Effectively delivering the news to your audience from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to Course 3!

We are thrilled to have you as part of Course 3 in our Introduction to Journalism Specialization. We will be discussing how to "Effectively Delivering the News to Your Audience." You will learn about the School of Journalism, our award-winning faculty and the world-class atmosphere of Michigan State University. We are a special place, where amazing things happen every day.

Earning and keeping trust

You've developed your story concept. You've done your research, reporting and interviewing. Now you will learn how to take the next steps: sorting your information, and picking the right format for your news report. You will develop skills in dealing with statistics, numbers and how to figure out if you have enough information to compile an effective news report.

Preparing your news report

Sometimes one of the biggest challenges in being a journalist is figuring out how to best handle quotes, format, and audience recognition. Knowing what you're reporting, and your audience, makes all the difference. You will learn how to best use and structure quotes in your news reports, choose the right format for reporting, and understand the needs of your audience.

More than words

Having an effective news report is often dictated by the many thoughtful choices made by editors and journalists. How things look, sound, feel and read impacts how the audiences choose to take in information - and if they want to interact with your media. What are the things you need to consider? You will learn how your news report can be strengthened through multimedia: audio, video, graphics, photos and maps. You will develop skills in shooting video and photos, as well as gathering audio.

Keeping the news conversation going

Being a journalist does not mean you complete a news report...and move on to another story. Many times, one report leads to another, then another, then another on a particular topic. You will learn how to harness and understand the power of your audience, and use their feedback to develop more news reports. You will also deepen your understanding of audience reaction and how to handle the feedback.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the art of journalism, encompassing the intricacies of news reporting

Taught by a team of seasoned journalists with extensive experience in the field

Provides a comprehensive understanding of news reporting for beginners aspiring to become journalists

Covers various formats of news reporting, catering to diverse audiences and platforms

Emphasizes the ethical responsibilities of journalists in reporting news accurately and responsibly

Involves hands-on exercises, simulations, and real-world examples to enhance practical skills

Reviews summary

Middle-of-the-road news delivery

Students say this course on delivering the news to an audience is fair and middle-of-the-road. Reviews mention that there are some technical difficulties with the video and that the lecturers are not very personable. Students also say that because there are not enough students in the course, it is difficult to get their assignments reviewed. However, students do acknowledge that the subject matter is important.

Subject matter is important.

"I keep on having to go back to, a for me completed course, to see if there is anyone I can review to get my certificate. This goes for all of the courses in the series, regretfully."

Lecturers are not very personable.

"Some of the peer review prompts are placed as questions for the student, which causes confusion."

Not enough students to review assignments.

"I feel a bit like in a sausage machine, yet there are not enough students on the course to review my assignments, or for me to review assignments."

Course has some technical difficulties.

"The quality control of the course is not very good. Some videos repeat the same take twice."

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 Effectively delivering the news to your audience with these activities:

Find a mentor who is an experienced journalist

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Get guidance and support from someone who has been in your shoes.

Browse courses on Journalism

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Identify potential mentors
Reach out to your mentors and introduce yourself
Ask your mentors for advice and support

Review 'The Elements of Journalism' by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel

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Read and reflect on a journalistic source to develop a better understanding and appreciation of journalism.

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

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Purchase and read 'The Elements of Journalism'
Summarize each chapter
Write a 2-page paper reflecting on what you learned

Join a study group with other students in the course

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Discuss the course material with others to improve your understanding.

Browse courses on Collaboration

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Find other students in the course
Schedule regular study sessions
Discuss the course material and help each other with difficult concepts

Five other activities

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Complete the 'Introduction to News Reporting' module on Coursera

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Follow along with online tutorials to learn the basics of news reporting.

Browse courses on News Reporting

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Sign up for the 'Introduction to News Reporting' module on Coursera
Watch the video lectures and complete the quizzes
Complete the module project

Volunteer for a local news organization

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Gain hands-on experience in a newsroom environment.

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Contact a local news organization
Inquire about volunteer opportunities
Complete the necessary training
Assist with various tasks at the news organization

Write 5 news articles on different topics

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Practice writing news articles to improve your skills and understanding of the process.

Browse courses on News Writing

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Choose 5 different news topics
Research each topic thoroughly
Write a news article on each topic
Get feedback on your articles from a mentor or teacher

Organize and review your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams

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Keep your learning materials organized and accessible for future reference.

Browse courses on Note-Taking

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Gather all of your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams
Organize your materials by topic
Review your materials regularly

Start a blog or website where you publish your own news articles

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Create a platform to share your news articles and build a portfolio of your work.

Browse courses on News Writing

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Choose a topic for your blog or website
Set up a blog or website
Write and publish your news articles
Promote your blog or website

Career center

Learners who complete Effectively delivering the news to your audience will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Journalist

**Journalist**s investigate and report on news and current events. They may specialize in a particular area, such as politics, business, or sports. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful journalist. You will learn the backbones of the job, including research, reporting, and interviewing. You will also learn how to write news reports in different formats, such as articles, blog posts, and social media updates. Additionally, this course will introduce you to ethical issues in journalism.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Editor

**Editors** oversee the production of news and other content. They may work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or other media outlets. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful editor. You will learn about the different roles of an editor, such as managing reporters, writing headlines, and laying out pages. You will also learn about the ethical issues that editors face.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editor

Reporter

**Reporters** gather and report on news and current events. They may work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or other media outlets. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful reporter. You will learn how to research and interview sources, write news stories, and use social media to promote your work. You will also learn about the ethical issues that reporters face.

See salaries and explore the career path for Reporter

Public Relations Specialist

**Public relations specialists** help organizations build and maintain positive relationships with the public. They may work for companies, government agencies, or non-profit organizations. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful public relations specialist. You will learn how to write press releases, manage social media accounts, and build relationships with the media. You will also learn about the ethical issues that public relations specialists face.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Media Planner

**Media planners** develop and implement advertising campaigns. They may work for advertising agencies, media companies, or other organizations. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful media planner. You will learn about the different types of media, how to reach your target audience, and how to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns. You will also learn about the ethical issues that media planners face.

See salaries and explore the career path for Media Planner

Marketing Manager

**Marketing managers** develop and implement marketing plans for products and services. They may work for companies, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful marketing manager. You will learn about the different aspects of marketing, such as market research, product development, and advertising. You will also learn about the ethical issues that marketing managers face.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Communications Manager

**Communications managers** oversee the communication activities of organizations. They may work for companies, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful communications manager. You will learn about the different types of communication, such as public relations, marketing, and advertising. You will also learn about the ethical issues that communications managers face.

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Social Media Manager

**Social media managers** create and implement social media strategies for organizations. They may work for companies, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful social media manager. You will learn about the different social media platforms, how to create engaging content, and how to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns. You will also learn about the ethical issues that social media managers face.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Content Creator

**Content creators** develop and create content for websites, blogs, and other media outlets. They may work for companies, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful content creator. You will learn about the different types of content, how to write engaging content, and how to use social media to promote your work. You will also learn about the ethical issues that content creators face.

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Copywriter

**Copywriters** write text for websites, marketing materials, and other media. They may work for companies, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful copywriter. You will learn about the different types of copywriting, such as website copy, marketing copy, and SEO copy. You will also learn about the ethical issues that copywriters face.

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Technical Writer

**Technical writers** write instructions, manuals, and other technical documents. They may work for companies, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful technical writer. You will learn about the different types of technical writing, such as user guides, white papers, and API documentation. You will also learn about the ethical issues that technical writers face.

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Instructional Designer

**Instructional designers** design and develop instructional materials for educational institutions and other organizations. They may work for companies, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful instructional designer. You will learn about the different types of instructional design, such as online learning, blended learning, and face-to-face instruction. You will also learn about the ethical issues that instructional designers face.

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User Experience Designer

**User experience designers** design and develop user interfaces for websites, apps, and other digital products. They may work for companies, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful user experience designer. You will learn about the different aspects of user experience design, such as usability, accessibility, and visual design. You will also learn about the ethical issues that user experience designers face.

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Information Architect

**Information architects** design and organize the structure of websites, apps, and other digital products. They may work for companies, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful information architect. You will learn about the different aspects of information architecture, such as user research, site mapping, and navigation design. You will also learn about the ethical issues that information architects face.

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Librarian

**Librarians** help people find and use information. They may work in libraries, schools, or other organizations. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful librarian. You will learn about the different aspects of librarianship, such as reference services, cataloging, and collection development. You will also learn about the ethical issues that librarians face.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian