will develop core visual-reporting skills too. You will explore what the camera actually captures and how to set up shots that communicate meaning, not confusion. You will gain confidence with basic camera setup decisions and learn how to record material that editors can use easily, an essential professional mindset if you want your work to be taken seriously.

Interviewing is another key focus, with guidance that supports you in different real-world scenarios. You will learn how to prepare an indoor interview, handle quick street interviews, and improve the quality of every answer you capture. You will also understand how audio choices affect credibility, including selecting microphones, placing a lavalier neatly and reliably, and deciding when mixing audio makes sense for your setup.

To keep your production flexible and accessible, the course shows you resourceful solutions such as creating a simple green screen on a budget. It also addresses the legal and ethical side of publishing by explaining fair use, so you can incorporate materials appropriately and protect your work. By the end, you will have a clearer sense of how to research, shoot, and assemble stories with accuracy, fairness, and professionalism for today’s online platforms.

Course content

  • Video class: What´s News? (Lesson 1) 21m
  • Exercise: What distinguishes 'news' from 'opinion' in journalism?
  • Video class: The 5W questions of the news (Lesson 2) 14m
  • Exercise: _What are the five W's of journalism that should be answered in the lead paragraph of a news report according to Xavier?
  • Video class: News Sources (Lesson 3) 20m
  • Exercise: What is a key strategy for obtaining unique news stories from common sources?
  • Video class: Putting your news together (Lesson 4) 20m
  • Exercise: _What is the inverted pyramid in journalism?
  • Video class: Fairness in the news (Lesson 5) 17m
  • Exercise: _What is the Fairness Doctrine in journalism?
  • Video class: What does the camera see? (Lesson 6) 23m
  • Exercise: What is the main lesson about using a tube as an exercise camera?
  • Video class: Camera Setup (Lesson 7) 17m
  • Exercise: _What is the recommended gain setting for a camera setup?
  • Video class: Film for the Editor (Lesson 8) 20m
  • Exercise: _What is the importance of having a good reputation with editors?
  • Video class: Indoor Interviews (Lesson 9) 22m
  • Exercise: What is a key preparation step for indoor interviews in online journalism?
  • Video class: Flash Outdoor Interviews (Lesson 10) 20m
  • Exercise: _What is the recommended number of people for flash or street interviews according to Xavier's lesson?
  • Video class: Get the best out of your Interviews (Lesson 11) 15m
  • Exercise: _What is the first thing you should do when setting up an interview for TV according to Xavier?
  • Video class: How many mikes do I need? (Lesson 12) 25m
  • Exercise: _What are the three types of microphones used in everyday online journalism according to Xavier?
  • Video class: How to place a neck microphone (Lesson 13) 15m
  • Exercise: _What is the "loopy Lou" technique for placing a lavalier microphone on someone's shirt?
  • Video class: To mix or not to mix?, that is the question (Lesson 14) 18m
  • Exercise: _What is a mixer and what is its purpose in online journalism?
  • Video class: How to make a Green Screen with no money (Lesson 15) 13m
  • Exercise: _What is the alternative to buying a big green screen from a production supplier?
  • Video class: The FAIR USE of Copyrighted Materials (Lesson 16) 19m
  • Exercise: _What is fair use of copyrighted material according to Xavier?

This free course includes:

5 hours and 6 minutes of online video course

Digital certificate of course completion (Free)

Exercises to train your knowledge

100% free, from content to certificate

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Course comments: Learn journalism

EA

Edrain A.Abonyawan

StarStarStarStarStar

very impormative presentation

AS

Ahmed Salihu Koko

StarStarStarStarStar

This is one of the best courses online i ever attend with nice teaching methodology and elaborative explanations and effective practical skills for slow and fast learners to comprehend. I remain grateful Xavier.

M

Muni

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Online source is able to provide quick and reporting of breaking news in a matter of seconds.

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