Journo Resources

Home
Journo Resources

Journo Resources is a non-profit start-up which is helping young people break into and progress in the media industry.
(3)

We create free to use resources and run practical events across the UK, as well as publishing weekly advice features.

11/06/2024

Whether it's in music or theatre, comedy or films, many of us dream of working as a critic. But it's a role that comes with a lot of responsibility, with thousands of people deciding their evening plans based on your words.

In the first event in our new series, will be exploring how to level up your writing and create insightful, engaging pieces that help inspire your readers and get your talents noticed. We'll cover:

🎭 Finding your voice and standing out as a cultural critic;
🎭 How to get access to review shows;
🎭 The main pitfalls to avoid when starting out;
🎭 The benefit of alternative approaches to reviewing;
🎭 The ethics, pros, and cons of reviewing comedy and live performance.

As ever, there's also the chance to answer your own questions to Zoe directly — if you're unable to make it live, just make sure to buy a ticket in advance and we'll ask them on your behalf.

All our tickets cost just £6, which goes towards paying a fair fee to our workshop hosts. If cost is a barrier, just drop us a line on [email protected] and we've got a ticket for you, no questions asked.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/journoresources/1255371

26/05/2024

🚨 There are just a couple of tickets left to join our friends at for their 'Good Stories' event — for any journalist who wants to make a bigger impact with their work and tell new narratives.

You'll hear from leading names in media and storytelling, including Isabelle Gerretsen of BBC Future Planet, Zino Abaka of , and Natalie Campbell of . Sessions will include solutions journalism, reporting sensitively on lived experience, and collaborating with social enterprises, while growing your network and finding new story ideas.

Tickets to the event cost just £10, with a limited number of free tickets available to students. Just head to the link up in our stories to get yours — we'll see you there!

21/05/2024

💥 We have not one but two ideas events running this week — and there's just about time to grab tickets to our second one. will be helping to get you out of an ideas rut and find inspiration from your everyday life — and crucially getting editors on board to get the pieces out into the world.

This interactive workshop is packed with exercises to get your creative juices flowing. Just bring a pen and paper with you and we'll cover:

• Taking supposedly mundane experiences and turning them into pitchable ideas;
• Key questions to ask yourself and exercises to generate ideas;
• How to break out of an idea drought;
• Turning ideas into tailored pitches for editors and publications.

As always, there will be a chance to ask Melita your own questions too — if you're not able to join them live just send them in advance and we'll ask on your behalf. Everyone will receive a copy of the recording, so don't worry if the time doesn't work for you.

Tickets cost just £6 to pay our speaker a fair fee for their time — you can grab yours in the events link up in our bio. We also reserve unlimited free tickets for anyone for whom cost is a barrier. Just drop an email to us on [email protected] and we've got a no-questions-asked policy.

09/05/2024

🚨 It's today! Come and join us for the next workshop in our money series, looking at how to effectively manage your finances as a freelancer — from making sure you're paid on time to how you can use the cash you do have.

The wonderful Maddy Fry will be covering:

💰 Cash flow and chasing late payments;
💰 Forecasting your income and expenses to feel more in control;
💰 Setting aside money for your taxes and predicting what it will be;
💰 Making the most of windfalls when they happen;
💰 Pensions for freelancers.

As ever, the session will also include a live Q&A with the speaker, to give you a chance to ask your questions directly. Tickets cost just £6, with all costs going to make sure our speaker receives a fair fee for their time — but we have an unlimited number of places reserved for anyone for whom cost is a barrier.

To grab your ticket, just head up to the link in our bio or, if cost is a barrier, just drop us an email on [email protected].

03/04/2024

🚨🎟️ There isn't long left to grab tickets for our workshop on interviewing tomorrow — and it's going to be a good one! will be helping to get you to get the best out of every interview you do.

Whether you freeze up before picking up the phone or struggle with interviewees who won't play ball, this brand-new workshop will help you give you the tools you need to nail it every time. We'll cover:

• Adapting to the interviewee and varying your approach accordingly;
• Phrasing the perfect question to show thought and care — and banish one-word answers;
• Techniques for time-limited interviews, to help you build rapport quickly and still explore multiple angles;
• Translating your skills between platforms, when a chat in person or over the phone isn't possible.

As ever, all tickets are just £6 to ensure we pay all our speakers fairly for their time. This includes a ticket to the live session, a copy of the watch back, and the chance to submit questions for the Q&A. Just head up to the events link in our bio to grab yours!

We also reserve a number of free tickets for anyone who finds a cost a barrier to this event. Simply drop us an email on [email protected] and we can help!

24/03/2024

There are no two ways about it — a journalism master's degree is expensive. Loan options can be confusing and often don't cover the full costs. So, if you think a postgrad could be the best option for you, how can you put yourself in the best position to get scholarship funding?

We spoke to our friends at City, University of London — who offer a huge range of scholarships and bursaries for their industry-leading courses — to find out what they look out for:

1️⃣ Firstly, hone in on the scholarships most relevant to you. “If you want to do podcasting, you’ll want to apply for the podcasting-specific scholarships,” says Suzanne Franks, a professor at the journalism department. Scholarships can have a lengthy application process — by focusing on fewer applications and doing them better, you'll have a better chance of success.

2️⃣It's also important to set up a tracking system of key dates and tasks, says Sophie Carlin, a City scholarship recipient. “It removes the mental load of carrying all that around in your head,” she explains, recommending a simple spreadsheet or free software like Trello.

3️⃣ City aims to offer scholarships to those who need them most, explains Suzanne — so spend some time thinking about why that's you. For example, talking about any financial support you received for your undergraduate degree, if your family are unable to support you, or if you work part-time.

4️⃣ Similarly, the team are also looking for people who have a passion for journalism and know how this course could help their careers. Suzanne adds: “You’ve got to show that this is something that you really, really want to do and you’re doing it for the right reasons — that it’s going to make a difference to your life and your career. It would be good if you could demonstrate some kind of journalism background; whether you’ve edited your student paper or had some work experience.”

5️⃣ And, finally, make sure to do your research — this spans both making sure you fit the requirements, knowing what isn't included, and asking "intelligent questions" at any interviews, Suzanne explains.

Find out more in our full piece — with a complete list of scholarships on offer at City, University of London and even more advice.

🔗 https://www.journoresources.org.uk/city-university-london-scholarships-bursary/

22/03/2024

👑 Here is our very serious post about a very serious job of the week! 👑 Yes, this is a very real job we spotted earlier this week (thanks to the wonderful people MediaBeans, you should go follow them).

Can you be the person 'responding to day-to-day media enquiries on a range of subjects, including about the work of the Royal Family'? It seems like a quiet time to be joining! An entirely sensible salary of £25,642.50pa would make this totally worth any stress! Though, we do *actually* dig that pension plan.

You can see tonnes of other journalism jobs over on our website. You can also sign up for our free weekly newsletter, which rounds up more than 50 opportunities every Tuesday afternoon. Or evening, depending on when I finish writing...

🔗 https://www.journoresources.org.uk/journalism-jobs-internships/

18/02/2024

As journalists, keeping up with everything can be exhausting — which is where Capsule comes in. A new newsletter from , it’s for people who love talking about fashion, pop culture, and trends but struggle to keep up with endless scrolling and algorithms.

Written by Holly Beddingfield, it aims to capture a week in a day (just like a time capsule), so you can stay on top of everything without upping your screen time. You can expect:

• Open tabs — four hot topics from the week;
• Special guest — a cool person shares what’s Hot and Not for them right now;
• Adding to the queue — what to read, watch, and listen to this weekend;
• Culture clairvoyant — a special oracle predicts a future trend.

You can sign up via the link below or head directly to their Insta .world to take a snoop around. Don’t just take our word for it either — recent feedback includes:

• “I feel cooler reading it”
• “Just the whole vibe, the writing the premise is so smart”
• "Reading w/my vodka tonic."

🔗 https://bit.ly/journoresources-capsule

18/02/2024

As an emerging journalist, speaking up can be daunting — but take a deep breath and have confidence in your own ideas. At just 25, Laura Webster is the youngest editor of a national UK newspaper — so she knows a thing or two about putting yourself out there.

Speaking to us at an conference, she says: "Young journalists can be too self-indulgent — [thinking] content is about me, not the consumer — but they can also focus only on what is “for me” to do, not wanting to overstep and staying quiet."

"My advice would be to take that risk and disturb people because you’re not going to be remembered if you don’t. We want people to ask questions in the newsroom and we want them to be engaged."

"Don’t be afraid to speak up. Be respectful of those around you, but don’t just feel like you have to stay quiet because there’s so much for you to learn from the people around you."

You can read the full interview with Laura on our homepage and on our stories now — and hear more about her incredibly speedy journey to editorship.

16/02/2024

Our latest interview has landed — and Lukanyo Mnyanda has some *thoughts* about inclusion in our industry. Speaking last year, he told us: "Someone starting in journalism now will face more challenges than I did. I think I was part of that lucky generation when the media was still quite strong and journalism was, if not well-paid, a secure job.

"You still had pensions, paid holidays, and all these things that I’m not sure somebody coming out of university and into journalism now would get. That is the one downside, the decline in the economic fortunes of the industry. Also, it affects inclusion; if people can’t get basic financial support starting out in the profession, then it means that only the wealthiest will be able to join, meaning people from lower socio-economic backgrounds will be left behind."

It's just one of the reasons why we do what we do here are Journo Resources — in an unstable industry, it's vital that everyone is supported, especially those from marginalised backgrounds. And, if people can't break in and our media doesn't represent the country we report on, how can we possibly tell the right stories? It's a challenge we all need to take up — and one that affects all of us.

You can read the full interview with Lukanyo at the top of our homepage and on our stories now — it's also packed with tonnes of insights and tips for those looking to take their first steps into the industry.

11/02/2024

🐾 We've checked and we think our head of pawsonnel (and our returning cover star) approves of this year's magazine — but there's no way to be 100 per cent sure. We have a very limited number of copies left to buy — and Swirls would love it if you did snag one, as then we'll stop asking him to pose with them.

All copies of the magazine go towards funding our work to help diversify the media industry, including things like our redundancy support scheme and fellowship, which helps emerging journalists get mentoring and paid work experience. And, as for you? You'll get a beautiful 100-page magazine, packed with features, exercises to plan your goals — and some top-secret origami.

Just head to the links in our bio or stories to grab yours — a full-price edition helps to support our work, or if cost is a barrier misprints are available for just £3.

10/02/2024

When Rebekah Pierre first started out as a journalist, she was so desperate for pitches to land that she threw everything she had at the wall hoping it would stick. Sound familiar? Whatever point you're at in your career, the pressure to tell our innermost stories for clicks and cash can feel overwhelming.

In this new workshop, we'll talk through the tools to help you take back control. We'll cover:

✏️ Autoethnography as a source of inspiration on how we tell our story;
✏️ The ethics behind writing about our lived experience; the digital footprint we leave, the emotional toll, and what Rebekah calls the over-sharing fallacy (the more you divulge, the more others are expected to divulge);
✏️ Finding allies and strengthening your networks in the lived experience space;
✏️ Protecting yourself from exploitation, primary and secondary trauma/burn-out.

There will also be time for a Q&A with the speaker — you can send your questions in advance if you're watching back.

As with all our workshops, tickets are just £5, which helps us to pay our speakers a fair fee for their time. The session will run both live and recorded, so you won't miss out even if the timezone doesn't work for you.

To get your tickets, just head up to the events link in our bio or our stories. If cost is a barrier, please drop us a DM — we have unlimited free tickets reserved for this.

31/01/2024

🚨Today, our partners at City, University of London are hosting a free journalism jobs and skills workshop from 6pm-8pm. It’s online, so everyone can access it, and is absolutely jam-packed with advice and training from their expert staff and alumni.

Scroll through to see what you’ll learn by attending — they've got everything from a session led by an award-winning podcaster to advanced search techniques to help you nail the story. To snag a last minute place, just head to the link here: https://bit.ly/4av8N5t

28/01/2024

For many journalists, writing a book is the ultimate career goal — but there's much more to publication than putting words to paper. In this new workshop from magazine editor and author Florianne Humphrey, we'll help you navigate your path. We'll cover:

📙 How a career in journalism or copywriting overlaps with novel writing in terms of both skills and experience;
📘 The process of publishing a book from start to finish;
📗 The challenges of balancing a career in journalism and novel writing, with advice on how to overcome or cope with these challenges;
📕 Why a journalism background can help secure both agent representation and publication.

As with all our workshops, the session will be held online, so you can watch live or watch back, and there's also a chance to submit your own questions for Florianne. Simply head to the link in our bio or drop us a DM to book — all tickets cost just £5 which covers the cost of paying our speakers.

If cost is a barrier and you'd like to join us, please do drop us a DM — we reserve unlimited spaces at our sessions and we'd love you to join us.

10/01/2024

⏰ There are now just nine days left to place a pre-order for our 2024 magazine — so it's time to reveal another cover! In our second feature, fellow Ella Porteous explores the reality of working as a dyslexic journalist, looking at the varying levels of support offered by publications and what your employer should provide as standard.

As well as first-hand experience from Ella, , and , we'll also hear from Ella's first editor and Natalie Brooks, the founder of , about the importance of inclusive workplaces and how to build them. This reflective piece is packed with practical advice, whether you're a dyslexic journalist seeking advice or an ally who wants to make a difference in the newsroom.

To get your copy, just head to the link in our bio or our stories — or drop us a DM. As well as this feature, you'll find nine other incredible pieces to inspire your work in 2024, all new planning and idea-generation exercises, and a directory of useful resources to navigate your journalism career. We're aiming to sell ten copies every day this week, ahead of our print deadline.

Every penny goes back to supporting our work to help diversify the journalism industry and help people at all stages of their careers — including our annual fellowship, which writes the features for this magazine.

09/01/2024

⏳ This is your ten-day warning — there are just ten days left to pre-order a copy of our 2024 Yearbook! If you've been thinking about getting one, now would be a really good time to make our evening ⏳

During the next ten days, we're aiming to sell ten copies a day, which helps to fund our award-winning work to diversify the media industry. It funds things like our fellowship programme, which supports people of all ages entering the industry with paid work, and our redundancy support programmes. Could you be one of the ten orders today?

As well as a glowing feeling of doing something good, you'll also get a stunning 100-page ring-bound magazine packed with insightful features to kick back with a cuppa, directories packed full of need-to-know resources, and all-new exercises to help you plan your next 12 months in journalism.

Just head up to the link in our bio or stories to get your copy 💚

09/01/2024

💥 Okay, big news time — you have just TEN DAYS left to pre-order a copy of our 2024 Yearbook before it gets sent to the printers. To celebrate, we're revealing a cover a day from some of the amazing pieces in the magazine.

First up is a photo essay made for anyone who loves nosing around other people's houses... Rachel Brooks speaks to , , Lisa Summers, , Nazia Mohammad, and to explore how you can make your writing space more conducive to flowing words.

Whether you're a work-from-bed type, are out on the road most days, or have to schlep into an IRL office, this beautifully written piece has tonnes of easy tips to help you find the right mental space to get stuff done. And yes, we've included all the pictures of their spaces too.

To get your copy, just head up to the link in our bio or our stories — or drop us a DM. As well as this feature, you'll find nine other incredible pieces to inspire your work in 2024, all new planning and idea-generation exercises, and a directory of useful resources to navigate your journalism career.

Every penny goes back to supporting our work to help diversify the journalism industry and help people at all stages of their careers — including our annual fellowship, which writes the features for this magazine.

02/12/2023

🥳 OUR BADGES ARE BACK! 🥳 We're doing a *very* limited run of our original pin badges from five years ago — and you can choose which one you'd rather have! The only way to get one is to pre-order a copy of our 2024 magazine — but be fast, as we're only printing a total of 100 badges.

Simply head to the link up in our bio to order — as well as the pin badges you'll get a beautiful 100-page magazine, packed with inspiring features from our fellows covering everything from make-up in the newsroom to how we decorate our spaces as journalists. There will also be tonnes of exercises to help you plan your year, achievement badges to colour in, and much, much more.

Plus, every purchase helps us to get through the tricky festive months (no one takes out job adverts in December) and helps us continue our work to support journalists.

04/11/2023

It's been more than five years since we first announced our policy to ban all job adverts that don't list a salary — and we're so glad we did.

We can't tell you how many people we've had to explain 'the rules really are the rules, even if you are from [INSERT PUBLICATION NAME HERE', but it's amazing how many people change their minds eventually (even if it takes a few years).

Five years on, we like to think we've played a small part in making the industry a little more transparent. Anecdotally, we're getting way less pushback these days when we state the policy, and according to our data, we're selling five times more job ads than we were back then.

Salary transparency is good for all of us. It's been proven to decrease discriminatory wage gaps, help those from marginalised backgrounds, and stop everyone's time being wasted if expectations don't match up.

We'd love to see more companies and job boards picking this fight up — please call out your boss if you see them going to list something as 'competitive' or 'depends on experience'. These words mean different things to different people — and mean nothing if you have no frame of reference. If we all did that, where could we be in the next five years?

27/10/2023

Almost 20 per cent of the UK is disabled — so, as journalists, all of us are going to cover stories about disability on a regular basis. But here's one thing you really need to know to make sure your reporting is accurate, fair, and representative.

Speaking at a webinar this week, journalist said the key thing to take away was the social model of disability. "Very, very briefly, this is the model that says disabled people aren't disabled by their condition, but by the ableism and inaccessibility that we see everywhere," she explains.

"So, as journalists, it's really important that we don't think of disability as a medical problem that people have, but a social identity that people are or are made by society. And, if you understand that, then the way that you report disability is going to get much, much better, much fairer, and much more accurate."

To use an example — if a person who uses a wheelchair wants to go to the pub and there's a step to get into it, that person can't go to the pub. But, if the pub buys a ramp, then they can access the pub. They still need their wheelchair — but it wasn't their wheelchair that was disabling them, it was the step into the pub.

Lucy adds: "I think people can understand that when it comes to good basic access requirements but it's true for more complicated things too, like people not having access to work might be more because of the way we structure how we work than their impairment."

It's a simple concept, but if you can keep it in the back of your mind, it can completely change how you frame a story and the terminology you use.

Want to know more about how to get your reporting right, avoid stereotypes, and the importance of language? You can find out more by searching 'The View From Down Under' — the name of both Lucy's book and newsletter, which delves into life as a young, disabled woman.

16/10/2023

🚨 EVENT: Every journalist will cover stories including the disabled community, but getting it right is important. All too often, headlines and copy paint an inaccurate and harmful picture that relies on negative stereotypes. In this new workshop from , we'll help you get it right. We'll cover:

✏️ The importance of language and things to look out for;
✏️ The social model of disability and why it's important;
✏️ Inaccurate stereotypes and narratives to avoid.

There will also be plenty of time to ask your own questions or submit them in advance if you're watching back. As with all our workshops, tickets are just £4 so we can pay our speakers a fair fee — but please do get in touch if cost is a barrier. We have a space for you!

Grab your tickets to this workshop and others up in the events link in our bio — we can't wait to see you there.

23/08/2023

Whatever area of journalism you work in, you’re going to end up covering physics at some point; from politics to fashion, business to sport — which is why it’s really important to get our coverage right.

When our reporting uses negative and outdated stereotypes it has a real-world impact — putting young people off the subject, at a time when we need scientists, including physicists, more than ever. But getting your reporting right is easy — here’s a saveable guide from the Limit Less campaign from to make sure you’re getting it right.

🏈 It’s A Team Effort: The idea of a ‘lone genius’ is a pervasive and harmful myth about physics, which puts a lot of young people off pursuing the subject. Physics is a team effort — often multidisciplinary — just look at the number of people listed on a research paper. Reflect this collaboration in your copy.

🗑️ Bin The Boffin: For similar reasons, avoid cliches such as ‘boffin’, ‘nerd’, and ‘geek’. Young people view these types of words as insulting, outdated, or in some cases simply do not understand them — instead ask for people’s real job titles and explain what they do clearly.

📸 Use Diverse Imagery: Think about the current images of physicists in the media and we’re all probably thinking the same thing — an older white man wearing a lab coat and glasses. But that doesn’t reflect reality. Check that the photos you’re using represent a diverse group of people working in diverse settings.

🪞Show A Wide Range Of People: Similarly, make sure to include and prioritise voices from groups currently underrepresented in the physics community, such as women, disabled people, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, people of Black Caribbean descent and members of the LGBT+ community.

🧮 Remember Physics Isn’t Just Maths: Finally, remember that physics isn’t just about maths — they also need technical, communication and leadership skills too — so take care not to conflate the two.

You can find out more, as well as order your own free copy of the Limit Less media guide and checklist, by heading here: https://bit.ly/3E3td6z

02/08/2023

We all know the feeling — you've got an hour to write up a report, but it involves research. How can you make sure you're accurate? What's the best way to get your head around things quickly? We teamed up with some leading science journalists to give you some easy pointers:

🧐 First things first, it's worth thinking about what *kind* of research this is. You'll always find information about how it was conducted — if not, you should question whether you should run the findings at all. Miriam Frankel, science editor of , says: "Journalists often just say, ‘research says,’ but there is a big difference between research and research, and I think we should be careful in communicating that to the public.” Make sure to give this context — in particular watch out for studies that haven't been peer-reviewed or where others have struggled to replicate the findings.

📃 If you're trying to decide which paper to read, go for the most recent first. They should still mention any older important papers which can give context.

📚Ideally, you'll read the whole paper. But, if you're pressed for time, start with the abstract. This will sum up the paper's conclusion, so you can work out if it's worth covering. Jocelyn Timperly, a journalist at , says: “You can get a lot of information, and sometimes you don’t need to go further than that." It could then just be a case of emailing some of your questions to researchers.

😶‍🌫️ It's also worth remembering that the angle for a general audience might be buried — researchers and academics are writing with an academic audience in mind, so don't be put off if the angle isn't immediately obvious.

🤺 Finally, always check to see if any competing interests have been listed. Sabrina Weiss, a freelance journalist, explains: "Often, she says, readers will find “information about the funding of a study [which] can make a story a good story in itself, particularly if a study is funded or commissioned by a company or an organisation with a clear agenda.”

Address

Telephone

+447967806866

Website

http://journoresources.org.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Journo Resources posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Journo Resources:

Videos

We asked people who were successful applying to journalism grad schemes for their top tips ✨ #journostudent #journalismstudents #journojobs #journalismadvice #journogoals

Support Journo Resources And Get Free Access To Our Entire Back Catalogue

The Mystery Of The O-No Layer: Play Our Choose Your Own Adventure Now

Three Things PRs Can Do For You That No One Else Can

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Alerts
Contact The Business
Videos
Claim ownership or report listing
Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?

Country:

City:

Journo Resources Is Shaking Up The Media Industry As We Know It

Journo Resources is an award-winnng non-profit start-up which is here to help break break into and progress in the media industry. We believe that a diverse news industry benefits us all, and we’re determined to get us there.

We create unique tools and resources which are free to access, and can’t be found anywhere else. On our site you’ll find data on average pay rates for both freelancers and salaried staff, invoice templates, examples of successful pitches, step-by-step job applications and more.

Our events, which reached more than 1,500 people across the country, giving people practical advice, one-on-one drop ins, and professional headshots, to name but a few.

We also speak to people online every week, giving personalised advice and feedback on queries, CVs, and more. Two thirds of people leave our sessions feeling more confident about their careers as a result.

11/06/2024

26/05/2024

21/05/2024

09/05/2024

03/04/2024

24/03/2024

22/03/2024

18/02/2024

18/02/2024

16/02/2024

11/02/2024

10/02/2024

31/01/2024

28/01/2024

10/01/2024

09/01/2024

09/01/2024

02/12/2023

04/11/2023

27/10/2023

16/10/2023

23/08/2023

02/08/2023

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Videos

Support Journo Resources And Get Free Access To Our Entire Back Catalogue

The Mystery Of The O-No Layer: Play Our Choose Your Own Adventure Now

Three Things PRs Can Do For You That No One Else Can

Shortcuts

Share

Journo Resources Is Shaking Up The Media Industry As We Know It