How Newsrooms Work: Understand How News is Made

The inside track on the news cycle, what makes a story and how journalists make news decisions

This one-day course provides a back-to-basics grounding in what makes a news story, how news organisations function today, and who decides what gets editorial coverage.

What you’ll learn: How newsrooms work to news writing principles

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 how newsrooms work and what goes on behind-the-scenes at broadcasters and publications. 

Finally, you’ll learn the the key principles and golden rules of news stories. We’ll walk you through the fundamentals of news writing – from the 5Ws and beyond – so that you’ll develop the skills to write engaging news stories and craft attention-grabbing introductions.

How you’ll learn

This three-module course 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, build your practical news skills, and/or try to secure more coverage for your campaign, company, organisation or clients. We also offer a full-day writing course, News Writing Fundamentals: Write Stories With Impact.

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

News Writing Basics

  1. Story structure and the 5Ws
  2. Writing a good introduction
  3. Building out the body of the story
  4. How and where to use quotes
  5. Language usage in news
How newsrooms work - This image shows inside the PA newsroom

How Newsrooms Work: Understand How News is Made

The inside track on the news cycle, what makes a story and how journalists make news decisions

Get in touch

What our students say

View all testimonials

I honestly thought that the whole day was fabulous!!! You really couldn’t have done anymore for us. The combination of practical exercises and feedback was particularly useful, it was a challenging day (in a very good way) in that we really had to think, learn and adapt quickly. I know the team are significantly better prepared for media interviews after this training.

Fragile X Society
, Managing Director

What a great session we had on Communicating with Impact. Bridgid shared practical techniques to enhance and develop our communications skills so we can present and speak publicly or to senior stakeholders with confidence and impact.  I speak for my whole team in highly recommending Bridgid Nzekwu if you are after effective and fun communication training.

Vodafone
, Group Legal Director, Corporate Commercial & Compliance

The methods and techniques you learn (and apply) on a daily basis through teaching, coursework and eventually exams crop up again and again in both job applications and jobs themselves – the course content is directly relevant to the realities of the industry. 

James Saunders
, Digital News 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

It’s a great place to make connections – networking with teachers, guest speakers and fellow students can be key to gaining advice or even job opportunities during and after the course. 

James Saunders
, Digital News Reporter
, GB News 

The training scenarios are as real to life as you could possibly get. They took considerable time to research our current plans and issues and used these to design a series of true to life radio and TV interviews. The team is outstanding, and their expertise and knowledge has been invaluable. Book them – you’ll be glad you did.

NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group
, Communications Manager

Contact us

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

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Contact us

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