Live online workshops · Open to learners across Canada

FieldnoteJournalism Academy

Six-week online course

Report the story from where it happens.

Build a practical field-reporting routine: find a focus, interview with care, gather clean audio and images, verify what you learn, and shape it into a publishable local story.

Explore the studio View all six weeks
  • FormatLive online + field assignments
  • LocationNationwide, Canada
  • CapstoneOne reported multimedia story
A field reporter's desk with notebook, microphone, camera, audio recorder and community map notes

FIELD NOTE / 01 Observe first. Ask better questions.

Good reporting begins before the record button.

The Field Reporting Studio

A working newsroom rhythm, built for learning.

This is a hands-on studio, not a lecture marathon. Each week combines one live workshop, a reporting lab, independent fieldwork in your own community, and focused editorial feedback.

You can work with a phone and free editing tools. Assignments are designed for urban, rural, northern and remote communities, with flexibility around access, mobility and time zones.

Your weekly rhythm

  1. 01
    WorkshopTechnique, examples and discussion
  2. 02
    Field assignmentReport locally on a focused prompt
  3. 03
    Newsroom labEdit, troubleshoot and fact-check
  4. 04
    Editor notesClear feedback for your next draft

Six weeks in the field

From first question to final fact-check.

Every week adds one practical reporting skill to your capstone. Exercises use Canadian public records, newsroom conventions and ethical guidance as working context.

  1. 01

    Find the story

    Observation, focus & a reporting plan

    Turn a broad topic into a question you can answer. Map sources, assumptions, access needs and what evidence would change your mind.

  2. 02

    Interview craft

    Questions that invite useful answers

    Prepare, listen and follow up. Practise informed consent, accurate note-taking, recording etiquette and respectful interviews across differences.

  3. 03

    Mobile reporting

    Gather sound, images & scene

    Use a phone to capture steady visuals, clear natural sound and precise observations without interrupting the moment you are documenting.

  4. 04

    Community reporting

    Context, care & public interest

    Report with communities rather than treating people as material. Consider power, representation, trauma-aware choices and whose perspective is missing.

  5. 05

    Verification & safety

    Check it before you publish it

    Build a source trail, verify digital material, handle corrections and create a proportionate field-safety plan for people, equipment and data.

  6. 06

    Capstone desk

    Edit for accuracy, fairness & clarity

    Shape your reporting into a concise text, audio or photo-led story. Complete a final fact-check and present your editorial choices to the cohort.

What you will practise

A repeatable reporting process.

By the end of the studio, you should be able to move from an initial idea to a carefully sourced story—and explain the choices you made along the way.

  • Scope a realistic, public-interest story
  • Prepare and conduct a recorded interview
  • Capture usable mobile audio and photographs
  • Organize notes, sources and verification records
  • Apply a basic field and digital safety checklist
  • Write, edit and fact-check a clear final piece

Tools & resources

Bring the gear you already have.

A smartphone, headphones and a notebook are enough to complete the course. We provide printable assignment briefs, interview preparation sheets, a source log, a field-safety checklist and a capstone fact-check template.

Optional demonstrations cover compact microphones and free editing software, but no specialized equipment purchase is required.

Your studio team

Mentors who edit alongside you.

Mentor biographies describe their role in this course, without claims of awards, affiliations or credentials.

Story editor

Maya Chen

Maya leads interview labs and helps learners find the clearest structure for reported stories. Her sessions focus on listening, specificity and fair representation.

Field producer

Noah Cardinal

Noah guides mobile audio, photography and field planning. He emphasizes practical preparation, consent and respectful work in community settings.

Verification editor

Priya Desai

Priya runs the verification desk, where learners trace claims to evidence, organize source notes and build a transparent correction-ready workflow.

Inside week two

Sample workshop: the second question.

A strong interview rarely depends on a perfect first question. This workshop is about hearing what deserves a careful follow-up.

00:00Warm-up

Notice assumptions hiding in a question.

00:20Demonstration

Listen for detail, uncertainty and change.

00:45Paired interview

Practise open questions and precise follow-ups.

01:20Playback desk

Review tone, sequence, consent and note quality.

Questions from the notebook

Course FAQ

Do I need journalism experience?

No. The studio begins with reporting fundamentals and is suitable for new learners as well as communicators who want a more rigorous field process. You should be comfortable reading and participating in English.

Can I join from anywhere in Canada?

Yes. Workshops are live and online. Field assignments happen in your own community, and prompts can be adapted for local access, weather and travel conditions.

What does “Canadian newsroom standards” mean here?

Course exercises use Canadian spelling, public-record contexts and commonly used newsroom practices around accuracy, fairness, corrections, consent and source care. The course does not confer a professional credential.

What if I miss a live workshop?

Core lesson notes and assignment briefs remain available to the cohort. Because interviews and newsroom labs depend on live participation, learners should plan to attend most scheduled sessions.

What can my capstone be about?

Choose a focused, reportable question connected to your community. Capstones may be text, audio or photo-led, provided they include original reporting, documented sources and a completed fact-check.

Is special equipment required?

No. A phone, headphones, internet access and a notebook are sufficient. Any optional equipment shown in demonstrations will have a no-cost alternative.

Program inquiries

Bring us the question in your notebook.

Ask about course format, accessibility or whether the studio fits your learning goals.

hello@fieldnotejournalism.ca

We welcome messages in English or French. Course instruction is in English.