Never Miss A Powerful Story With The 10 Best Online Journalism Courses & Classes
Journalism is presenting news in all its various forms and can also include making it enjoyable, interesting, or noteworthy while maintaining strict ethics of truthfulness.
We have found the top 10 best online journalism courses for 2024 that will show you how to find a story and present it masterfully.
Many of these courses offer certificates or diplomas, some may count as CE credit, and all of them come with valuable extras such as extra material to download. And your teachers are some of the most impactful journalists of our time: Dan Rather, Bob Woodward, Norah O’Donnell and others. Let’s get started.
Top 10 Best Online Journalism Courses 2024 (Free + Paid)
1. Master Class Bob Woodward (Master Class)
A masterclass on investigative journalism taught by Bob Woodward, how good can it get? This online course suitable for all levels will give you insights about journalism hard to find outside of insider knowledge.
This look behind the scenes of investigative journalism is also exactly the type of educational gift a father or grandparent might love.
Taught by renowned investigative reporter Bob Woodward, part of the duo Woodward and Bernstein that brought Watergate to public awareness. He is a Pulitzer Prize winner and best-selling author of numerous books.
In 24 different on-demand video lessons totaling about 4 ½ hours, you will cover topics including guiding principles of journalism, how to find a story, in-depth reporting, finding sources, developing the interview, and writing the story. As part of the bonus extras included in this online course, you will receive a workbook for the class, offline lessons, a subscription to the Master Class newsletter, and access to an online community of Master Class students.
MasterClass is a fantastic source of continuing education that offers A-list instruction in business, art, design, wellness, and technology. MasterClass has more than 100 online courses available with a subscription membership and a 30-day no-questions-asked refund policy. They also run a Buy One, Gift One sale several times a year so it’s worth checking if that promotion is active.
- All levels
- 4 ½ hours on demand video
- Taught by world renowned journalist
- PDF workbook
- Offline lessons
- Online community
2. Meet The Press: Beginner’s Guide To Freelance Journalism (SkillShare)
As a freelance journalist, you have many options open to you, including developing your own stories from the beginning and following them through to the end. In this beginner-level course, you will learn to research and question like a true journalist.
Your class is taught by Brittany Knight of Meet the Press, a best-selling author with years of journalism experience and is also the founder of the web magazine Dopaminemag.com.
As you follow along the 1 ¾ hours of on-demand video, you will cover modules on journalism versus blogging, nine principles of journalism, five categories of journalism, research, the interview process, and a class project. You will also receive downloadable materials and a class discussion forum.
SkillShare is the online platform for this course as well as many others taught by established and professional people in the fields of business, science, education, and others. Try Skillshare for one month free!
- Beginner level
- 1 ¾ hours on demand video
- Instructor is an established professional journalist
- Downloadable resources
- Class projects
- Class discussion
Activate FREE Skillshare Trial
3. Break Into Journalism : pitch & publish to high authority publications (SkillShare)
Intermediate level instruction that teaches how to pitch a story to high-level publications and even get your foot in the door for future possibilities in other news media. Over 1,000 students have already benefited from this course.
The instructor for this online course is a writer for The Guardian, BBC, and Wired, Damien Walter. Damien’s strength is teaching good writers how to be great writers.
Learning the 3 pillars of journalism, you’ll be taught course modules covering high authority publications, the business of a story, finding an angle, story formats, writing a pitch, and negotiating payment. There are extra resources, class projects, and class discussions along with the 1 ½ hours of on-demand video.
You find this online course on the SkillShare educational platform with other courses covering subjects such as business, management, art, and science. These classes include all sorts of valuable extras such as downloadable files and access on multiple types of devices, plus you can try it out free for 30 days.
- Intermediate level
- 1 ½ hours on demand video
- Professional journalist as instructor
- Downloadable resources
- Class projects
- Class discussion
Activate FREE Skillshare Trial
4. Dan Rather on Journalism & Finding the Truth in the News (Udemy)
You, and over 7,000 other students, will learn the foundations of good writing, telling captivating stories, and how to project well on camera in this intermediate-level online course.
Dan Rather is the instructor for this course, bringing his decades of award-winning TV journalistic experience to your learning. He is a legend in journalism, providing real insight into the world of TV and investigative journalism.
Course modules include how TV journalism changed America, the art of the interview, writing, storytelling, and public speaking. It is 4 hours of on-demand video and includes resources to download, class projects, and a certificate of completion.
Udemy hosts this wonderful course and includes extras such as downloadable resources, class projects, and a certificate of completion. Try out Udemy online courses with their special promotional prices.
- Intermediate level
- 4 hours on demand video
- Taught by Dan Rather
- Downloadable resources
- Class projects
- Certificate of completion
5. Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization (Coursera)
Are you looking to make journalism a career? Whether in writing, broadcast, or online, being a good journalist that gains long-term employment requires specific training in how to write journalistically and present stories and information properly.
This beginner-level instruction is provided by professors from Michigan State University School of Journalism. 16,000 have already enrolled.
In six months of self-paced online instruction, you will cover the topics of gathering news, developing stories, delivering the news, and creating your journalism portfolio. You will receive graded quizzes, class projects, peer feedback, and extra materials.
Coursera provides university-level instruction in specializations and even offers degree-level education outside of the college environment. Many students taking these courses end up working in their fields of study. Enrollment may be free for you, check their financial aid.
- Beginner level
- 6 months self paced learning
- Instructors are university professors
- Peer feedback
- Certificate of completion
- Career enhancement
6. Creative Nonfiction: Write Truth with Style (SkillShare)
Creative nonfiction is a leisurely style of writing that fits the online environment perfectly and can provide entertainment and income. It is a form of journalism but has some basic differences making it unique and appropriate for online magazines with instruction suitable for all levels.
Staff writer for the New Yorker, Susan Orlean is the teacher for this online course. Susan has decades of writing and journalism experience with best-selling books, and articles for magazines from Rolling Stone to Esquire.
Class projects and downloadable resources are included in the 2 hours of on-demand video with course modules covering finding a subject, organizing your notes, quotes, expert opinions, editing, and collaboration.
This course is available on the continuing education platform SkillShare which pairs up eager students with extremely qualified instructors and offers valuable extras such as extra materials to download and class discussion. 15,000 have already signed up and enrollment for you may be free!
- All levels
- 2 hours on demand video
- Taught by professional writer
- Downloadable resources
- Class projects
- Class discussion
Activate FREE Skillshare Trial
7. How to Become a Purpose-Driven Journalist (LinkedIn Learning)
Beginner-level instruction focusing on women in journalism that highlights experiences and insights from one of the top women in the industry. Anyone male or female can learn from this course with the expert teaching provided.
GenConnectU brings you Norah O’Donnell, only the second woman ever to become the anchor of the CBS Evening News, as your instructor, providing valuable information as only a world-class journalist could.
Some of the syllabi cover topics such as women in journalism, the essential values of a good journalist, the importance of multiple sources, and the power of the question. Extras include articles and other resources to download, and a certificate of completion after finishing the ¾ hour of on-demand video.
LinkedIn is a unique website combining job search, professional networking, and social media, and lots of courses taught by experts and professionals who are leaders in their industries. Many LinkedIn Learning courses qualify for CE credits and you receive certificates of completion for completing any course. Check out LinkedIn Learning for low-cost enrollment.
- Beginner level
- ¾ hour on demand video
- Taught by Norah O’Donnell
- Focused on women in journalism
- Extras to download
- Certificate of completion
8. Investigative Journalism (Udemy)
After this course, you will be able to identify a good story and know how best to develop it so the information can be presented with integrity and style. It is beginner-level learning that includes how to find hidden sources from documents or people.
Join with teachers from the Anderson School of Journalism as they team up with Udemy to provide this online course.
In about 1 hour of on-demand video, you will cover the topics of finding the story, the systematic approach, researching the story, and then telling the story. You will also receive valuable extras like downloadable resources, quizzes, and a certificate of completion.
You take this online course through Udemy and receive amazingly insightful instruction as well as valuable extras and low-cost promotional deals on classes.
- Beginner level
- 1 hour on demand video
- Taught by Journalism professors
- Quizzes
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
9. English for Journalists, Part 1 (edX)
Writing in proper English is vital for journalism, this intermediate-level course will help you improve your already impressive skills. Besides vocabulary, grammar skills create compelling stories.
The instructors for this online course are from University of California Berkeley and edX has provided over 50,000 students with this course.
It is a 5-week course of self-paced learning and covers topics including vocabulary, grammar, communication, ethics, and fairness in journalism. Included with the online course are downloadable resources and a certificate of completion.
edX provides college courses outside of the schools for continuing education anywhere at any time and offers certificates plus discussion communities for students old and new. Create an account for free, with some extra benefits available at a low cost.
- Intermediate level
- 5 weeks self paced learning
- UC Berkeley professors as instructors
- Downloadable resources
- Class discussions
- Certificate of completion
10. Diploma in Journalism (Alison)
Third-level instruction for pre-college introductory learning leading to your own diploma in journalism is what you will get with this online course that includes an assessment. Over 32,000 have already enrolled.
Allison instructors are high level and highly rated with lots of experience in their fields and in online education.
Course modules include interviewing skills, organizing stories, editorial ethics, digital media, print journalism, and editing. You also receive downloadable materials, skills assessments, and a certificate or diploma after the 15 hours of on-demand video instruction.
Alison lines up only the best in their fields to be trained as instructors and offers an assessment of skills before and after courses and either a certificate of completion or a diploma. Sign up for free and check out their optional premium services at a low cost.
- Intermediate level
- 15 hours on demand video
- Expert journalists as teachers
- Skills assessment
- Downloadable resources
- Diploma
Never before has it been easier to be your own writer, editor and publisher.
So after you’ve honed your journalism skills, check out our WordPress, photography and social media marketing course reviews.
Or if you want to make your research go faster, we’ve got deep dives on both speed reading and proofreading.
This post was proofread by Grammarly
