How To Be A Journalist The Complete Guide

All you need to know to become a freelance journalist or staffer and get paid for what you write.

Last updated 2022-01-10 | 4.3

- write news and feature articles and get them published
- work as a freelancer or apply for jobs with leading media organisations

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

Course content

8 sections • 47 lectures

How to be a journalist - the complete guide 1 lectures

Introduction Preview 02:11

Welcome to the course. By the time you get to the end of this course you will have learnt all you need to know to become a journalist.

What is a journo? 1 lectures

What is a journalist? Preview 06:07

Find out what journalists do and how they work.

Writing news 15 lectures

What is news? Preview 01:49

Learn what makes a news story.

Who, what, where, when, why, how Preview 02:43

News story building blocks - what they are and how to use them.

The news intro or lead Preview 02:51

Grabbing readers' attention with a great opening paragraph. Learn how to write them.

Building your story Preview 01:44

Getting the facts, quotes and when to use them, adding colour and depth.

Headlines Preview 01:12

Write great headlines, and why editors like it when you do.

Quotes in depth Preview 04:24

Why quotes are important, the difference between live and indirect quotes.

Apostrophes Preview 04:11

What they are and how to use them correctly.

Accuracy Preview 04:16

How to get it right every time, and why it helps anchor your writing career.

Fact, opinion, or both? Preview 01:54

When to put your opinion in, why you usually don't, and the difference it makes.

Quick Quiz Preview 01:24

Test yourself on what you've learned so far.

Summary Preview 01:17

A round-up of this section and focus on what you can now do with the skills you've learned.

Assignment Preview 03:06

Write a news story based on what you now know about the news gathering and writing process.

How have you done? Preview 03:31

Let's look at your news story and see how you've done.

Lecture 16: Assignment - how to write a story

Now it's time to plan out a story. This short lecture outlines the background to a story about a motorway planned to go through a beautiful valley. How would you approach this story? Have a look and then let's get to work.