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CCJ Books

The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect

Completely updated and revised
"The most important book on the relationship of journalism and democracy published in the last fifty years." – Roy Peter Clark, The Poynter Institute
We Interrupt This Newscast: How to Improve Local News and Win Ratings, Too

Just Released
A landmark study on what people watch and why. The most exhaustive study ever of local TV news -- what helps ratings, what drives viewers away, and what editorial approaches and story-telling techniques most influence viewership.

Tools for International Journalists

  • The professional British media organization which crafted a nation-wide wide agreement among news organization not to report about Prince Harry’s deployment to Afghanistan tells the story behind the story.
  • Wikipedia still doesn't get much respect in newsrooms. But some reporters are using the online encyclopedia anyone can edit as a valuable trove of links to primary material.
  • Candidates say a lot of things. Sometimes what they say isn't exactly accurate, and that's where journalists come in. One newspaper's fact-finding mission is taking its cue from its readers.
  • The U.K.'s Guardian has instituted an innovative mechanism for demonstrating to staff and readers how they measure up to the standards outlined by their founder.
  • This excerpt from former CBS and ABC correspondent John Laurence's book 'The Cat from Hue' describes in detail how issues of bias, access to information and difficulties in verifying 'fact' intersect to make war reporting difficult.
  • The best interviewers have a plan and keep some basic tips in mind. The International Center for Journalists shares ten simple ways to improve your interviewing skills.
  • The news media's cultural narrowness leads to poor coverage, New York Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez argued in this archived, though still very relevant, tool.
  • Suggestions on managing business pressures from a forum of news professionals.
  • After five years of research, CCJ identified six core standards citizens should expect their news organizations to consistently meet.
  • CBS News policy on when accepting things from sources and others "crosses the line."

J-Tools

CCJ has collected some of journalism's best ideas, strategies and techniques to help journalists and citizens alike.