INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF JOURNALISM

Ethics and Media Law

Duration

2 days

Many facets of journalism have changed in the two decades, including some of the laws and codes that guide the profession. This course helps reporters get to grips with the law in South Africa and how to engage with it as journalists. It also helps reporters understand the South African press code, how to avoid defamation lawsuits, invasion of privacy allegations and talks through ethical conduct for journalists. It works through the Promotion of Access to Information Act and the Protection of State Information Bill and highlights the four pillars of ethics being truth telling, independence, minimising harm and accountability.

Managing a 21st Century Newsroom

Duration

2 days

Resources are strained; budgets are stretched and stories keep rolling in. How do you keep on top of it all? Aimed at newsroom managers, this course helps news editors get on top of the needs in their newsrooms -- from how to structure their news diaries to doing long term planning, story generation and managing their reporters to keep both the morale and  productivity levels high. 

Becoming a multimedia journalist

Duration

3 days

Gone are the days of newspapers, radio and TV being the only media around. We live in a world where people can consume news online all day, pick a podcast or watch a video on social media whenever they want. That’s why journalists need to be versatile enough to produce material for all available media platforms. This course is designed to help reporters diversify their offerings to compile news stories in video, audio and visual formats for the internet and other social media platforms. 

Dealing with the Media

Duration

3 days

How do you adequately prepare for an interview with a journalist? What about press releases and media advisories? Your effectiveness as media liaison depends on how well you understand the way the media works and what makes for effective copy. Created by media professionals, this course will give you the insight into the newsroom that can result in good relationships with the media.

Creative Writing and Editing for Corporate Publications

Duration

5 days

Delivering key messages in the corporate materials can be a complicated task. This practical course is a must for all professionals interested in writing for corporate publications from government media liaison officers those working in the private sector and civil society organisations. It will coach employees within communications units on how to structure articles, newsletters, in-house publications and reports for the maximum effect.

Social Media as source and platform

Duration

2 days

Whether you’re a journalist, communicator, a big corporate or a small non-governmental organisation, you can’t afford to ignore social media. Social media has the potential to provide unmatched insights into stories as they unfold  online. But many journalists and communicators’ careers have ended abruptly with errant tweets, stories and images that have led to legal battles. This course equips journalists and communicators to deal with the additional burden of “socializing” online.

The Future of News

Duration

2 days

The news media landscape is evolving at an astonishing speed,  and journalists who don't keep up with the latest developments risk being left behind. Embrace the future of journalism and understand how your newsroom can harness the power of new trends and tech. This comprehensive, interactive course will give you a glimpse into journalism's exciting and challenging future. It will help you understand where the industry is going and what strategies your newsroom needs to adopt for future success. 

Investigative Journalism

Duration

3 - 5 days

Good investigative journalism has the power to uncover and challenge corruption, injustice and criminal activities. It can turn the tide of opinion, overthrow regimes, it can literally change the world. This course will help you understand how to a great investigative journalist. It will engage with challenges such as how to manage vulnerable sources, the importance of journalistic ethics, how to conduct forensic interviews and how to mine new media for information. It will show you how to reconstruct and create a paper trail and how to understand numbers to make them easy for your audience to understand. 

Navigating the Courtroom

Duration

4 days

What’s the differences between criminal and civil litigation? How are judges appointed? Why do we have magistrate’s courts, high courts, the constitutional court and the supreme court? This course answers all these questions as it teaches reporters the basics of the South African court system. It helps them understand how to access and navigate complex court files, case dockets as well as the different proceedings, from motions to trials and appeals.  

Mojo (Mobile Journalism)

Duration

2 days

We live in an age of citizen journalism. Anyone with a smart phone can produce news content that has an impaction the news agenda. Some of the most viral local and international stories have been captured on cell phones. Mobile phones have changed the way in which journalists produce news and the way consumers take in information. This course will help train journalists in mobile journalism production, or MOJO so that they know how to produce news with the tools at their disposal.  

Podcasting 101

Duration

2 days

South Africa's podcasting market is still nascent, but the medium is set to explode in popularity in coming years. Get in on the ground floor with this highly practical course on the basics of podcasting, which covers everything from conceptualised to recording, scripting, editing and distribution. Connect with your target audience in new ways by harnessing the power of podcasting. Learn how to make your podcasts come alive with compelling audio and vivid scripting. 

Digital Broadcasting in a multi-channel environment

Duration

2 days

In a digital world, journalists and communicators no longer have the luxury of being platform-specific. Journalists today are expected to write, edit and produce content across multiple platforms. This is why it's vital to be able to tailor your news stories to shine, no matter the medium. This course is designed to equip journalists and communicators with the skills to write effectively for broadcast ( be it online video, podcasting or traditional platforms like TV and radio) and mobile platforms like messaging apps, social media and more.

Politics and Power in Polling Season: Reporting on Elections  

Duration

2 days

This course aims to provide journalists with political insights into the power dynamics and political bargaining that are prevalent in pre-election and election cycles, and to arm them with a toolkit for more effective reporting on election issues. It will examine the nexus between politics and economics, unpack issues such as the misuse of incumbent power, and workshop practical situations grounded in fact-based examples from the trainer's wide experience of elections in Africa.

Creative non-fiction writing for online

Duration

2 days

Much has changed about the way we tell stories in the digital age. The impact of powerful narratives will, however, stand the test of time. With so many distractions for online readers, well-written, compelling feature writing is the most important way to keep audiences informed and captivated on complex topics. The creative non-fiction writing course takes journalists through the step-by-step process of researching, reporting and writing powerful narratives for online readers. 

A digital toolkit for journalists

Duration

2 days

Tools, apps, hacks and tricks for journalists who want to make themselves and their work have a high impact on their readers and viewers. It includes the basics of how digital media works as well as the importance of marketing yourself online by building an online CV and portfolio as well as how to use LinkedIn and twitter. It will explore the free story publishing platforms as well as how to use social media to tell stories in interesting ways.