Blog

Learn to better contextualize and deepen your everyday reporting with investigative techniques and research skills that go beyond simple Google searches in the latest free, online course from the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas.  “Research for the Newsroom: Practical Tools for Adding Depth to Breaking and Enterprise Stories,” is designed to help you bring a critical eye to data and sources and understand how research is crucial for covering everything from breaking news to feature stories.

This four-week online course, from Aug. 19 to Sept. 15, 2024, is led by Barbara Gray, an associate professor and chief librarian at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at The City University of New York, and John O’Neil, editor at Bloomberg News. These instructors will guide you through effective research techniques to deepen your coverage of breaking news and in-depth stories.

Watch the video below to learn more. 

In this course, you’ll master the art of identifying research needs and crafting detailed research plans to deepen your reporting. You’ll learn how to apply research methods that enhance your stories with robust context and credible information, making your reporting more impactful and accurate.

Participants will explore how to recognize parts of a story that require further investigation, develop effective research strategies even under tight deadlines, and use various tools to find and evaluate sources. You’ll also gain insights into managing data, fact-checking rigorously, and using documents to add depth to your stories.

Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from leading experts through video interviews with:

• Nancy Booker, dean of the Graduate School of Media and Communications at Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan.
• Carmen Nobel, program director and editor-in-chief of The Journalist’s Resource
• David Barboza, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and co-founder of The Wire Digital Inc.
• Melanie Amman, co-editor-in-chief of DER SPIEGEL.

The course is organized into four weekly modules as well as one introductory module that is available immediately after registration. Offered in an asynchronous format, the course offers the flexibility to learn at your own pace while following a structured weekly schedule.

Each module will cover a different topic through video lectures and guest interviews, presentations, readings, optional live office hours and discussion forums.

• Module 1: Discover everyday research techniques and tools to enhance your daily news coverage.
• Module 2: Learn how to leverage data and statistics to uncover new angles and deepen your reporting.
• Module 3: Delve into document-based research and create your own datasets for investigative stories.
• Module 4: Master fact-checking and maintaining the integrity of your work.

Upon successful completion of course requirements, participants are eligible for a free certificate of completion. No formal academic credit is associated with the certificate.Don’t miss this chance to refine your research skills to help you tell better, deeper stories.

Sign up now and take your reporting to the next level!