How to be a Journalist - The Complete Guide to Journalism
What you'll learn
- write news and feature articles and get them published
- work as a freelancer or apply for jobs with leading media organisations
Requirements
- You need a computer - either Mac or PC - and bring your own passion...
Description
So, you want to be a journalist? But you've never known where to start...
Perhaps you thought you needed to go to college or university and spend thousands on a degree first...
Fact is, whoever you are and whatever life and career stage you're at, this complete guide will equip you with all the skills needed to become a proper journalist.
And you'll learn how to earn a living writing great journalism too.
How to be a Journalist - The Complete Guide is written and presented by Tony Bosworth, an experienced international editor and journalist across newspapers, magazines and online. Tony's written for some of the world's best daily newspapers, including the Guardian, Times, Financial Times and Independent.
He's launched or relaunched 15 magazines and websites. He's had his own weekly radio spot on London's LBC, and he's appeared on TV too.
But Tony is also an educator who's trained hundreds of beginner journalists in practical journalism and media law at colleges and universities across the UK and Australia.
"So I know what editors are looking for," says Tony. "Either freelance writing or full-time."
"They are not looking for people with college and university degrees, believe me. Quite simply, editors want good, well written stories. They want people who can sit down and pull a good news story together. They want people who can craft a compelling feature. They want writers who can interview. And they want writers who know and understand media law too."
"You will learn all these crucial skills, and more through my course. And at the end of the course you will be able to confidently go out and pitch real stories to editors, and they will listen because they know you can write."
Tony Bosworth is an editor and journalist so he knows what editors are looking for and through this course he shares all his experiences, knowledge, and even tricks of the trade, so you learn all the skills you need to be successful. Whether you're young, old, experienced or inexperienced - this enjoyable practical course will help turn you into a real journalist.
Video lectures, assignments and quizzes keep you interested, motivated and learning quickly.
Through the Udemy Discussion boards, you'll also be able to ask me questions anytime.
Here's what the course covers:
• What is a journalist?
• What is news?
• Who, what, where, when, why, how?
• The news intro or lead
• Building your story
• Headlines
• Quotes in depth
• Apostrophies
• Accuracy
• Fact, opinion or both
• How to plan and set up interviews
• Getting the interview
• The confident interview
• Getting people to talk
• The different types of interviews
• Getting the facts right
• Keep your words to yourself
• When things don't go according to plan
• No comment and off the record
• What is a feature?
• The importance of word count
• Pictures with your story
• Specialist reporting
• What is media law and why do you need to know
• The basics of media law and privacy
• Contempt of court
• Slander and libel
• Defamation
• In the public interest
• Court reporting
• Getting the facts right
• Who does what
• Style guide
• What you need to know before you pitch
• Getting paid
• What next?
Sign up for my course and you will soon be on your way to becoming a real journalist.
Who this course is for:
- This course is for anyone who wants to be a journalist
- The course is also an excellent refresher for all journalists
Featured review
Instructor
I've taught practical journalism and media law at Harlow and Lambeth Colleges in the UK and the University of Westminster. I've mentored students and helped them find jobs in the media.
But I'm also a successful international journalist, working across newspapers, magazines and online, and I've also worked at senior level in Public Relations.
In Australia I've been Editor-in-Chief and Course Coordinator at the Australian College of Journalism where I migrated paper courses in journalism and creative writing into a digital online environment
Positions I've held across consumer, B2B and client publishing include Editor, Managing Editor, Publisher, Head of Publishing, Chief of Staff and Business Manager.
My articles have appeared in the UK in The Guardian, Independent, Daily Star, Financial Times, Times, and in Australia in The Bulletin weekly news magazine.
I've launched or relaunched more than 15 magazines and websites in the UK and Australia.
Five non-fiction books I've written have been published globally, and a novel under a pen-name came out in early 2016.
I had a weekly radio spot for five years on London's LBC Radio.
And of course I'm also the presenter of the online video course - How to be a Journalist - The Complete Guide.
In addition to teaching, I have also founded and run a local news website in Australia which provides a daily news service - Hawkesbury Post.