How to Understand the News Cycle

Get a new perspective on the news cycle and how journalists make news decisions

This four-hour course will help you sharpen your eye for a story, understand how the news cycle, how newsrooms function today and what gets editorial coverage.

What You’ll Learn: How news works, fact vs opinion and how newsrooms operate

What makes a story news? How do reporters decide what to cover and where do they find stories? What determines which stories lead the news agenda or go viral? With insights from reporters and editors who are making the news, you’ll learn how journalists think and reveal the secrets of their decision making – helping you develop your own “nose for news”.

We’ll demystify newsroom structure and show you how some of the UK’s most well-known and reputable outlets are organised. From day-to-day operations to long-term planning, you’ll broaden your understanding of exactly what goes on behind-the-scenes at broadcasters and publications.

How you’ll learn

This two-module course to help understand the news cycle will be led by an experienced trainer who will share their practical expertise through presentations, discussion and practical exercises – ensuring you have opportunity to reinforce your learning, test your understanding and receive feedback from an experienced editor.

Who the course is for

This course is for you if you want to hone your news sense and understand how newsrooms really work, and/or try to secure more coverage for your campaign, company, organisation or clients. We also offer a full-day version of this course, How Newsrooms Work: Understand How News is Made.

We currently offer this course as bespoke training for teams and can deliver it remotely, or in your offices. Get in touch using the button below to discuss times and dates, as well as how we can tailor it to your needs. 

If you’re booking for yourself, find all of our scheduled courses here

Course Modules

What Makes News?

  1. What makes a news story
  2. News sources and demographics
  3. Hard and ‘soft’ news
  4. Recognising fact and opinion
  5. Knowing your audience

How Newsrooms Work

  1. How newsrooms are organised
  2. The editorial decision-making process
  3. What journalists want (and don’t want)
  4. Matching a story to the right journalist
  5. Opportunities outside the news cycle
How news works - photographers in a press pen

How to Understand the News Cycle

Get a new perspective on the news cycle and how journalists make news decisions

Get in touch

What our students say

View all testimonials

I was able to count on excellent teachers and professionals who helped me push my limits and achieve my goals. I was impressed by the quality of the course and the motivation teachers put into it. It was a great experience and I would definitely do it again!

Laure Poncet
, Research Officer
, ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes

The lifelike interview settings and tasks that PA Media Training deal in replicate perfectly the real-world feel of a tough media interview and help the delegates come out of the day feeling much more confident that they can play an active role in representing their organisation.

Transport for London
, Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs

I really could not recommend Press Association enough to anyone who is looking to jump into the fascinating world of journalism. The course equips you with all the necessary skills you need to enter the industry and the wide range of topics covered leaves it hard for you to ever feel bored.

Holly Bishop
, Digital Reporter
, GB News

Not only did I develop the necessary toolkit to become a journalist, but I also did so in an environment that fosters a real sense of community and personal career support.

Erin Waks
, Trainee Sub-Editor
, Daily Mail

I made amazing friends, amazing memories and now it has led me to an amazing job which I never would have gotten without my time at Press Association.  

Holly Bishop
, Digital Reporter
, GB News

The staff truly go above and beyond, providing detailed feedback, a wealth of knowledge and many career opportunities. I’d recommend the course to any budding journalist. You’ll have fun, too!  

Erin Waks
, Trainee Sub-Editor
, Daily Mail

Contact us

For more information , simply fill out the form and a member of our team will be in touch.