In a phrase now attributed to Alan Barth, an editorial writer at The Washington Post, journalists could be said to create “the first rough draft of history.” Roy Peter Clark, Poynter senior scholar and beloved writing coach, has a new tutorial on poynter.org about the rough second draft.

He uses "Three Little Words," a 25-year-old serial narrative about the AIDS epidemic, and its revival podcast as the instructional texts. Writers will find countless gems about the craft of storytelling in this piece.

For me, writing about writing was one tip that stood out. Clark suggests that writers "articulate a mission and purpose for a particular story or for a body of work.”

I cannot overstate the value of this exercise, even though I set for myself unachievable goals. It gave me a view over the horizon as I drafted the story. This 250-word mission statement, which took about 10 minutes to write, helped create a 25,000-word series. It provided the language I needed to share my hopes with other writers, editors and readers. It could be tested, expanded, revised — and it was — during the writing process.

Online workshops, March 29, April 12 and April 26

Nearly $2 trillion dollars will be hitting states for the next several years via the American Rescue Plan. This free data journalism workshop series, brought to you by Poynter and Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), will empower local journalists to follow this once-in-a-generation influx of funds, hold local authorities accountable, and spur smart societal change through storytelling. 

Each 90-minute workshop will be focused on one of three topics: public health and pandemics; public safety, policing and beyond; and infrastructure and environment. 

Online group seminar, March 8-24

This live online seminar will help journalism leaders strengthen their ethical infrastructure so they can confidently navigate their newsroom’s natural pressure points.

Poynter’s senior vice president and ethics chair Kelly McBride will be your guide. Using her decades of experience as an ethics coach and public editor, she will reveal the methods she uses to assess a newsroom’s ethical strengths and weaknesses. You will explore the dozens of factors – both concrete policies and soft qualities – that contribute to a healthy environment for making ethical decisions. With McBride’s stewardship, you will diagnose your own individual capacity, and, when possible, the capacity of your news organization.

After the three-week, six-session course, you will have templates for modern ethics policies, communication skills to address ethical conflicts as they arise, and leadership strategies to facilitate a culture of ethics in your newsroom.

Intimidation, threats and violence surround democratic process and participation in the United States. This free online group seminar will help local journalists stay safe and produce ethical, excellent stories about voting, security and local issues leading up to the 2022 midterms. 

With help from PolitiFact editor-in-chief Angie Drobnic Holan, PolitiFact executive director Aaron Sharockman and PolitiFact staff writer Amy Sherman, you will learn how to track and debunk election-related disinformation that could fuel violence on the local level. You will gain a deeper understanding of First and Second Amendment protections to strengthen your reporting about activities that are prohibited by law. In discussion with guest speakers and other participants, you will also review best practices for reporting on these issues without legitimizing them or having a chilling effect on democratic participation.

TV Power Reporting Academy
Online and in-person program, St. Petersburg, Florida, April 5-28
This cornerstone Poynter seminar is perfect for reporters, photojournalists and VJ/MMJ/backpack journalists. Thousands of local, network and international journalists point to this practical seminar as the launchpad that ignited their careers. 
Cost: $499. We still have a few spots left! Apply by Friday, March 4.
If you are a member of AAJA, NABJ, NAHJ, NAJA or NLGJA, 50% tuition scholarships are available, thanks to CNN. 

Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship 2022-23
Online and in-person program, St. Petersburg, Florida, and Washington, D.C., June 15, 2022– May 5, 2023
The Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship is a year-long dynamic experiential fellowship that blends educational opportunities with work experience to accelerate your career in journalism. Read the Q&A. Cost: Free. Apply by Friday, Feb. 25.

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