Courses
Explore our newsroom-focused journalism curriculum.
Introduction to Journalism
Course Objective
What is journalism? Why is it important? What is news? How do you write a news report? In this course, we will answer these questions with hands-on learning and examples.
We will introduce you to the Multimedia newsroom and the skills required in modern communication.
The course will explain how to cover the news, how to produce stories. It will cover the basic skills of reporting, writing, opinion writing, on-camera delivery and other aspects of digital/mobile news production.
Topics
• What is journalism
• Qualities and skills of good journalism
• Sourcing & reporting news
• Newswriting for a digital era
• The multimedia newsroom
• How to write for digital outlets
• Video & podcasts, AI in journalism
• Photojournalism masterclass
What is journalism? Why is it important? What is news? How do you write a news report? In this course, we will answer these questions with hands-on learning and examples.
We will introduce you to the Multimedia newsroom and the skills required in modern communication.
The course will explain how to cover the news, how to produce stories. It will cover the basic skills of reporting, writing, opinion writing, on-camera delivery and other aspects of digital/mobile news production.
Topics
• What is journalism
• Qualities and skills of good journalism
• Sourcing & reporting news
• Newswriting for a digital era
• The multimedia newsroom
• How to write for digital outlets
• Video & podcasts, AI in journalism
• Photojournalism masterclass
Writing for digital
Course Objective
Learn how to write well and communicate better in this era of too much communication and instant information sharing.
The course will suggest ways to improve writing skills with a focus on journalism.
The aim is to help you become a good writer in different genres of writing — and, so, simply write well.
Course Outline
• Simple ways to write better
• Elements of storytelling
• How to be a good writer
• Writing tools for digital platforms
• Long-form writing, features
• In-depth ground reporting
Learn how to write well and communicate better in this era of too much communication and instant information sharing.
The course will suggest ways to improve writing skills with a focus on journalism.
The aim is to help you become a good writer in different genres of writing — and, so, simply write well.
Course Outline
• Simple ways to write better
• Elements of storytelling
• How to be a good writer
• Writing tools for digital platforms
• Long-form writing, features
• In-depth ground reporting
Politics & Elections
Course Objective
An introduction to politics and governance in India and how to cover them as a journalist.
The course will explain the political party system.
It will provide students with a ready-reckoner on covering elections as well as Parliament and state assemblies.
India’s multi-tiered governance model is explained and analysed for delivery and efficiency with the help of guest faculty — politicians, poll analysts and bureaucrats.
Course Outline
• Indian political system at national and regional levels
• Parliament and state assemblies: Making policies, passing laws
• Reporting on politics, interviewing politicians: National and regional
• Election coverage: On the campaign trail
• India’s federal governance system
• Majority governments versus coalition governments
• The function of the political executive and role of bureaucracy
An introduction to politics and governance in India and how to cover them as a journalist.
The course will explain the political party system.
It will provide students with a ready-reckoner on covering elections as well as Parliament and state assemblies.
India’s multi-tiered governance model is explained and analysed for delivery and efficiency with the help of guest faculty — politicians, poll analysts and bureaucrats.
Course Outline
• Indian political system at national and regional levels
• Parliament and state assemblies: Making policies, passing laws
• Reporting on politics, interviewing politicians: National and regional
• Election coverage: On the campaign trail
• India’s federal governance system
• Majority governments versus coalition governments
• The function of the political executive and role of bureaucracy
Ground Reporting
Course Objective
Capturing trends and conversations that reflect ground reality through in-depth reporting, and presenting them in long-form writing style. This goes beyond ‘he said-she said’ reporting and ‘this just happened’ journalism.
Course Outline
The course is in two parts: finding the right idea and how to write a ground report.
It will include:
• What is ground reporting and how does it differ from other types of reporting?
• Different types of ground reporting, with examples from ThePrint.
• Finding good ground report ideas.
• Research and background material search and mining data
The structure of a ground report:
• Crafting the perfect lead, nut graph, how to hold the readers’ attention
• Muscular writing style
• How to edit, fact-check, package a ground report
Capturing trends and conversations that reflect ground reality through in-depth reporting, and presenting them in long-form writing style. This goes beyond ‘he said-she said’ reporting and ‘this just happened’ journalism.
Course Outline
The course is in two parts: finding the right idea and how to write a ground report.
It will include:
• What is ground reporting and how does it differ from other types of reporting?
• Different types of ground reporting, with examples from ThePrint.
• Finding good ground report ideas.
• Research and background material search and mining data
The structure of a ground report:
• Crafting the perfect lead, nut graph, how to hold the readers’ attention
• Muscular writing style
• How to edit, fact-check, package a ground report
Science & Health
Course Objective
Students will be introduced to the basics of science and health journalism. The course demystifies jargon, suggests ways to identify scientific misinformation and disinformation and where to locate science stories buried in scientific research.
Course Outline
• How to approach science writing, health and environmental reporting
• Dos and donts, where to access reliable data and experts
• Dealing with jargon
• Identifying paid-for research, conspiracy theories, common tropes (aliens, antivaxx, climate change denialism, etc)
• Finding stories in scientific research papers
• Lifestyle and science, celebrity health misinformation (nutrition, vaccines)
Students will be introduced to the basics of science and health journalism. The course demystifies jargon, suggests ways to identify scientific misinformation and disinformation and where to locate science stories buried in scientific research.
Course Outline
• How to approach science writing, health and environmental reporting
• Dos and donts, where to access reliable data and experts
• Dealing with jargon
• Identifying paid-for research, conspiracy theories, common tropes (aliens, antivaxx, climate change denialism, etc)
• Finding stories in scientific research papers
• Lifestyle and science, celebrity health misinformation (nutrition, vaccines)
National Security & Defence
Course Objective
The aim is to broaden students’ understanding of India’s security issues and explain the seamless connection between internal and external policies or ground developments. What happens in Ukraine impacts Ujjain.
The course will provide an overview of current debates and key concerns in India’s national security management, including its defence architecture. It outlines India’s strategic interests that shape its foreign policy.
Course Outline
• India’s Diplomacy: The new geopolitical map. Changing ties with the US, Russia, Europe and the Arab countries
• Faultlines in the neighbourhood: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bangladesh
• India’s defence framework: Modernisation, indigenisation, new warfare tactics and weapons
• Domestic security challenges: Terrorism, insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir, and the Northeast, religious extremism
• Criminal justice system, cyber-crime, intelligence networks
The aim is to broaden students’ understanding of India’s security issues and explain the seamless connection between internal and external policies or ground developments. What happens in Ukraine impacts Ujjain.
The course will provide an overview of current debates and key concerns in India’s national security management, including its defence architecture. It outlines India’s strategic interests that shape its foreign policy.
Course Outline
• India’s Diplomacy: The new geopolitical map. Changing ties with the US, Russia, Europe and the Arab countries
• Faultlines in the neighbourhood: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bangladesh
• India’s defence framework: Modernisation, indigenisation, new warfare tactics and weapons
• Domestic security challenges: Terrorism, insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir, and the Northeast, religious extremism
• Criminal justice system, cyber-crime, intelligence networks
Business & Economy
Course Objective
This course will explain the key components of the Indian economy. Students will learn how to write good business, economic stories for the general public. This will include deciphering complex economic terminology, analysing key economic data and identifying newsworthy trends
Course Outline
• An introduction to economics and an overview of the Indian political economy
• Explanation of key economic and financial indicators such as GDP, CIP, WPI, inflation, fiscal deficit, company-specific balance sheets, etc
• Discuss the role of the regulator such as RBI, SEBI, IRDA, CCI, ED, etc
• Difference between economic, financial, and business news
• Data sourcing
• Writing financial stories
• How NOT to write about the economy, cherry pick numbers
This course will explain the key components of the Indian economy. Students will learn how to write good business, economic stories for the general public. This will include deciphering complex economic terminology, analysing key economic data and identifying newsworthy trends
Course Outline
• An introduction to economics and an overview of the Indian political economy
• Explanation of key economic and financial indicators such as GDP, CIP, WPI, inflation, fiscal deficit, company-specific balance sheets, etc
• Discuss the role of the regulator such as RBI, SEBI, IRDA, CCI, ED, etc
• Difference between economic, financial, and business news
• Data sourcing
• Writing financial stories
• How NOT to write about the economy, cherry pick numbers
Legal Journalism
Course Objective
This course offers an opportunity to learn about India’s legal framework, the basic provisions of the Constitution of India and acquaint students with court proceedings.
Students will learn the basic good principles of legal reporting, decode legal terminology and laws that pertain to freedom of expression.
Course Outline
• India’s legal framework: Important Articles in the Constitution of India on freedom of speech and expression
• Learn about important Fundamental Rights
• What constitutes sedition, privacy, contempt of court?
• Writing legal stories: Practical training on reporting on legal cases, judgments, FIRs etc.
This course offers an opportunity to learn about India’s legal framework, the basic provisions of the Constitution of India and acquaint students with court proceedings.
Students will learn the basic good principles of legal reporting, decode legal terminology and laws that pertain to freedom of expression.
Course Outline
• India’s legal framework: Important Articles in the Constitution of India on freedom of speech and expression
• Learn about important Fundamental Rights
• What constitutes sedition, privacy, contempt of court?
• Writing legal stories: Practical training on reporting on legal cases, judgments, FIRs etc.
Digital Marketing & Revenue
Course Objective
In today’s digital newsroom, reporting a story is only the first step. Journalists must also understand how stories reach audiences across search, social media, newsletters and other platforms.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of digital marketing in journalism. It explains how news organisations identify and understand their audiences, package stories for different platforms, and measure impact through meaningful metrics.
Students will learn how editorial work connects with distribution strategies, audience engagement, and data-driven insights in a modern multimedia newsroom.
Course Outline
• Why digital marketing matters for journalism
• Understanding audiences and reader behaviour
• Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning (STP)
• Discoverability and distribution in the digital ecosystem
• Paid, Owned and Earned Media (POEM)
• Packaging stories for digital platforms
• Audience engagement and retention
• Measuring impact through newsroom metrics
• Converting readership into revenue
• Sales
In today’s digital newsroom, reporting a story is only the first step. Journalists must also understand how stories reach audiences across search, social media, newsletters and other platforms.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of digital marketing in journalism. It explains how news organisations identify and understand their audiences, package stories for different platforms, and measure impact through meaningful metrics.
Students will learn how editorial work connects with distribution strategies, audience engagement, and data-driven insights in a modern multimedia newsroom.
Course Outline
• Why digital marketing matters for journalism
• Understanding audiences and reader behaviour
• Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning (STP)
• Discoverability and distribution in the digital ecosystem
• Paid, Owned and Earned Media (POEM)
• Packaging stories for digital platforms
• Audience engagement and retention
• Measuring impact through newsroom metrics
• Converting readership into revenue
• Sales