1. “the journalist and the murderer” by janet malcolm
A catchy title to say the least, “The Journalist and the Killer” is a deep dive into the psychopathology between the journalist and his subject. David Graham, an adjunct professor at Duke University who currently teaches magazine journalism, has used this book in every class.
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Other teachers who also recommended the book:
You are reading: Books on journalism writing
- peter applebome, duke university
- jonathan kaufman, northeastern university
- dan kennedy, northeastern university
- linda lumsden, university of arizona
2. “The Elements of Journalism: What Journalists Should Know and the Public Should Expect” by bill kovach & tom rosenstiel
According to Marina Hendricks, assistant professor at South Dakota State University, “The Elements of Journalism” is a go-to resource for journalists. covers nine essential elements that make up the heart of a strong report.
“My worn copy is marked with sticky notes, underlining and penciled notes,” he added.
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Other teachers who also recommended the book:
You are reading: Books on journalism writing
- megan craig, syracuse university
- adrianne flynn, university of maryland
- greg munno, syracuse university
- mark stencel, university of duke
- patti wolter, northwestern university
3. “inside report” by tim harrower
“Insiders” is unique in that it highlights the basics of reporting and details how to present stories interactively and visually.
“information about each skill is presented in an accessible way,” said ellen meacham, who teaches multimedia writing at the university of mississippi. “each skill builds on the last, and the foundations it provides on writing and reporting are solid.”
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Other teachers who also recommended the book:
You are reading: Books on journalism writing
- Kelly Furnas, Elon University
- Julien Gorbach, University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Jeremy Kohler, Washington University at St. louis
- patti wolter, northwestern university
4. “The Ethical Journalist: Making Responsible Decisions in the Digital Age” by Gene Foreman
I read “The Ethical Journalist” in my media ethics course and it was a helpful resource, thanks to its 24 real-life case studies that encouraged me to think critically about some of the media’s most pressing issues .
“It offers high-value insights and is clearly written,” said Emile Lounsberry, my former associate professor at the University of New Jersey. It’s also one of the top three journalism books you’ve ever read.
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Other teachers who also recommended the book:
You are reading: Books on journalism writing
- megan craig, syracuse university
- raymond mccaffrey, university of arkansas
5. “The New New Journalism: Conversations With America’s Best Nonfiction Writers About Their Craft” by Robert S. boyton
after reading the propaganda of “the new new journalism”, I bought it immediately. highlights solid writing methods and professional advice for journalists of all ages. peter applebome, adjunct professor of journalism and public policy at duke university, said it’s an essential book in all of his courses.
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Other teachers who also recommended the book:
You are reading: Books on journalism writing
- caryl rivers, boston university
- karen springen, northwestern university
6. “writing until the deadline: the journalist at work” by donald murray
“Write Until Deadline” cover tips to outline your draft, focus your story, and fine-tune your writing. you’ll also learn from case studies of real journalists in the field.
“He provides great advice for young journalists,” said Dan Kennedy, a professor of journalism at Northeastern University. he uses the book to facilitate discussions in his journalism ii course.
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Other teachers who also recommended the book:
You are reading: Books on journalism writing
- julien gorbach, the university of hawaii at manoa
7. “The View from Somewhere: Debunking the Myth of Journalistic Objectivity” by Lewis Raven Wallace
“the view from somewhere” offers a detailed explanation ofhow the myth of objectivity has been used to marginalize writers. is a book about how some of the best writers pursued the truth and transparency, but they were punished because they were accused of being biased.
steven william thrasher, an assistant professor of journalism at northwestern university who focuses on social theory, said he loves the book and would highly recommend it.
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Other teachers who also recommended the book:
You are reading: Books on journalism writing
- meg heckman, northeastern university
8. “News Writing and Reporting: The Complete Guide for Today’s Journalist” by Chip Scanlan and Richard Craig
Based on the three pillars of journalism (process, training, and storytelling), “news writing and reporting” offers advice for print and digital copywriters with “quick tip” advice sections and strategies for resolving ethical dilemmas .
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julien gorbach, an assistant professor who teaches intermediate news writing at the university of hawaii at manoa, uses this text to convey “deep, thoughtful guidance” to his students.
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Other teachers who also recommended the book:
You are reading: Books on journalism writing
- brett oppegaard, the university of hawaii at manoa
9. “show me the money: writing business and economics stories for mass communication” by chris roush
If you’re looking for a book based on your personal experience in business journalism, you can’t go wrong with “show me the money.” teaches journalists how to report on specific industries, find sources, and review documents, from security files to invoices.
“what I love about roush’s writing style and his approach to business reporting is that he emphasizes that corporations are not faceless entities, but rather are made up of people who make decisions,” said kelly furnas, professor of journalism at elon university. “illustrates how finance works for students who are not majoring in finance.”
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Other teachers who also recommended the book:
You are reading: Books on journalism writing
- joseph weber, university of nebraska-lincoln
10. “the best american magazine writing” by sid holt
If you’re interested in the publishing industry in general, “America’s Best Magazine Writing” is a great look at the inner workings of journalism. provides excerpts from publications such as the washington post, new york magazine, and the new yorker, among others.
“exhibits world-class journalism as judged by the american society of magazine editors,” said melissa chessher, president syracuse university’s department of magazine, news and digital journalism and professor of magazine writing.
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Other teachers who also recommended the book:
You are reading: Books on journalism writing
- patti wolter, northwestern university
11. “the fact-checker’s bible: a guide to getting it right” by sarah harrison smith
Whether you’re a budding writer or budding journalist, you need “the fact-checker’s bible.” it’s packed with explanations on how to read accurately and determine what to check, including citations, legal responsibilities, and plagiarism.
julia bloch, director of the creative writing program at the university of pennsylvania, recommends this essential tool for the pressing task of fact-checking in a culture overwhelmed by information from disparate media and sources.
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