This seminar will meet on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Eastern from May 7 to June 11. The following tentative schedule is subject to change.
Week 1 | Origin stories
Using our origin stories as an approach to writing, but also as fuel to motivate us during hard times. What is our personal mission, and how does it coincide with our journalism mission? What is our sense of purpose as we take on our journalism journey? What do we value, and how do our values spark our reporting?
Week 2 | Brainstorming and pitching strong story ideas
How do you work with your editor and others to brainstorm fresh ideas? How do you find ideas on your beat and across diverse communities? Once you have an idea, how do you pitch the story?
Week 3 | Effective interviewing
What questions can help you get your sources to not just share facts, but tell stories? What would an ideal interview look like? What are best practices when it comes to talking to vulnerable sources?
Week 4 | Focusing and structuring the story
The hardest part of storytelling is not just identifying the news nugget, but going deep and understanding what your story is truly about. What are the focusing questions that will help you find the heart of your story? What are some strategies to help organize your stories?
Week 5 | Navigating the newsroom
Learn about knowing what your editor needs from you, how to connect with others across the newsroom, how to advocate for yourself, and how to find mentors.
Week 6 | Putting it all together
Presentation of personal development plans
In addition to live seminars, a series of asynchronous sessions may include:
- Introduction to using documents and data
- Ethical decision-making
- Fact-checking and self-editing
