How to be a digital journalist

Innovative thinking on the developing opportunities for digital news

Digital publishing has transformed the way journalism is produced and consumed, making a raft of new skills central to the modern newsroom. Live blogging allows details of breaking stories to be reported as they emerge, new formats have evolved for in-depth analysis of stories in progress, and social media means readers are more involved than ever before. This course shows journalists how to thrive in this new environment with a futureproof skillset.

Assistant national new editor James Randerson leads this dynamic course exploring lessons from the Guardian's approach to open news – using the online audience as a source of information and stories that can enrich our journalism. You'll learn how to mine your readership for story leads and case studies, as well as how to build a community for your journalism using social media and other tools, and new ways to tell stories that directly engage with the needs of your users.

This course is for you if…

• You're a professional journalist keen to expand your use of digital tools in your reporting
• You're a student interested in a career in the media
• You're a media owner or publisher looking for new insights into digital practices and audiences
• You work in the media and want a better understanding of open journalism and online news consumers

Course description

Led by Guardian assistant national news editor James Randerson, this large-scale event shows how journalists, news outlets and audiences alike can take advantage of the opportunities for reporting and engagement presented by the online news boom. Topics covered include:

• How to use social media and comments to find stories, gauge what people want to know and promote stories
• How to build a community for your journalism using social media and other tools
• Live-tweeting and other storytelling formats for live rolling analysis
• How to utilise user-generated content, including Twitter pics
• Responding to conversations on social media
• SEO and how to create an online buzz

Tutor profiles

James Randerson is the Guardian's assistant national news editor. He has previously worked as the paper's science correspondent and as deputy news editor for New Scientist magazine. He has lectured on journalism to students at universities including City, Cardiff and Bath. He also has experience of training academics in how the media works. He directed sessions at the Sixth World Conference of Science Journalists in 2009 in London and at the UK Conference of Science Journalists last year.

Carmen Fishwick works on the news community team at the Guardian. She's uses social media to hunt for news stories and source contributors, and launches the Guardian on all new social platforms. She spends much of her time helping readers to inform the Guardian's journalism. She is currently exploring ways to present news on social media to engage audiences. You can see some of her work here.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website