Courses > Journalism

Our journalism course is made up of ten lessons that cover the following topics. Click on a link below to find out more about a lesson.

• Lesson 1 : Writing to Sell
• Lesson 2 : Form and Style
• Lesson 3 : The Informative Article
• Lesson 4 : Psychological Articles
• Lesson 5 : Styles in Journalism
• Lesson 6 : Subject Finding and Copy Gathering
• Lesson 7 : The Scope of the Freelance
• Lesson 8 : The Women's Papers
• Lesson 9 : The Magazines
• Lesson 10 : Your Reference Library

Lesson 1 : Writing to Sell

This lesson covers:

• The journalist's viewpoint
• Seeing the interesting angle
• Four fundamental factors
• How to prepare the manuscript
• Your title page
• Faults in presentation
• Essential details
• Specimen page of typescript
• Your pen-name- what to avoid
• Why manuscripts come back
• Don't duplicate
• Second Serial Rights
• The dispatch book-looking ahead
• Three vital points
• Exercise work

• EXTRA LESSON 'An Introduction to Journalism' - Staff work - Freelance work - The Editor's job - Literary forms, with specimen articles.

Lesson 2 : Form and Style

This lesson covers:

• Market study
• Three main points
• Grouping your markets
• Submitting your work
• Studying form
• MODELS, choosing and using them
• Working to pattern
• Finding what is typical
• The importance of style
• The right words
• The Journalist's reading
• Exercise work

Lesson 3: The Informative Article

This lesson covers:

• News sense
• The short article
• Subject and length
• Finding the facts
• Subjects at your fingertips
• Topical interests - localised interests
• Foreign subjects
• Linking the familiar with the unfamiliar
• Presenting the facts
• Importance of accuracy
• Authentication
• Titles
• How to open; the right way, the wrong way
• Exercise work

Lesson 4: Psychological Articles

This lesson covers:

Group 1:

• Viewpoint
• Feminine interest essential
• Treatment - no rods in pickle !
• The news basis
• Notes that help
• Opening illustrative examples

Group 2:

• Three fundamental human desires
• Two methods of treatment
• Don't lecture!
• The final sentence
• Exercise work

Lesson 5: Styles in Journalism

This lesson covers:

• Writing with "punch"
• "Punch" exemplified
• Markets and features
• How to develop interest
• Dissecting an article
• The lesson it teaches
• The London Press
• The Provincial Newspapers
• Success by easy stages
• How to condense, with practical subbing of an article
• 'First person' treatment
• Exercise work

Lesson 6: Subject Finding and Copy Gathering

This lesson covers:

• Looking for subjects
• reading for subjects
• Current news and ideas
• Subjects from news items, with practical examples
• Development of ideas
• Topical subject
• "Pull"
• Collecting copy
• New twist to old subjects
• How to interview: Preparing the way
• What you must not do
• Your reference library and news cuttings
• Exercise work

Lesson 7: The Scope of the Freelance

This lesson covers:

The Popular Weeklies: Group 1

• What Editors want
• Importance of topical openings
• Subjects that are always welcome
• The sensational title
• Summary of Group 1 requirements
• The Illustrated Weeklies

Group 2: Importance of human interest

• Photographs and copyright
• Summary of requirements
• Exercise work

Lesson 8: The Women's Papers

This lesson covers:

• Subjects they all publish
• The tactful approach
• Special features
• Various angles of the same subject
• Psychological features
• The 'Advice' Articles
• Don't dictate
• Additional markets
• The point of view
• Exercise work

Lesson 9: The Magazines

This lesson covers:

• Illustrated articles
• Technical points for reproduction
• Creating human interest
• Copyright considerations
• Caption writing
• Topicality again!
• Magazine subjects
• Time elements
• The motoring papers
• Celebrity features
• How to go to work
• Fees for illustrations
• Reproduction rights
• Exercise work

Lesson 10: Your Reference Library

This lesson covers:

• Where to find your facts
• Your own filing system
• Your best friend
• Money from ten minutes work
• You must get tough
• Make a plan
• News inspiration
• Exercise work