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Welcome to Poynter’s News University, now on a more integrated, mobile-friendly platform. Are you a returning NewsU member? You’ll notice a few improvements and will also have to create a new account. If you’re a new user, please explore our 100+ interactive journalism courses and join our international community of 150,000+ members.

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Featured Courses

NewsU Certificate

Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing

The Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing gives you a solid understanding of the standards, essential skills and best practices of editing.
Merrill Perlman
$150
NewsU Online Seminar

Web Headlines & SEO Essentials (February 2019)

Learn about the set of technologies and techniques that can bring more eyes to your content and more visitors to your site, including SEO.
Feb. 5 to Feb. 22, 2019
John Schlander
$299
NewsU Webinar

Covering Immigration Enforcement

Learn how to report immigration arrests, detention and deportation under the current administration.
Upcoming Broadcast: Jan. 31, 2019
Julia Preston
$29.95
NewsU Online Seminar

Write Your Heart Out: The Craft of the Personal Essay (January 2019)

How to tell stories in ways that will resonate with others, whether in print or online.
Jan. 25 - Feb. 22, 2019
Keith Woods
$349
NewsU Online Seminar

Building Effective Websites for Better User Experience

This hands-on, project-based course will help you develop website-building skills from the ground up – no prior coding experience necessary.
To be announced.
Casey Frechette
$349
NewsU Online Seminar

Writers Without Editors: How to Edit Your Own Writing

Gain the skills you need to polish your own prose.
To be announced.
Merrill Perlman
$429

Our catalog

  • All
  • Broadcast
  • Careers
  • Core Skill
  • Data
  • Editing
  • Ethics & Trust
  • Fact-Checking
  • Investigative
  • Leadership
  • Marketing & PR
  • Media Law
  • Reporting
  • Tech & Tools
  • Trauma & Security
  • Visual Journalism
  • Writing
NewsU Self-directed Course

Copyright Law and Fair Use for Journalists

This course will help journalists understand what constitutes fair use of content, particularly online content, and debunk copyright myths.
Updated: 2018
Ellyn Angelotti Kamke
$29.95
NewsU Online Seminar

Will Work for Impact: Fundamentals of Investigative Journalism

A seminar for reporters with ambition to do investigative journalism that functions as an important part of democracy.
March 1 to March 31, 2019
Alexandra Zayas
$399
NewsU Online Seminar

TV Assignment Editor Workshop

How to find stories and sources online, how to use new tools to get stories online and how to help others to “get” your vision.
July 5 to July 26, 2019
Al Tompkins
$349
NewsU Online Seminar

Building Effective Websites for Better User Experience

This hands-on, project-based course will help you develop website-building skills from the ground up – no prior coding experience necessary.
To be announced.
Casey Frechette
$349
NewsU Online Seminar

Writers Without Editors: How to Edit Your Own Writing

Gain the skills you need to polish your own prose.
To be announced.
Merrill Perlman
$429
NewsU Tutorial

Find Focus for Your Video Stories: A Poynter Tutorial

Shape information into a sharp, focused story.
magnifying glass
Al Tompkins
$9.95
NewsU Webinar

Building Trust on Facebook

Gain credibility in social media platforms.
Broadcast date: March 2, 2017
Joy Mayer
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to the support of the McCormick Foundation.
NewsU Online Seminar

Web Headlines & SEO Essentials (February 2019)

Learn about the set of technologies and techniques that can bring more eyes to your content and more visitors to your site, including SEO.
Feb. 5 to Feb. 22, 2019
John Schlander
$299
NewsU Online Seminar

Becoming a More Effective Writer: Clarity and Organization (January 2019)

Build the reporting and writing habits you need to organize your information better and write more clearly.
Jan. 11 to Feb. 11, 2019
Merrill Perlman
$429
NewsU Online Seminar

Write Your Heart Out: The Craft of the Personal Essay (January 2019)

How to tell stories in ways that will resonate with others, whether in print or online.
Jan. 25 - Feb. 22, 2019
Keith Woods
$349
NewsU Online Seminar

ACES In-Depth Editing Online Group Seminar

For experienced editors who are seeking to move their work to a new level. Hone your skills and edit beyond style, grammar, and punctuation.
To be announced.
Merrill Perlman
$449
NewsU Webinar

Covering Immigration Enforcement

Learn how to report immigration arrests, detention and deportation under the current administration.
Upcoming Broadcast: Jan. 31, 2019
Julia Preston
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Grow Audience Via Social Media: Digital Experiences That Drive Results, Part 4

An understanding of the user experience of discovering content on social media.
Broadcast date: October 25, 2018
Crystal L. Lauderdale
$29.95
NewsU Online Seminar

TV Power Reporting Academy 2019

This hybrid online and in-person seminar, MMJ/VJ reporters will get individual feedback on your work to elevate your career in broadcast.
Sept. 6 - Oct. 18 (In-Person at Poynter Sept. 27-29)
Al Tompkins
$449
NewsU Webinar

Lessons from Local: Innovation Strategies for Newsrooms Series

Learn different approaches to local news coverage
Broadcast date: June 04, 2018
Kristen Hare
$60.00
NewsU Online Seminar

Poynter Producer Project (Spring 2019)

The Poynter Producer Project helps newsrooms grow their own producers using both online learning with in-person coaching and mentoring.
March 26 - April 30, 2019 (In-Person April 12-14)
Al Tompkins
$499
NewsU Self-directed Course

The Interview

This interactive video course will teach you what you need to know about being a better interviewer and allow you to put those lessons into practice.
the intervew
Chip Scanlan
Free
This course is free thanks to the generous support of Knight Foundation
NewsU Webinar

Digital Experiences That Drive Results: Strategies for Creating Compelling Content Series

The five-part series emphaizes on how to develop and deliver content to make measurable results, whether in the newsrooms or for an organization.
Broadcast date: August 01, 2018
Crystal L. Lauderdale
$120
NewsU Webinar

Photos from the Sky: Improve your drone photography skills (series)

In this series of online webinars, students will learn the ins and outs of drone photography and videography, sequencing, gear and more.
March 11 to April 1, 2019
Al Tompkins
$149.95
NewsU Webinar

Starting Your Own Site 101: Lessons from Local, Part 5

Create your own journalism site.
Broadcast date: October 15, 2018
Kristen Hare
$19.95
NewsU Webinar

Planning and Executing Your Strategy: Digital Experiences That Drive Results, Part 5

An overview of content development and delivery strategies.
Broadcast date: November 07, 2018
Crystal L. Lauderdale
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Improve Search Optimization: Digital Experiences That Drive Results, Part 2

An understanding of the user experience of discovering content through search engines.
Broadcast date: August 29, 2018
Crystal L. Lauderdale
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Target and Engage Your Audience: Digital Experiences That Drive Results, Part 1

Reach the right audience effectively.
Broadcast date: August 01, 2018
Crystal L. Lauderdale
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

The Writing Process: 10 Steps for Coaching Writers

How to coach a writer beyond simply correcting copy.
Broadcast date: Sept. 24, 2018
Roy Peter Clark
$49.95
NewsU Webinar

Taking the Reins: Growing into Your Role as an Editor

What makes an editor great in journalism from relationships to decision-making.
Upcoming broadcast on Jan. 24, 2019 at 2 p.m. ET
Alexandra Zayas
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Planning and Design for the Big Story

How to present the story on both the front page and the inside pages.
Broadcast date: July 18, 2018
Greg Mees
$29.95
This webinar is FREE for members of the Society for News Design (SND).
NewsU Webinar

Reporting on the Cannabis Industry

The importance of understanding the cannabis business.
Broadcast date: Feb. 8, 2018
Alyson Martin
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Writing with Voice and Structure with Lane DeGregory

Finding the tenor and format for a story.
Broadcast date: April 18, 2018
Lane DeGregory
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Sweat This, Not That: Real Rules vs. Grammar Myths

The rules and non-rules in grammar.
Broadcast date: March 1, 2018
Lisa McLendon
$29.95
This webinar is $11.95 for members of the American Copy Editors Society (ACES). Watch your member email to get details about the discount.
NewsU Webinar

Hooked on Junk News: Breaking Bad Habits and Rebuilding Trust in the Media

Build trust instead of distrust.
Broadcast date: April 26, 2018
Kirsti Kenneth
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to the generous support of NewseumED.
NewsU Webinar

Trust-Building Strategies for Journalists

Earning consumers' trust in journalism.
Broadcast date: Oct. 26, 2017
Joy Mayer
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to the generous support of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
NewsU Webinar

Curating Content: How to Aggregate Coverage

Get the tools you need to curate content quickly, accurately and effectively.
Broadcast date: Dec. 4, 2014
Sue Burzynski Bullard
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Fact-Checking and Debunking: Covering Rumors, Hoaxes and Gossip

Reporting and discrediting rumors and hoaxes.
Broadcast date: Jan. 6, 2015
Craig Silverman
$29.95
This Webinar is $9.95 for members of the American Copy Editors Society (ACES).
NewsU Webinar

Craft Effective Direct Outreach Messages: Digital Experiences That Drive Results, Part 3

An understanding of the user experience of receiving content via email newsletters or mobile messaging.
Broadcast date: September 19, 2018
Crystal L. Lauderdale
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

How Local and National Journalists Can Work Together to Cover Breaking News: Lessons from Local, Part 4

How to form a national-local news partnership.
Broadcast date: September 17, 2018
Kristen Hare
$19.95
NewsU Webinar

Reporting on Polls: Headlines, Margins of Error and Other Fundamentals

Improve your election coverage by learning how to better report stories that cite polling data.
Sept. 13, 2018
Emily Guskin
19.95
NewsU Webinar

Untangling the Weeds: Strategies for Substantive Editing

This course will teach an approach for untangling convoluted copy.
Broadcast date: Jan. 25, 2018
Sam Enslen
$29.95
NewsU Self-directed Course

Writing Online Headlines: SEO and Beyond

We'll walk through basic principles of SEO, examine how headlines show up in social media and discuss the fundamentals of A/B testing.
Eric Ulken
$29.95
NewsU Self-directed Course

News Literacy Primer: How to Evaluate Information

Learn to identify credible news resources and evaluate information you find on the Internet and elsewhere.
Pam Hogle
$19.95
NewsU Self-directed Course

Numeracy Primer: How to Write About Numbers

Your guide to writing about numbers accurately, ethically and elegantly, with a quick review of how to calculate the basics.
numeracy primer
Pam Hogle
19.95
NewsU Webinar

The Art of the Link: Why Hyperlinks Matter and How to Do Them Well

What content should be linked in digital text? What text should make that link? Learn the art of the link in this ACES webinar.
Sept. 6, 2018
Nick Jungman
$29.95
This webinar is $11.95 for members of ACES.
NewsU Self-directed Course

Getting It Right: Accuracy and Verification in the Digital Age

It's a challenge to verifying information in a networked world. Get the knowledge and tools you need to evaluate what you hear, read and see.
Updated: 2018
Craig Silverman
$29.95
NewsU Self-directed Course

Fundamentals of Editing

Gain a solid grounding in the process of editing and the range of skills that give text a professional polish.
Sue Burzynski Bullard
14.95
NewsU Self-directed Course

News Sense: The Building Blocks of News

What makes an idea or event a news story? Explore the who, what, when, where, why and how of news.
News Sense: Building Blocks Of News
Mary Ann Hogan
Free
This $29.95 course is free thanks to the Knight Foundations.
NewsU Self-directed Course

Cleaning Your Copy: Grammar, Style and More

Finding and fixing the most common style, grammar and punctuation errors.
Updated: 2018
cleaning your copy
Vicki Krueger
Free
NewsU Self-directed Course

Hands-On Fact-Checking: A Short Course

Identify reliable sources, debunk viral misinformation, and decide whether a statement is really checkable.
Alexios Mantzarlis
FREE
This $29.95 course is available at no charge thanks to a grant from Google News
NewsU Webinar

We Can’t Do More with Less — Here’s How to Say No: Lessons from Local, Part 3

How newsrooms cover more with limited resources.
Broadcast date: August 13, 2018
Kristen Hare
$19.95
NewsU Webinar

Secrets of a Successful Newsletter: Lessons from the Lily

This webinar will introduce strategies used by The Lily’s newsletter and 2018 Webby Award winner for email newsletters, Lily Lines.
Broadcast date: July 17, 2018
Amy King
$29.95
This webinar is FREE for members of the Society for News Design (SND).
NewsU Webinar

Making Emotional Connections With Local Audiences Through Design

Develop a simple visual system that reinforces local values and a community focus.
Broadcast date: July 16, 2018
Colin Smith
$29.95
This webinar is FREE for members of the Society for News Design (SND).
NewsU Webinar

Wikipedia: What Journalists Need to Know About One of the World’s Largest Websites

How to use Wikipedia in journalism.
Broadcast date: July 12, 2018
Ed Erhart
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to the generous support of the Wikimedia Foundation.
NewsU Webinar

Fact-Check It: Digital Tools to Verify Everything Online

The best tools, tips and methods for verifying information online.
Broadcast date: July 11, 2018
Ren LaForme
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to the generous support of the Google News Initiative, American Press Institute and Knight Foundation.
NewsU Webinar

How Newsrooms are Making (Some) Money That’s Not from Advertising: Lessons from Local, Part 2

How newsrooms obtain the financial support besides ads.
Broadcast date: July 09, 2018
Kristen Hare
$19.95
NewsU Webinar

Democracy on Deadline: Take Your Coverage of U.S. Elections to the Next Level

An understanding of the user experience of discovering content through search engines.
Broadcast date: June 28, 2018
Tammy Patrick
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to generous support from the Democracy Fund
NewsU Webinar

Investigative Reporting: From Numbers to Narrative

Wrangle data to find and tell stories.
Broadcast date: June 21, 2018
Tyler Dukes
$39.95
NewsU Webinar

Turning Journalism Students Into Visual Storytellers

Turn photography into photojournalism.
Broadcast date: June 12, 2018
Mark E. Johnson
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Leveraging Your Visual Journalism Skills Within the Organization

How visual journalists survive the newsrooms.
Broadcast date: June 11, 2018
Mark E. Johnson
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

The Rights and Limitations of a Journalist to Photograph and Record in Public

Journalists' rights and limits in public places.
Broadcast date: June 8, 2018
Mickey H. Osterreicher
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Five Small Things That Have Made a Big Difference in Local Newsrooms: Lessons from Local, Part 1

How local newsrooms around the country have shifted their priorities and changed their workflows through some very easy changes.
Broadcast date: June 04, 2018
Kristen Hare
$19.95
NewsU Webinar

Covering Mass Shootings

The best journalism methods for mass shooting stories.
Broadcast date: May 31, 2018
Kelly McBride
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to the generous support of SAVE
NewsU Webinar

Getting Off the Beaten Path: Opportunities for Journalists in Marketing

Marketing opportunities for journalists.
Broadcast date: May 17, 2018
Maisha Maurant
$29.95
This webinar is $11.95 for members of the American Copy Editors Society (ACES). Watch your member email to get details about the discount.
NewsU Webinar

10 Keys to Improve Recruitment and Retention of a Diverse Staff

Build connections across demographics and difference.
Broadcast date: May 10, 2018
Mizell Stewart III
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Covering the American Muslim Community: Ideas and Insights to Guide Your Reporting

Learn guidelines and standards for fair and accurate reporting on American Muslims
Broadcast date: May 3, 2018
Dalia Mogahed
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to the generous support of the Democracy Fund
NewsU Webinar

Upgrade your Transcription and Audio Editing Workflows with Descript

Transcribing interviews with Descript.
Broadcast date: May 1, 2018
Andrew Mason
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to the generous support of the Google News Initiative, American Press Institute and Knight Foundation.
NewsU Webinar

Living Under the Volcano: What Every Journalist Needs to Know About the News Business

Getting to know the news business.
Broadcast date: April 19, 2018
Rick Edmonds
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

The Art of the Interview with Lane DeGregory

How to find and court your story's characters with Lane DeGregory.
Broadcast date: March 21, 2018
Lane DeGregory
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Cultivating Local News Communities with Facebook Groups

Making Facebook your newsroom.
Broadcast date: March 15, 2018
Hannah Wise
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to the generous support of the Google News Lab, American Press Institute and Knight Foundation.
NewsU Webinar

Covering Hate and Extremism, From the Fringes to the Mainstream: An Overview from the Southern Poverty Law Center

Reporting hate and extremism.
Broadcast date: Feb. 14, 2018
Heidi Beirich
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is sponsored by The Southern Poverty Law Center and is offered at no cost.
NewsU Webinar

After the Texas Shooting: What Journalists Need to Know About Guns and Ammo

Learn and understand the different types of guns and ammunition for your reporting.
Broadcast date: Nov. 7, 2017
Al Tompkins
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free because we believe strongly in helping journalists handle this important topic.
NewsU Webinar

A Creative Approach to Analytics

Find the story through numbers.
Broadcast date: Oct. 18, 2017
Alex Curry
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Investigative Reporting in the Wake of a Disaster

Investigate post-disaster stories.
Broadcast date: Sept. 28, 2017
Al Tompkins
FREE
We are offering this webinar free of cost to help journalists covering stories in the aftermath of natural disasters.
NewsU Webinar

Find Stories in Data Faster and Collaborate Better with data.world: A Digital Tools Tutorial

Fast data research to share quickly.
Broadcast date: Aug. 31, 2017
Ian Greenleigh
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to a grant from Google News Initiative, API, and the Knight Foundation.
NewsU Webinar

Narrative Writing on Deadline

Bring literary narrative to your reporting.
Broadcast date: July 20, 2017
Lolly Bowean
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

It’s All About the Voice: How to Make Your Writing Sing

Bring music to your writing
Broadcast date: April 20, 2017
Roy Peter Clark
$9.95
NewsU Webinar

Best Practices for Reporting on Mass Shootings

Helpful journalism tips when covering a mass shooting.
Broadcast date: March 30, 2017
Kelly McBride
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to the generous support of SAVE
NewsU Webinar

Clarity is Key: Making Writing Clean and Concise

Clean up your writing into a refined style.
Broadcast date: Dec. 13, 2012
Lisa McLendon
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

Build Interactive Data Visualizations with Tableau Public: A Digital Tools Tutorial

Create visualizations for data-driven stories.
Broadcast date: Dec. 2, 2016
Cynthia Andrews
FREE
This $29.95 Webinar is free thanks to the support of the American Press Institute and Knight Foundation.
NewsU Self-directed Course

Ethics of Journalism

Build or refine your process for making ethical decisions — before you're faced with a tough call on deadline.
Kelly McBride
FREE
This $29.95 course is free thanks to the support of the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation.
NewsU Webinar

Getting Beyond Stereotypes: Better Disability Journalism

Reporting stories about disability as people.
Broadcast date: May 11, 2016
Lawrence Carter-Long
FREE
This $34.95 webinare is free thanks to the support of the McCormick Foundation.
NewsU Webinar

How to Edit Marketing Materials with Savvy and Sense

Learn the five critical questions to ask before editing any marketing material.
Broadcast date: April 28, 2016
Sam Enslen
$29.95
This Webinar is $11.95 for members of the American Copy Editors Society (ACES). Watch your member email to get details about the discount.
NewsU Webinar

Spotting the Red Flags: How to Verify Information

Recognize the red flags of journalism.
Broadcast date: March 3, 2016
Gerri Berendzen
$29.95
This Webinar is $11.95 for members of the American Copy Editors Society (ACES).
NewsU Self-directed Course

Language Primer: Basics of Grammar, Punctuation and Word Use

Practice the fundamentals of grammar and punctuation so you can write with greater confidence.
Pam Hogle
$19.95
NewsU Webinar

Build and Monetize Reader Relationships with Parse.ly: A Digital Tools Tutorial

Getting to know your audience through Parse.ly.
Broadcast date: February 19, 2015
Clare Carr
FREE
This $29.95 webinar is free thanks to the generous support of the American Press Institute and Knight Foundation.
NewsU Webinar

Slimming It Down: Cutting Content for Different Spaces

Trimming the news for spaces.
Broadcast Date: May 29, 2014
Lisa McLendon
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

The Storyteller as an Investigator: How to Turn a Tip into an Investigation

How to turn a tip into the foundation of an investigation
Broadcast date: Oct. 23, 2013
Alexandra Zayas
FREE
This $29.95 Webinar is free, thanks to the support of the Livingston Awards.
NewsU Webinar

The Art and Science of Editing

Learn to identify when you need to edit something, when you don’t and how to explain your changes to others.
Broadcast date: Oct. 3, 2012
Merrill Perlman
$29.95
NewsU Webinar

The Secret of Making Complicated Facts Easy Reading

Turn complexity into simplicity.
Broadcast date: December 07, 2011
Roy Peter Clark
$29.95
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Poynter’s News University is one of the world’s most innovative online journalism and media training programs ever created. From multimedia techniques to writing and reporting, we’ve got free and low-cost courses. As the e-learning project of The Poynter Institute, NewsU extends Poynter’s mission as a school for journalists, future journalists, teachers of journalism and anyone interested in the craft and values of journalism.

Knight Foundation

Thank you to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for its support of News University since the site’s founding in 2005.