This module will guide you through the world of journalism and digital storytelling. You will learn how to think and write like a journalist, express your ideas clearly, responsibly, and creatively. By exploring how journalism works, understanding storytelling techniques, and practicing digital content creation, you will gain the confidence to become not just a consumer of online content, but an informed and responsible creator.
Unit 1: What journalism is and why the world won’t be a better place without it
Journalism plays a vital role in our society — it informs, explains, and connects us to the world around us. In this unit, you will discover what journalism really is and why it remains essential in the modern age. You will learn to recognize the difference between journalistic media and other forms of content, such as entertainment, advertising, or opinion pieces.
You will also explore the principles that define quality journalism: truth, accuracy, fairness, and responsibility. Finally, you will learn to write like a journalist — creating short, well-structured pieces using the “inverted pyramid” style. By the end of this unit, you will understand how journalists build clear, concise, and informative stories that help audiences make sense of the world.
Unit 2: I’ll tell you a story: the basics of storytelling
Every good story begins with an idea — but what makes a story truly engaging? In this unit, you will explore the fundamentals of storytelling and how stories connect people, inspire emotions, and share experiences. You will learn how to develop a story step by step, from choosing your topic to planning your structure and writing your first draft.
Finally, you will explore different formats and platforms for storytelling. You will learn how to match your story to the right medium to reach your audience effectively. By the end of this unit, you will be ready to create meaningful, memorable stories that inform and inspire.
Unit 3: It’s not hard! Learning how to use storytelling platforms
Once you know how to craft a story, it’s time to share it with the world. In this unit, you will learn how to use popular social media platforms — such as Facebook and Instagram — to publish and promote your content. You will practice publishing your first posts and stories, understanding what makes social media content engaging and how to use visuals, hashtags, and captions effectively.
Equally important, this unit will also teach you how to communicate responsibly online — how to respond to negative comments, check your information before posting, and respect copyright and privacy laws. By the end of this unit, you will be able to confidently share your content, engage with others, and maintain professionalism and ethics in your online presence.
Unit 4: Visualise it: learning simple tools to visualise your stories
In this final unit, you will explore the creative side of digital storytelling by learning to enhance your stories with visuals, graphics, and videos. You will begin by discovering how to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate illustrations and videos for your stories. You will learn which AI services are best for creating or editing visual content and how to use them responsibly. Next, you will explore Canva, an easy-to-use design platform that allows you to create engaging visuals such as presentations, comics, and infographics. Finally, you will practice creating and editing short videos using free online tools — learning basic editing skills, adding sound, and combining visuals with text.
By completing this unit, you will be able to combine words, images, and videos to tell stories that are not only informative but also visually captivating.