SFIMC Resources for Contributors and Volunteers

SF IMC has compiled lists of some essential resources, exercises and links on all aspects of internet journalism from writing to interviewing and photography to videography. In addition, we have provided some links to information about the technology that we depend on and help to develop. If you find other resources you think we should link to here, please send an email to sf@indymedia.org.

Journalism | Software

Journalism (Writing, editing, reporting)

• No Train, No Gain
  No Train No Gain is a resource site for newsroom trainers. The site offers training tips and handouts on writing, editing, reporting, newsroom management skills, recruitment and retention, diversity, technology and newsroom surveys.
  
• Poynter Online: Resource Center
  Everything you need to know to be a better journalist
  The Poynter Institute is a school for journalists, future journalists, and teachers of journalists. No matter what their job title may be, journalists come to Poynter in a search for excellence.
  
• Behind the News
  Behind the News is a Weblog / research guide dedicated to news researchers, journalists, and anyone who loves the news and wants to find out more about what's going on.
  
• SLA News Division
  The News Division is the section of the Special Libraries Association that focuses on librarians and libraries dealing with news media in such settings as newspapers, magazines, broadcast organizations, and nontraditional news settings.
  
• Journalist Express
  JournalistExpress is the journalist's interface to the Internet. We recognize that journalists have precious little time to obtain all the information they require. At the same time, all the information that journalists need - and much, much more - is available on the Internet.
  
• Journalism Net
  Julian Sher is the webmaster and creator of JournalismNet. He is an award-winning investigative TV documentary producer who now trains journalists in the United States, Canada, Europe and around the world to use the Internet as an effective reporting tool.
  
• Power Reporting
  Power Reporting editor Bill Dedman has led Power Reporting seminars on computer-assisted reporting in more than 100 newsrooms, print and broadcast. The seminars focus on daily and deadline reporting, and integrating the use of public records with beat reporting.
  
• Reporters' Desktop
  The Reporter's Desktop is regularly cleaned and checked to make sure it has the very best reporting tools on the web. They read internet, journalism and information-professional publications and mailing lists to stay on top of it. Other users of the RD help to make sure it has the latest stuff.
  
• Journalists' Toolbox
  Founded by newspaper publishers in 1946, the American Press Institute is the oldest and largest center devoted solely to training and professional development for the news industry and journalism educators.

Free and Open Source Software

For Text/HTML Editing

• NoteTab Light - Fancy basic text editor
• Open Office - Office Applications analogous to the Microsoft Office suite
• Mozilla - Web browser, email, and other internet applications

For Photos and Still Images

• The GIMP (Windows, Linux)
• PhotoPlus (Windows)
• Paint.NET (Windows)

For Audio

• Audacity (Windows, Linux)
• Express Scribe - Designed to assist in the transcription of audio recordings (Windows)

For Video

• Avid FreeDV (Windows)
• Wax (Windows)
• iMovie (Mac)
• Kino (Linux) (Note on Linux video editing)

Technology

• IMC Documentation Project: (Basic HTML, IRC HowTo)
• Basic audio techniques (Offsite)

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