Course Description
Aimed primarily at non-journalists (and former journalists who want a refresher), this course takes a comprehensive look at different writing techniques for different media. An intensive course that takes delegates through the basics of writing news, features and comment pieces for both web and print. After learning the basics delegates will then learn how to adapt their copy for the web.
Who Should Attend?
- Journalists who are interested in the digital elements of their field
- Non journalists who have taken on writing and editing roles for newsletters, websites, blogs and other mass communication media.
Course Outline
- Introduction and overview of the current media landscape
- What is news? What makes a story? Two questions that all non-journalists need to answer
- How to write a news story
- Structure – Intros and how to use the inverted pyramid
- The importance of people-based stories
- Style, language and pace
- The difference between news and features
- The purpose of features and a look a different styles of feature
- The role of comment, analysis and opinion
- How people consume words on the web – some tips on style and layout
- Search engine optimisation and the impact it might have on your writing style
- Links and extra content – offering the reader choice and variety.
This course is ideal for anyone who is asked to provide words for any channel, both internal and external. It will give delegates a grounding both in news and feature writing and a better understanding of how to write for the web.
Course Length
- One day.
