In today’s fast-changing media environment, good journalism is about more than knowing how to write a news article. It is about knowing where to find a story, identifying what matters, gathering reliable information, telling the story effectively, and communicating it to the right audience.
Diakonia Training Institute is introducing the International Newsgathering Bootcamp, an intensive three-week programme designed for aspiring journalists, journalism graduates, media practitioners and storytellers who want to strengthen their practical newsgathering and reporting skills.
Why International Newsgathering?
Stories are everywhere. The challenge is knowing which ones matter, how to investigate them, and how to communicate them responsibly.
The International Newsgathering Bootcamp will give participants an opportunity to move beyond classroom theory and experience the realities of modern journalism.
Participants will learn how to identify newsworthy stories, research and verify information, develop sources, conduct interviews, gather material from the field, and turn information into compelling stories.
Spearheaded by seasoned journalists, the programme also introduces learners to the realities of professional newsrooms through practical visits to established media organisations, providing an opportunity to observe how stories move from an idea to publication or broadcast.
What Will You Learn?
During the three-week bootcamp, participants will develop practical skills in:
- News and story identification – learning how to spot stories that deserve attention.
- Research and information gathering – finding relevant, credible and useful information.
- Interviewing and source development – asking better questions and building reliable sources.
- Fact-checking and verification – separating facts from rumours, misinformation and unverified claims.
- Story development – turning information and observations into structured, engaging stories.
- Multimedia newsgathering – using writing, photography, audio and video to strengthen stories.
- Ethical journalism – understanding accuracy, fairness, responsibility and professional conduct.
- Story pitching and communication – learning how to present story ideas effectively.
- Field reporting – gaining practical experience outside the classroom.
- Editing and refining stories – developing stories that are clear, relevant and audience-focused.
More Than a Classroom Course
The bootcamp is designed around learning by doing.
Participants will have opportunities to visit established newsrooms and gain insights into the working environment of professional journalists and media teams.
Most importantly, every participant will be expected to develop and produce their own story during the programme.
Your final story will serve as evidence of your ability to take an idea from the initial stage of identifying an issue through research, interviews and information gathering to the final communication of the story.
You don’t just learn about newsgathering. You practise it.
Who Should Enrol?
The programme is particularly suitable for:
- Journalism and Mass Communication graduates
- Trained journalists seeking practical experience
- Aspiring reporters and correspondents
- Media and communication practitioners
- Content creators and digital storytellers
- Bloggers and independent publishers
- Communication officers who want stronger storytelling skills
- Anyone with a journalism background who wants to sharpen their reporting abilities
Whether your interest is print, television, radio, digital media or independent storytelling, the skills developed through the bootcamp can help you become a more effective storyteller.
First Cohort – January 2027
The first International Newsgathering Bootcamp cohort begins in January 2027.
The programme runs for three weeks, combining classroom instruction, practical assignments, field experience, newsroom exposure and individual story development.
Introductory Fee: KSh 22,000
This introductory fee is intended for the first cohort as Diakonia Training Institute launches the programme.
Spaces will be limited to ensure that participants receive meaningful practical guidance and opportunities for feedback.
Your Story Could Be the One That Matters
A powerful story can inform a community, challenge assumptions, expose an overlooked issue or give a voice to people who might otherwise remain unheard.
But great stories rarely happen by accident.
They begin with curiosity.
They grow through research, observation and conversations.
And they become powerful when they are communicated accurately and responsibly.
Learn to find the story. Learn to tell it.
Enroll Today by filling in our online application form
Visit us in Shalom House, St. Daniel Comboni Road, off Ngong Road
Call us via 0740 211 672