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Below you'll find answers to commonly asked questions.
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  • Will you send me proof of payment?

    You can print a receipt for your payment at any time. Simply log into your account with your user name and password,then go to "My NewsU." "My Recent Orders" will appear on the right side of the page. Click on the order number that is closest to you payment date or amount for a printable receipt.

  • What is News University?

    News University is one of the world's most innovative online journalism training programs ever created. From multimedia techniques to writing and reporting, we've got more than 85 free and low-cost courses. As the e-learning project of The Poynter Institute, NewsU extends Poynter’s mission as a school for journalists, future journalists and teachers of journalism.

  • Who is the audience?

    Journalists, journalism students, educators and those who are interested journalism and media. Courses at NewsU are designed for journalists at all levels of experience and in all types of media.

  • When did NewsU start?

    Our official launch was in April 2005.

  • How much does NewsU charge?

    Many courses are free, especially those that are self-directed. For courses with more faculty interaction, we try to keep our costs reasonable for both individuals and organizations with limited resources.

  • Does NewsU offer financial aid for fee-based courses?

    We know times are tight. So, thanks to several grants, we are able to offer journalists a limited number of scholarships to our Webinars and online group seminars. For details, go to www.newsu.org/scholarships.

  • What do your courses teach?

    We offer courses across the scope of journalism and media literacy: leadership and management; reporting, writing and editing; broadcast; online; ethics; visual journalism; and journalism education.

  • Do I need special software?

    No special software is needed. NewsU’s interactive learning courses are Web-based. Depending on the course, a high-speed or broadband connection might be important for the learning experience. Many of the courses, however, require the Flash player plug-in

  • What is the format for NewsU courses?

    News University offers several kinds of e-learning: self-directed modules, online group seminars, Webinars, tutorials, seminar snapshots and technology training. Self-Directed Learning Modules. (In e-learning language, they’re called “asynchronous” modules.) These are the ultimate in e-learning flexibility. Participants can start and stop whenever they like, progressing entirely at their own pace and going back as many times as they want to review the material. The modules make use of interactive technology, so they're more engaging than a mere collection of Web pages.

    Online Group (or "semi-synchronous") Seminars. Participants gather in a virtual space, logging in from anywhere, day or night, over the course of several days or several weeks. A faculty member guides the group through new material, moderates discussions and provides individual feedback.

    Webinars or eSeminars ("synchronous" modules). These are live seminars or events broadcast over the Web; participants can tune in from their computer at work or at home and ask questions in real-time. And if they can't join us live, we make recordings of many of these seminars available as self-directed learning modules.

    Seminar Snapshots. These are edited video highlights and other materials that capture the key learning points of seminar presentations at The Poynter Institute or at other training events.

    Tutorials. NewsU Tutorials will help you get started with Web applications and tools. Using step-by-step instructions and screengrabs, these guides demonstrate the basics of working with these applications. You can start and stop on your own schedule and come back as often as you like.

    Technology Training. NewsU Tech is our training library to help you develop your software and technical skills. Each module in a NewsU Tech course creates software simulations that give you a feel for working in the program. Using audio, slideshows and offline activities, you'll explore how to use the software without having to buy or install any program.

  • I cannot attend the live Webinar. Will I have access to the archived version?

    If you paid for the live Webinar prior to the event, you will have automatic, unlimited access to the replay. We commit to putting the replay on the site by the end of the second business day after the live Webinar. You can access it as often as you wish after that by logging into your account at www.newsu.org, clicking on "My NewsU" and then on the Webinar title.

  • What is a self-directed course?

    These are the ultimate in e-learning flexibility. Choose what course you want to take, when and where you take it and how to apply what you've learned. Most self-directed courses take just an hour or two to complete. You can work on your own schedule, starting and stopping whenever you like and coming back as many times as you want to review the material. The modules make use of interactive technology, so they're more engaging than a mere collection of Web pages.

  • What is an online group seminar?

    Much like a traditional class, an online group seminar has readings, assignments, due dates and discussion forums. A faculty member guides the group through new material, moderates discussions and provides individual feedback. To create an optimal interactive learning experience for each participant, the total enrollment in an online seminar is limited.

  • How do I sign up?

    If you’re interested in joining an online group seminar, you must complete the online application and be accepted into the course. You will be notified prior to the start of the course whether you’ve been accepted and given instructions on how to pay for the course.

  • How long does it take?

    The content of online group seminars unfolds over several weeks. There are few scheduled meeting times, except for several live discussions, so you'll be able to learn on a schedule that works for you. The minimum time commitment each week generally is three to four hours.

  • How does an online group seminar work?

    Online group seminars use a variety of tools to help you sharpen your skills. Across the four weeks, you’ll find:

    * Readings - We’ve gathered the most helpful material on the topic. * Discussion areas - You’ll exchange ideas with fellow participants, faculty and other industry leaders in a series of discussion areas. E-mail alerts will help you stay up-to-date on course activity. * Interactive activities - You’ll encounter rich, self-directed activities throughout the course. * Assignments - You’ll apply what you’re learning with a range of activities to hone your skills. * Podcasts and vodcasts - A range of multimedia materials, including podcast interviews and vodcast teaching sessions, will complement the course readings.
  • What is a Webinar?

    Our Webinars allow you to join online seminars led by Poynter faculty and other leading industry professionals from your home, office or classroom.

    You’ll see a slide presentation and hear the instructor's voice through your computer's speakers. (If your hardware or bandwidth isn't up to the task, you can use your phone to hear the instructor via teleconference.) The instructor advances the slides throughout the presentation.

    During the broadcast, you'll see a Q&A panel on the screen where you can post questions or comments. Our host shares as many questions with the presenter and the broadcast audience as time permits. You can also respond to poll questions posted by the host.

  • What type of degree or certification do you offer?

    News University does not issue a certificate, diploma or degree. We offer a variety of self-directed training courses that you can complete in 1-4 hours, Webinars (live and replays) that take approximately 1 hour, technical software training, and 3 and 4 week on-line group seminars. There are no prerequisites for the self-directed courses, the Webinars or the technical software training. Because participants in our on-line group seminars interact with each other throughout the course, the instructors require applications and make their selections to create a stimulating environment with a more uniform level of experience, skill or background.

  • Are there any pre-requisites for self-directed courses?

    Anyone can enroll in our self-directed courses. Our Journalism Basics are typically designed for people with little or no professional background, ideal for students, the general public with an interest in journalism, or those new to the field. The Software and Technical Training modules cover the most basic through more advanced material in the same module.

  • Can several people attend a live Webinar with one registration?

    Technically, one registration for the Webinar buys one connection for the event. We do encourage our participants to gather as many people as they like around a computer or projector to watch the live event together. We recommend that you have speakers or use a good conference phone so everyone can hear the audio portion and a projector so everyone can see the screencast presentation. You also will need to determine how interactive polling questions asked during the Webinar will be answered. If you are participating with a group, we encourage you to test (http://www.newsu.org/webinartest) and enter the event early.

    Anybody wanting to join the Webinar from a different location will have to sign up individually (with their own username) and be charged per individual. Only one person can connect to the Webinar with your username. At this time, there are no discounts for groups from one organization.

  • What does it take to participate in a Webinar?

    You must have a fast and reliable Internet connection and a monitor resolution set to 1024 x 768 or higher.

    You also need Adobe’s free Flash Player. Most computers already have it installed, but if you'd like to make sure you've got the latest version of Flash, you can run a short test first, preferably before the live event is scheduled to begin. It will also tell you if you've got enough speed.

    If you fail the test, it may be because your firewall is blocking ports 1935 and 443. In order to participate in our Webinars, your IT folks will need to open one of these two ports. If this is not possible, you will not be able to participate in either the live webinar or watch the archived version as both require access to these ports.

    It is important to run the test if you have not participated in a recent NewsU Webinar using Adobe Connect. If you’re not sure, go ahead and do it anyway.

  • How can I change my personal information, including my email address or password?

    After logging into www.newsu.org with your user name and password, click on "MyNewsU." Your will see a block on the right side of the page with the "Edit My Account" link. Click on it and you can change personal data and/or your email address and password. You cannot, however, change your user name.

  • I've forgotten my log in information. Do I need to set up a new account?

    If you cannot recall your password, you can request a new one from the sign in page by going to the "Request New Password" tab. You will immediately receive a link to set up a new one, sent to the email address on record for your account.

    If you cannot recall your username, you can go to the "Request New Password" link and enter the email address associated with your account. You will receive an immediate email with a link to your account where you can go in, retrieve your user name and set a new password.

  • I did not receive a confirmation to my registration on your site.

    It may be the our original email with the confirmation link was stopped by your spam filter. Please check your deleted items and/or junk mailbox to see if it might be there. Also, please configure your system to allow email from the domain: newsu.org. In the meantime, you can email info@newsu.org to ask us to temporarily assign a password (tell us what you want us to use) and we will do so and let you know it is done. Then you will have to log into your account, navigate to My NewsU and then to Edit My Account to change the password. The NewsU Crew does not have access to your password information unless you give it to us.

  • How do I pay for News University courses?

    To purchase a Webinar, Online Group Seminar, Workshop or other course, simply log into your account at www.newsu.org with your user name and password, then click on the title of the course. You will find an Enroll button in the dark box on the right side. Click on it and then on the Checkout button. At this time we accept payment by credit card only. Enter the name and address applicable to your credit card, then the credit card information (if you have a Promo Code or Gift Certificate Number, enter it on this page, below your billing information but above the credit card number) and click on Review Order. If all is correct, click Submit. As soon as the transaction is approved by the bank, you will be able to print a receipt from that page.

    If you are paying by P-card, you would enter the same information as above. Some P-cards have institutional blocks that prevent you from using them on our site. If your P-card transaction is denied, please contact the issuing bank for assistance.

  • How can I get a receipt for payment?

    Click on the name of the course for which you need the receipt. There will be a link called "Receipt" just under the course title. When you click on it, a receipt will appear.

  • My students are complaining they are not able to complete their registration on your site.

    They are not able to complete their registration if they are using email addresses that block incoming mail from the domain newsu.org. If they are using personal email addresses, they should have no problem receiving the confirmation email.

    If you are a k-12 or college instructor who assigns NewsU courses to your students, you can request a class code prior to making the assignment. Go to https://www.newsu.org/request-class-code and complete the form. We will email you a code to give to your students. They will enter this code at the very end of the NewsU registration page to solve this problem.

  • How will I access a Webinar?

    We send out a reminder notice about noon Eastern time the day of a live Webinar. It will tell you to log in to your account at www.newsu.org with your username and password, click on the title of the Webinar which will appear near the top of the home page AND on the My NewsU page. Once there, click on the links and you will be automatically redirected to the Webinar.

    If you enrolled in the live event and missed it, you will have automatic access to the replay as soon as we make it available on our site. We commit to making the replay available by the end of the 2nd business day after a live Webinar. Log in to your account at www.newsu.org with your username and password, click on the title of the Webinar which will appear near on the My NewsU page. Once there, click on the links and you will be automatically redirected to the Webinar.

    If you enrolled in a Replay only, click on the title of the Webinar which will appear near the top of the home page AND on the My NewsU page. Once there, click on the links and you will be automatically redirected to the Webinar.

  • What is the certificate program at Poynter's News University?

    The certificate program is designed to measure the successful completion and understanding of a segment of NewsU training.

  • How do I earn a certificate?

    To receive a certificate, you must take the NewsU courses associated with that certificate program and then successfully complete an online assessment for each course.

  • When do I get my certificate?

    When you have passed all the assessments in a certificate program track, you will get instructions on how to download the certificate.

  • How do I know whether I passed?

    You must score at least 80 percent to pass each assessment. Your score will appear on the screen once you've answered the final question in the assessment.

  • What happens if I don't pass?

    You have three chances to pass each assessment. Your certificate page will show your status on each assessment as you work through the program.

  • What's included in the assessment?

    Each assessment contains about 15-20 multiple-choice and true-false questions. You'll have 30 minutes to complete each assessment and you can monitor your time as you work through the questions. You'll get one question on a page, with minimal distractions. The questions are based on the content of the course, so study hard.

  • Can I see my results?

    We will give you the results as soon as you complete an assessment, but we won't tell you which answers were correct or incorrect. This is different from the quizzes and activities in our courses, in which you can learn from all the answers. The assessment is designed to measure your proficiency with the course content.

  • Do I have to take the assessments in order?

    Once you've enrolled in a certificate track, you may take the assessments at any time and in any order. It doesn't matter which assessment, or which course, you take first. When you pass all the assessments, you will receive your certificate.