One of the more successful way of training new folks in visual literacy is through patterns. One such pattern that is used in journalism circles is the "BBC 5 shot" pattern, pioneered by Michael Rosenblum. (See the Wikipedia article Sandbag for an example of this, done by Fuzheado). It states that all stories should be human-oriented, and always consist of this sequence as a start:
Wikipedia:WikiProject_Lights_Camera_Wiki - Good technical description, but provides little assistance on visual literacy and shooting technique. Page dormant for two years now, though videos are added through smaller projects.
Albert Kahn's Archives of the Planet - shots of everyday life, in Paris and all over the world. BBC had a TV series, The Wonderful World of Albert Kahn.