Learning Resources

Resources for public media journalists, organized by topic — from breaking news planning and AI policy to career transitions, engaged journalism, and newsroom leadership. Whether you're navigating a big editorial challenge, building your skills, or just looking for what your peers know, it's here.

Some resources are available to everyone. Others are exclusive to PMJA members — look for the Members only label. Learn about membership to get full access.

Idea Labs

Members bring examples, share what works, and build practical tip sheets together — on newsletters, safety reporting, public affairs programming, and more

Safety strategies for journalists covering high-risk beats — contributed by peers in the field.

Members only

What's working (and what isn't) for public media newsletters — straight from newsrooms doing it.

Members only

Peer ideas and strategies for making public affairs programming that actually connects with audiences.

Members only

Editing & newsroom leadership

Practical strategies for public media editors and newsroom managers — digital strategy, staff development, and day-to-day editorial leadership

Editors' Top Tips & Tricks Tip sheet

Crowd-sourced strategies from editors across public media — the things that actually work day to day.

Members only

A tip sheet for journalists making the move into editorial leadership — what to expect and how to prepare.

Members only
Tips for Planning a Newsroom Retreat Tip sheet

Practical guidance for making the most of team time away — from setting goals to keeping it from going off the rails.

Members only

A tip sheet for building digital strategies that serve your newsroom's actual goals — not just the latest platform trend.

Members only

Where to look for outside resources when you need more capacity — and how to think about adding people or equipment without a hiring budget.

Members only

How journalists, development teams, and leadership can align on funding messaging for in-depth election coverage — and how to spot potential funders in your daily reporting.

Members only
Report: A Look at Diversity in Public Media Journalism PDF

Data and analysis on representation across public media newsrooms — useful context for editorial decision-making.

Coverage & reporting

Breaking news plans, depolarization reporting strategies, audio production tips, and coverage frameworks from public media newsrooms

Coverage Plans for the Unexpected Tip sheet

Templates and frameworks for when news breaks and there's no time to plan from scratch.

Members only
Breaking News Clearinghouse

A shared collection of breaking news plans from public media stations — real plans from real newsrooms.

Practical approaches to covering politically divided communities without amplifying division.

Jordan Gass-Pooré, creator of the award-winning Hazard NJ and Hazard NYC podcasts, shares open-source and OSINT tools for reporting on contaminated sites as federal cleanup funding faces cuts.

Free

How to use The Marshall Project's national datasets, story toolkits, and reporting tools to build local criminal justice coverage — including prison staffing trends and deaths behind bars.

Members only

Tips for building a strong audio story when your reporting is document- and data-heavy — so you always have an answer when your editor asks what audio you have.

Members only

How framing, sourcing, and reporting choices can extend your story's reach from local to regional to national — with NPR editors and reporters.

Members only

NPR Political Editor Megan Pratz on what stories are on NPR's radar, how to craft local angles that get national attention, and how to navigate the submission process.

Members only

From pitching an idea to interviewing, developing sources, and staying organized — a practical session for anyone looking to sharpen their investigative skills.

Members only

How public media stations are using voter guides to fulfill their mission and attract new listeners and readers — with examples from WESA, SCPR, and WXPR.

Members only

A masterclass on backgrounding candidates using public records — property and business records, financial disclosures, and records requests — with MuckRock and Sunlight Search.

Members only

How to report on international developments affecting your local community — and how diasporas can be both a resource and an audience for your coverage.

Members only

Practical tips for turning your radio content into social-ready clips and posts.

Free

Podcasting

Leaders from public media and beyond on top priorities for podcast creators and audiences — and where the industry is heading.

Free

Newsrooms producing content for broadcast every day — here's how some are transforming it for digital podcast audiences.

Free

From concept to publication: the storytelling tools and production decisions behind limited-series narrative podcasts, from reporters who've made them.

Free

Podcast marketing leaders on how public media shows can find new audiences and stand out in an on-demand world.

Free

How KCUR Studios turned podcast scripts into sold-out community events — and how you can do it without reinventing the wheel.

Members only

NHPR's Lauren Chooljian and editor Alison MacAdam on two years of reporting substance use disorder, sexual misconduct, and threats to press freedom — source management, trauma, ethics, and getting sued.

Members only

AI & technology

Recordings and guides on using AI in public media journalism — workflow integration, ethics policies, responsible use, and headline analysis

A recorded session with practical frameworks for integrating AI into public media workflows responsibly.

How public media teams are using AI tools to speed up production without compromising quality.

Specific workflow integrations that are saving time in public media newsrooms — with real examples.

A plain-language foundation for understanding AI — what it is, what it isn't, and how to use it ethically.

Guidance on building newsroom AI policies that hold up — with examples from public media organizations.

Data-driven insights on what makes headlines work — patterns from a massive analysis of public media content.

Career & management

Career transition toolkits, layoff support, hiring trends, staff retention, and career path stories from public media journalists

Career Transition Support Toolkit

Resources, guidance, and community support for journalists navigating a career change or job loss.

Free
Management Support Toolkit for Career Transitions

For managers supporting staff through layoffs or restructuring — what to say, what to do, and what resources to offer.

Free
Life After Layoffs: Resources, Tips & Real Stories Recording

Honest accounts and practical resources from journalists who have navigated layoffs in public media.

Free
What's Trending in Public Media Journalism Hiring? PDF

A look at what's changing in newsroom hiring — roles, skills, and expectations across the field.

Free
Retention Without a Budget Tip sheet

Low-cost, high-impact ideas for keeping good people — from newsroom leaders who've figured it out.

Members only
How I Got Here Recording

Candid conversations with public media journalists about their career paths — the winding roads, the pivots, and the moments that shaped them. Includes the earlier Level Up series, same concept and same page.

Engaged journalism

Community-centered reporting strategies, science journalism, digital visibility, and audience engagement for public media

Serving the Broccoli: Engaged Journalism for Health and Economics Recording

How to cover complex, important topics in ways that actually reach and engage your audience.

Community-centered journalism strategies from 200+ practitioners. Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Free for members
Bringing Science to Bear on Midterm Election Reporting Recording

How to integrate scientific evidence into election coverage — with SciLine.

Public Work, Private Life: Navigating Visibility in a Digital World Recording

How public media journalists manage their online presence and personal safety in an era of high visibility.

A guided review of key operational legal needs — governance, compliance, data privacy, and more — using TrustLaw's assessment framework from the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Members only
Statement of Ethics

PMJA's ethical commitments for public media journalism — a shared foundation for the field.

Free

Conference archives

Session recordings and resources from past PMJA conferences — investigative audio, podcasting, election coverage, entrepreneurial journalism, and more

#PMJA2024 Before the Beltway Sessions

Pre-conference sessions from the 2024 gathering at NPR HQ — election coverage, investigative reporting, podcasting, and more.

Session list is public — recordings require member login.

#PMJA2025 Seeds of Innovation Archives

Recordings from the 2025 Kansas City conference Seeds of Innovation track — investigative audio, podcasting, entrepreneurial journalism, and more.

Session list is public — recordings require member login.

Virtual Conference 2023

Sessions and recordings from the 2023 virtual conference.

Session list is public — recordings require member login.

Looking for older webinar recordings from 2018–2022? Browse the webinar archives.

Want access to all of it?

Members-only resources are available through your organization's PMJA membership. Most public media newsrooms are already members — check with your news director or HR.

Learn about membership