Fundamentals of journalism, standards of news journalism
Television story writing
Plotting
The first lectures in the Television Journalist/TV presenter course are about journalistic standards. Then we study the types and kinds of TV stories and learn how to write for television. Teachers pay special attention to the dramaturgy of a news story. We also learn how to read out stories and do interviews.

We study using modern equipment in comfortable studios. Besides the classical basics of news journalism, we obligatory study the art of anchorperson – speech, gestures, and behavior in the frame.

All students have an opportunity to communicate with a teacher and classmates not only in person but also online (in a closed FB-group) during and after the training. This is convenient when doing homework, collaborative projects, brainstorming, job search, etc.

All students who successfully complete the course receive an official Certificate.

Course Program

Class #1
7 standards of journalism. Journalism ethics. TV ratings and sociology. The search for and formulation of news. Infopod.

Class 2.
Planning topics. The search for characters and experts. The structure and dramaturgy of the story. Writing the text of the story. Interviews. Working at a press conference. Creating infographics.

Class 3
Recording the story. Working in the frame. Editing the story. Working on live action.

Who is this course for?
The Applied Basic Course “TV Journalist/TV Presenter” will be of interest to anyone who wants to start working professionally in TV journalism.

Our students include:

• video bloggers
• copywriters
• PR specialists
• media workers

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You’ll see how to handle an ongoing story, understand the importance of corporate style, basic “subheadings,” creating headlines and captions, and presenting text. It also provides a thorough introduction to newsroom theory and practice, and details the necessary legal and ethical considerations.

Syllabus
Lesson 1: Getting Started in Journalism
Myths and realities, responsibilities and ethics of the profession. How the British press evolved and what legacy it left to the world press. The battle to maintain and increase circulation. The five major categories of newspapers, from national dailies to provincial weeklies. Familiarity with magazines and trade journals. Hierarchy of the daily newspaper.
Assessment tasks include:
Writing a factual account of a recent event
Providing information about you and your interests

Lesson 2: What is news?
How to develop a strong sense of news and recognize the various factors that determine the strength and prominence of published stories. Identifying the professional skills and personal qualities needed by a news reporter. How to make contacts and identify and track potential clients.
Assessment assignments include:
Rewriting a poorly written
text Submitting a 250-word news article.

Lesson 3: Junior Reporter.
By getting a junior reporter assignment at a provincial weekly newspaper, you will learn basic newsgathering and copywriting skills. The importance of the news diary in distributing the workload, what is needed for “calls” and how reporters proceeded to write accurate and attention-grabbing “introductions.”
Assessment assignments include:
Writing a brief news release
Editing a press release

Lesson 4: Senior Reporter.
What can you learn from the experience? Insight and flair, accurate interpretation of complex facts and their implications. Your first visit to the magistrate’s court – how cases are recorded. Basic rules for conducting interviews, both in person and over the phone. Necessary skills and pitfalls to avoid.
Assessment tasks include:
Writing a court report.
Conducting the interview and drafting it

Lesson 5: Filing copy.
Mastering the most fundamental journalistic skills – filing clean and accurate copy, understanding the purpose of house style, and learning how newspaper English differs from other forms of writing. How and where to find important information quickly and how to prepare news stories based on information taken from handouts and press releases.
Assessment assignments include:
Writing a live news story for the evening newspaper.

Lesson 6: Evening Newspapers.
Life in a lively evening newspaper. Its structure and staff hierarchy, the importance of deadlines, and the use of individual editions. Coverage of a typical King’s Court case; how to present a “current story” and a special news release; processing required for gossip and diary column stories.
Assessment assignments include:
Covering a current story.
Selecting a news story for consideration as a “special
Writing two articles for a secular column

Lesson 7: Nationals.
How Republican newspapers differ from the provincial press. The importance of politics and exclusives; what is meant by “national outlook,” issues related to checkbook journalism, and other ethical concerns. How citizens define their target audience and how that shapes their content.
Assessment tasks include:
Comparing news styles in morning daily newspapers
Writing a feature story based on a major news story.

Lesson 8: Journalists and the Law
Legal restrictions and how journalists can avoid costly lawsuits. Dangers of libel and other pitfalls; qualified privilege and unintentional defamation; criminal libel; and the need for fairness and accuracy. Restrictions on court reports and danger of contempt of court when cases are pending. The Official Secrets Act, press rights, and a brief overview of copyright law.
Assessment tasks include:
Working with a special column or article
Drafting a safe, objective and accurate account of a crime
Defining legal terminology

Lesson 9: The Qualified Journalist
As part of a comprehensive review of your training to date, here you will conduct a self-assessment exercise and learn how trainee journalists can advance their careers. Using sub-editing skills to hone your writing style; how to use check marks.
Assessment tasks include:
Creating a personal 12-month action plan with clear goals to achieve .

The post News journalism appeared first on MTNews.

This is an accelerated magazine writing course in which you will learn how to conduct research, conduct interviews, and write magazine articles. Throughout the course, you will receive feedback on your ideas and practical help with any difficulties or obstacles you may encounter in researching your stories.

Students say, “So much material was covered and we got a real sense of what magazine editors are looking for”; “It gave me the confidence to make a presentation, write an essay/article, and approach editors”; “The class discussions were rich and varied”; “It was a very practical course filled with great advice and information”; “Brilliant. .

What will we cover?

• How to analyze the market in terms of general features, hard and soft features and specialized articles.
• What makes a feature sell and where to look for inspiration.
• Research labels and where to look for additional information. Internet research opportunities.
• How to prepare for an interview.
• How to get readers interested and keep them interested.
• Planning an article.
• Selling an article.

What will I accomplish?
By the end of this course, you should be able to…

• Start analyzing the market and write first drafts of general articles, news articles, and specialty articles.
• Brainstorm for ideas – learn what would make a good sellable story and where to look for inspiration.
• Prepare for the interview by researching the topic and formulating the right questions – in the right order.

What level is the course at and do I need any special skills?
The course is designed specifically for students who are serious about publishing their work and includes a thorough approach to market analysis. Some of the basic qualities that will determine a person’s success or failure are determination, enthusiasm, and hard work. It is very important that you have a good command of the English language.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside of class?
Group work, discussion, handouts highlighting key points, and short writing assignments in class. You will be asked to think about the questions and identify the answers. You may find it helpful to practice the writing skills you are experimenting with in class at home. Oral feedback will be offered on your writing one at a time, time permitting.

The post Writing for magazines appeared first on MTNews.

Digital journalism is booming, but what are the options for writers and how is writing for an online publication different from print? This introductory course provides a great foundation, covering the marketplace, different article formats, pitching, basic headlines and sales. It’s suitable for everyone.

What will we cover?

• The differences between print and online media
• Writing and distributing news and articles
• The basics of social media
• Opportunities for digital writers.

What will I accomplish?
By the end of this course, you should be able to…

• Write a news article and an article for the web
• Submit ideas to appropriate publications
• Create copy for social media and get followers
• Explore different ways to use your digital skills, from blogging to creating multimedia content for a brand.

What level is the course at and do I need any special skills?
This is an introductory course for anyone interested in the basics of digital journalism, from writing for online publications to creating content for social media.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside of class?
You will be taught through a combination of pair work, group work, tutor instruction, writing exercises, and reading exercises.

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