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SPJ Training Program in association with Google News Initiative
Teaching Tools for Universities
For years, SPJ has been a primary resource for educators preparing the next generation of journalists. Since 2016, SPJ has worked in association with the Google News Initiative to offer in-person Google tools training in newsrooms and in journalism classrooms around the country.
Now, that effort has expanded to provide directly to educators instructional materials based on those tools that they can download and incorporate immediately into their classrooms.
The first of these customizable, instructional modules focus on:
Finding Data Stories in Google Trends
How to use the Google Trends “Explore” feature to find relevant data for storytelling by searching and comparing topics.
Creating a Story Dataset
How to create a dataset using Google Sheets, including functions and formulas to help find the stories within your data.
Visualizing Data for Stories
How to create and use simple data visualizations as an essential storytelling tool for enhancing audience engagement and understanding.
Verification & Fact Checking
How to verify the authenticity and accuracy of images, videos and reports that you find in social media and elsewhere online.
Safety & Security
How to protect yourself and your news organization from hacking, digital attacks and censorship while using Google tools.
Search & Data Acquisition
How to use Search and other Google tools more effectively, especially to find data you need to tell more compelling stories.
If you choose to use the modules in your classes, or have feedback to share, please take three minutes to fill out this feedback form. We will take all feedback into consideration as we update and refine these modules in the future.
The modules have been developed and edited by professors from the Society of Professional Journalists, working in association with the Google News Initiative. Additional modules focused entirely on data-driven storytelling are coming soon.
Just as we work with newsrooms, SPJ wants to support journalism educators with trainings and tools that are tailored to meet their specific needs.
If you’re a professor or university administrator, you can sign up to join the University network free of charge.
If you’re at a U.S.-based university, you can sign up for free in-person training at spj.org/google.
For international training requests or questions about the program, email us.
SPJ News
– E.W. Scripps School of Journalism named Historic Site in Journalism
– ProPublica, The Texas Tribune, The Marshall Project, Military Times, City Bureau, The Maine Monitor honored with SPJ Sunshine Award
– Austin American-Statesman, Chicago Tribune, ProPublica and The Washington Post earn SPJ Ethics in Journalism Awards
Events and Deadlines
– 9/23/23: Shop SPJ Sale
– 9/28/23: SPJ23 Annual Convention
– 9/28/23: SPJ23 Keynote featuring Gio Benitez
– 9/29/23: Covering a U.S. Government Shutdown: Story ideas for national and local reporters
– 9/29/23: SPJ23 Keynote featuring Laura Guerrero
