Hocbigg - Journalism
Contents
Summary
This roadmap provides a structured, self-paced curriculum equivalent to a 4-year undergraduate degree in Journalism.
Organization
This repository is organized into three main components:
- Core Curriculum (this page): the foundational knowledge of the field;
- Advanced Topics: focused study in specific areas;
- Projects: support learning through practical application throughout the curriculum.
Process: Learners may work through the curriculum independently or collaboratively, and either sequentially or selectively.
- For simplicity, courses in the Core Curriculum are ordered according to their prerequisites.
- The Core Curriculum provides a shared foundation and is intended to be completed in full.
- Advanced Topics are optional; learners are encouraged to select one area of focus and complete all courses within that topic.
Practical work is integrated through the Projects section and may be undertaken alongside coursework.
Note: When there are courses or books that don't fit into the curriculum but are otherwise of high quality, they belong in extras/courses, extras/readings.
Communities
- Forums:
- Subreddits:
- Other:
- You can also interact through GitHub issues. If there is a problem with a course, or a change needs to be made to the curriculum, this is the place to start the conversation. Read more here.
-
Join our Discord server (for discussions around this and other curricula):
Curriculum
- Orientation and Professional Foundations
- Core Reporting, Writing, and Editing Skills
- Verification, Ethics, and Law
- Research and Investigative Foundations
- Digital and Multimedia Journalism Foundations
Orientation and Professional Foundations
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Journalism | Establishes the purpose, values, and democratic role of journalism. | The Elements of Journalism (Kovach & Rosenstiel, canonical text) | Become a Journalist: Report the News! (Coursera, Michigan State University specialization) |
| Media Literacy and Critical Thinking | Develops analytical skills for evaluating sources and misinformation. | Teacher’s Guide to Media Literacy (Scheibe & Rogow, academic previews and discussions) | Making Sense of the News (Coursera, University of Hong Kong) |
| History and Sociology of Media | Contextualizes journalism within political, social, and technological change. | Media and Society into the 21st Century (various related editions on Archive.org) | History of Media and Technology (MIT OCW) |
Core Reporting, Writing, and Editing Skills
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| News Writing and Reporting | Teaches story structure, sourcing, interviewing, leads, inverted pyramid, clarity, and AP style basics. | Inside Reporting (Tim Harrower, engaging beginner textbook) | Become a Journalist: Report the News! (Coursera) |
| Interviewing and Sourcing | Builds evidence-based reporting through human sources. | Inside Reporting (interviewing chapters) | An illustrated guide to the basics of interviewing (Poynter) |
| Editing and News Judgment | Develops accuracy, balance, and editorial decision-making. | Inside Reporting (editing chapters) | Poynter: Editing & Headlines (various editing resources; specific courses may require search on Poynter site) |
Verification, Ethics, and Law
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verification and Fact-Checking | Prevents misinformation and strengthens credibility. | Verification Handbook (Silverman, ed., free online) | First Draft News: Verification Guides (essential guides and toolbox) |
| Media Ethics and Accountability | Explores professional responsibility and moral dilemmas. | Media Ethics: A Guide For Professional Conduct (SPJ, standard concise guide) | Media Ethics & Governance (Coursera, University of Amsterdam) |
| Journalism Law and Regulation | Explains legal constraints and protections for journalists. | Open University: Journalism Law (related OpenLearn law resources) | Journalism Law for the Digital Age (OpenLearn, related free modules) |
| Journalist Safety and Risk Awareness | Prepares journalists for physical, digital, and legal risks. | CPJ Journalist Safety Guide (free online) | CPJ Safety Training Videos (various safety resources and notes) |
Research and Investigative Foundations
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journalistic Research Methods | Trains systematic investigation and evidence evaluation. | Verification Handbook (free online) | Understanding Research Methods (Coursera, related general methods) |
| Investigative Techniques | Enables accountability reporting and document analysis. | The Investigative Reporter's Handbook (Brant Houston, Archive.org) | — |
Digital and Multimedia Journalism Foundations
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Storytelling and Social Media | Adapts reporting to online platforms and audiences. | Multimedia Storytelling for Digital Communicators (Seth Gitner, Archive.org) | Digital Storytelling (FutureLearn) |
| Multimedia and Visual Journalism | Integrates text, audio, video, and visuals. | Sound Reporting (NPR Guide, Archive.org) | — |
| Data Journalism Basics | Introduces data as a reporting source and narrative tool. | The Data Journalism Handbook (Jonathan Gray et al., free online) | Doing Journalism with Data: First Steps, Skills and Tools (free course) |