Community Reporter Training

Practical workshops in journalism, storytelling, and media production that use lived experience to help shift the narrative

We develop and deliver bespoke community reporter training programmes for charities and community groups that equip people with the skills and confidence they need to tell the stories that matter to them. Together we work with communities to co-create outputs including print magazines, podcasts, documentaries, newsletters and websites.

Who’s it for?

Our community reporter training programmes are for charities and community organisations who want to:

📌 Empower their community to share their own stories and experiences, and shape the narratives of their own lives and communities.

📌 Amplify under-represented voices and ensure their community is accurately portrayed.

📌 Develop community advocates who can effectively articulate issues they face, and solutions.

📌 Co-create powerful stories directly with the people they serve, showing their community’s strengths and the organisation’s impact.

📌Build deeper engagement and connection with their community through storytelling.

How it works

Design & recruitment

We start by understanding your goals and design a programme, then we help you build your cohort of community reporters.

Workshops and training

Programmes usually run for 8-12 weeks led by journalists. We can also deliver one-off workshops. Can be online or in person.

Learning by doing

Participants put skills such as research, interviewing and fact checking into practice by working on their own stories.

Collaborative learning

Participants learn together in a peer cohort, where everyone is encouraged to share, give feedback, and support each other.

One-to-one advice

Participants receive 1-1 guidance and mentoring from experts to develop their ideas and produce their own stories.

Publication and dissemination

Each participant will have their story published in a one-off magazine, podcast series, or dedicated website.

We work closely with organisations and participants to co-design a bespoke community reporter training programme that may include the following elements:

What is community reporter training?

💭 Story Development

How to find compelling story ideas and conduct interviews that capture people’s voices and stories.

✊ Journalism for Community Power

Understand the role of journalism in society and how it can be used to bring about positive change.

✍️ Writing & Editing

Learn to craft powerful written stories in a variety of formats.

💡 Solutions Journalism

Learn how journalism can be used to create constructive dialogue and help people find solutions.

🔎 Investigative Skills

Techniques for digging deeper, finding credible information, and verifying sources.

🎤 Multimedia

Learn how to tell stories beyond writing, using photography, video, and audio.

What do participants get out of it?

As well as working collaboratively on a shared output, as a result of our community reporter training, previous participants have gone on to find paid work, secure a place at college, find apprenticeships and enter further training.

The majority of participants report improved confidence and connections as as a result of taking part.

What our community reporters said

  • “This project has lifted some of the stigma. For the first time, I don’t feel embarrassed to say this is part of my life.”

    Gambling Harms community reporter

  • "Being part of GroundsWell made me see that I can tell stories about health and the environment that matter to people here."

    GroundsWell community reporter

  • “Being a media practitioner back in Sierra Leone, and now winning awards here after only three years — oh my god it’s amazing.”

    Refugee Voices community reporter

  • “This training gave me confidence to use data in my reporting for the first time. It helped me see how numbers can tell a story – I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do that.”

    Data journalism community reporter

  • “I definitely feel great that I was able to be a part of this. It's really made a difference to my self-esteem and the way I feel about myself.”

    Gambling Harms community reporter

  • “Doing this course opened my eyes to services I didn’t know existed, and now I can signpost others too.”

    Health inequalities community reporter

  • “I am delighted with how the article turned out –  I had such nice feedback from the magazine. People told me that they felt heard and the need for the community that has been created.”

    GroundsWell community reporter

  • Doing the training was a great privilege. I learned writing and interviewing others and got to see my article published.I met one of my good friends on the course, and have had many opportunities with since.

    Young Voices community reporter

Tried and tested

This training was developed through the award-winning community magazine Greater Govanhill.

See examples of our print magazines.

See examples of our programme outputs below

Working with the University of Edinburgh

We worked with a consortium of universities that are researching the link between health inequalities and access to urban green and blue spaces.

We have now run two of three training programmes for community members who have developed skills and built connections through this project.

Many reported growing in confidence and skills and pursuing further opportunities as a result.

Amplifying the sound of refugee voices

Over three years we worked with groups of people who have experience of the asylum process. We produced radio shows on a local community station and a series of video shorts that we screened locally.

One of the radio shows was runner up in the Scottish Refugee Festival media awards.

Participants have gone to do further work on the radio and in podcasts and have written for the magazine.

Raising awareness of gambling harms

With funding from Gamble Aware we ran a training programme for women had been negatively impacted by gambling harms. As well as producing a special issue of the magazine, participants went on to do TV experiences and have contributed to policy forums and round tables. Their work was commended by local councillors.

Readers told us they used the magazine to open up conversations with loved ones on this topic and to signpost support. Participants reported reduced shame and stigma.

“I just wanted to take a moment to thank you once again for your fantastic work. The success of the event is so closely tied to your energy and your commitment to making this planet a better place – it really shines through in everything you do.”
— Dr Luis Soares, The University of Edinburgh

Ready to amplify your community's voice?

Get in touch to explore how Community Reporter Training programme can help you and your community tell your stories.

Schedule a totally free call with us, or email hello@greatercommunitymedia.com

We’d love to discuss your needs, answer any questions you might have, and design a programme that works for you.