English for Journalism from Coursera

Welcome to English for Journalism, a course created by the University of Pennsylvania, and funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs.

To enroll in this course for free, click on “Enroll now” and then select "Full Course. No certificate."

This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in developing the skills needed for a career in modern journalism. In this course, you will explore print and digital media through authentic readings and video lectures, while expanding your vocabulary and increasing your ability to read, research, and develop local and global news stories. Unit 1 will provide an introduction to the history and principles of journalism. In unit 2, you will learn how to research, pitch, and interview. The next unit in the course will focus on the language needed to write newspaper and magazine articles, while unit 4 will cover the basics of broadcasting the news. In the final unit of the course, you will analyze the growth, impact, and challenges of digital news, while completing a reflection assignment that allows you to think about and discuss the recent changes to the field of journalism.

Unless otherwise noted, all course materials are available for re-use, repurposing and free distribution under a Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution license.

Supplemental reading materials were provided by Newsela, which publishes daily news articles at a level that's just right for each English language learner.

What's inside

Syllabus

Unit 1: Introduction and Principles of Journalism

In this unit, you will first learn about how the course works. Then we will explore the history of journalism, as well as important principles, or ideas, that make good journalism possible.

Unit 2: How to Research, Pitch, and Interview

This unit will show you how journalists choose their topics and stories. You will also learn how journalists research their stories and interview their sources.

Unit 3: Words in Print

This unit will help you to write briefly and with emphasis, create a lead that makes the audience want to read more, and effectively edit and proofread article drafts. At the end of the unit, you will create a lead and write an article based on that lead.

Unit 4: Broadcasting the News

In this unit, we will focus on speaking skills for delivering the news. At the end of the unit, you will write a script for a news report.

Unit 5: Journalism in the Digital Age

The final unit of this course discusses how journalism is changing fast because of digital technologies. At the end of the unit, you will describe data about the news and complete a reflection assignment that allows you to think about and discuss the recent changes to the field of journalism.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores fundamentals of journalism, including history and principles

Covers essential skills for journalists, such as researching, pitching, and interviewing

Develops writing skills specific to journalism, including newspaper and magazine articles

Examines broadcasting skills for delivering news reports

Analyzes the impact of digital technologies on journalism

Course materials are available for free under a Creative Commons license

Reviews summary

Clear and engaging introduction to journalism

Learners say that English for Journalism is a clear, engaging introductory course to journalism. Instructors make complex topics easy to understand, even for beginners. The course explains concepts, and explores the role of the journalist in society. Students describe the video content as helpful and the assignments as engaging.

Assignments help reinforce learning.

"engaging assignments"

Instructors make learning enjoyable.

"teachers make the lesson more clear"

"they taught in a attractive mood"

Complex topics are explained clearly.

"easy to understand"

"helps beginners understand media"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in English for Journalism with these activities:

Review key principles of journalism

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Become familiar with the foundational principles of journalism to prepare yourself for in-depth exploration of the field.

Browse courses on Journalism Ethics

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Read key texts on journalism principles
Summarize the main concepts and theories
Identify the key differences between different journalistic principles

Read and analyze 'The Elements of Journalism' by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel

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Gain insights into the core principles and ethical considerations of journalism by delving into this seminal work.

View The Elements of Journalism, Revised and Updated... on Amazon

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Read and take notes on key chapters
Summarize the main arguments presented in the book
Discuss the book's relevance to contemporary journalism practices

Practice writing clear and concise leads

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Develop your skills in writing eye-catching and informative leads that effectively introduce news stories.

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Analyze different lead structures
Write practice leads based on provided scenarios
Get feedback on your leads from peers or instructors

Four other activities

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Simulate conducting interviews for news stories

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Enhance your interviewing skills through realistic simulations, allowing you to practice asking probing questions and building rapport with sources.

Browse courses on Interviewing

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Prepare a list of interview questions
Role-play interviews with classmates or volunteers
Analyze the effectiveness of your interviewing techniques

Compile a list of resources on ethical journalism

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Develop a comprehensive repository of resources to guide your understanding and adherence to ethical principles in journalism.

Browse courses on Journalism Ethics

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Research and gather information from credible sources on ethical journalism
Create a document or online platform to organize the resources
Categorize and annotate the resources for easy access and reference
Share your compilation with your classmates and instructor for feedback and additional contributions

Develop a multimedia news package on a local issue

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Apply your skills in multimedia storytelling to create a comprehensive and engaging news package that showcases your understanding of the convergence of different media formats.

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Choose a local issue to investigate
Gather information from a variety of sources, including interviews, documents, and statistical data
Develop a storyboard for your multimedia package, incorporating a mix of text, audio, video, and graphics
Produce and edit your multimedia package using appropriate software and tools
Share your package with your classmates and instructor for feedback

Volunteer as a peer mentor for students in the course

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Enhance your understanding of course concepts while sharing your knowledge with others, fostering a supportive learning environment.

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Contact your instructor to express your interest in volunteering
Be assigned to a group of students to provide guidance and support
Facilitate discussion forums, answer questions, and provide feedback on assignments
Reflect on your experience and identify areas for improvement

Career center

Learners who complete English for Journalism will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Digital News Editor

Digital News Editors oversee the creation and publication of all content for a digital news platform. They work closely with reporters, writers, and editors to ensure that all content is accurate, engaging, and well-written. This course can be directly applied to the role of Digital News Editor because it provides training in research, writing, and editing, all of which are essential skills for this role. Additionally, the course provides an overview of the history and principles of journalism, which can help Digital News Editors to understand the ethical and legal responsibilities of their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital News Editor

News Writer

News Writers write news stories for a variety of media outlets, including newspapers, magazines, websites, and television stations. They work closely with reporters to gather information and develop story ideas, and then they write and edit the final product. This course can be directly applied to the role of News Writer because it provides training in research, writing, and editing, all of which are essential skills for this role. Additionally, the course provides an overview of the history and principles of journalism, which can help News Writers to understand the ethical and legal responsibilities of their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for News Writer

Editor

Editors oversee the production of all content for a publication. They work with writers, reporters, and other editors to ensure that all content is accurate, engaging, and well-written. This course can be directly applied to the role of Editor because it provides training in research, writing, and editing, all of which are essential skills for this role. Additionally, the course provides an overview of the history and principles of journalism, which can help Editors to understand the ethical and legal responsibilities of their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editor

Reporter

Reporters research, write, and report on news stories. They work for a variety of media outlets, including newspapers, magazines, websites, and television stations. This course can be directly applied to the role of Reporter because it provides training in research, writing, and interviewing, all of which are essential skills for this role. Additionally, the course provides an overview of the history and principles of journalism, which can help Reporters to understand the ethical and legal responsibilities of their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Reporter

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and implement marketing campaigns for a company or organization. They work with a variety of stakeholders, including customers, partners, and the media, to promote the company or organization and its products or services. This course may be useful for Marketing Managers because it provides training in writing and communication, which are essential skills for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists manage the public relations for a company or organization. They work with the media to promote the company or organization and its products or services. This course may be useful for Public Relations Specialists because it provides training in writing and communication, which are essential skills for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Producer

Producers oversee the production of all content for a television or radio program. They work with writers, reporters, and other producers to develop story ideas, and then they manage the production of the final product. This course may be useful for Producers because it provides an overview of the history and principles of journalism, which can help Producers to understand the ethical and legal responsibilities of their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Producer

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create technical documentation for a variety of products and services, including software, hardware, and medical devices. They work with a variety of stakeholders to develop and deliver documentation that is clear and concise.

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Grant Writer

Grant Writers write grant proposals for a variety of organizations, including nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies. They work with a variety of stakeholders to develop and submit grant proposals that are persuasive and well-written.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grant Writer

User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers design and develop user interfaces for a variety of products and services, including websites, mobile apps, and software. They work with a variety of stakeholders to develop and deliver user interfaces that are user-friendly and efficient.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Event Planner

Event Planners plan and coordinate events for a variety of clients, including businesses, organizations, and individuals. They work with a variety of vendors to ensure that all aspects of the event are executed smoothly.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers develop and deliver training programs for a variety of organizations, including businesses, schools, and government agencies. They work with a variety of stakeholders to develop and deliver training programs are effective and engaging.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software for a variety of applications, including websites, mobile apps, and enterprise software. They work with a variety of stakeholders to develop and deliver software that is reliable and efficient.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data for a variety of organizations, including businesses, governments, and nonprofits. They work with a variety of stakeholders to develop and deliver data-driven insights that can help organizations make better decisions.

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Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites for a variety of clients, including businesses, organizations, and individuals.

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