Foundations of Journalism
📋 What it is
Journalism reports true, verified information to help the public understand the world — facts first, checked before publishing.
🗣️ Coach says
A journalist’s job is simple to say, hard to do: find out what’s TRUE and tell people clearly. The core rule is verification — you don’t publish a claim until you’ve checked it. Truth first, speed second.
🧠 Memory hook
Journalism = verified truth for the public. Check before you publish.
😂 Giggle
Why did the newspaper go to the doctor?
It had too many issues!
😲 Whoa!
The classic newsroom questions are the "5 Ws and an H": Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.
✅ Quick check: What is the single most important rule that separates journalism from rumour?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Verification — checking that information is true before publishing it, rather than just repeating a claim.
Verification is the foundation the whole field is built on.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Take a headline and list which of the 5 Ws (Who/What/When/Where/Why) it actually answers.