Free training from professional journalists

Next course dates: 12/13, 19/20, 26/27 May (Wednesdays and Thursdays) from 10 am – 4 pm

Course: 12 half day sessions over 3 weeks

Delivered remotely via Zoom until Covid-19 restrictions allow face-to-face working

Number of participants: up to 10

Course leader: Jean Gray

Tutors: Aidan White, Kay Atwal, Catarina Joele

This course is open to anyone who lives or works in Newham, Waltham Forest, Tottenham, Enfield and City of London.

What you will need:

Access to a computer and Zoom video conferencing (this software is available free and is easy to use. Please contact us if you need assistance with this)
A quiet, comfortable place where you can work undisturbed and where you are free to take part without disturbing others

Currently, we are only able to deliver this course in English, but if you are able to help us provide the course in other languages, we would very much like to hear from you.

The course aims to:

Provide citizen journalists with skills they need to communicate more effectively
Improve writing skills among people across the borough
Help local charities and other organisations to get their messages across more effectively
Provide some insight into how we can ensure that our journalism is fair, accurate, ethical and legal
Inspire and encourage people to write about the local events and issues that concern them, building their skills base as well as their confidence
Act as a starting point for local people who think they may want a career in the media
Explore the various types of media platforms, such as print, online and social media
help potential writers identify the types of articles that would suit them best – news writing, interviews, reviews, features, letters, press releases, etc
Make it fun

Course outcomes

At the end of the course you will be able to:

Identify what makes a news or feature item for Newham Voices
Submit an article or letter that is of a high enough standard for publication
Understand the key elements of news writing
Carry out an interview
Understand the functions and key elements of a press release
Write a blog/opinion article or review
Identify opportunities presented by social media

Session 1

10.00 -10.20 General introductions

10.20-11.15 Introduction to the course and Newham Voices

11.15-11.30 Break

11.30-12.15 What do you read and why? An opportunity to discuss a variety of print and online publications, what appeals to you about them and what we think they are trying to achieve. Be prepared to bring along printed publications and/or website links

12.15-13.30 Lunch

Session 2

13.30-14.15 Who are you writing for? Connecting with your audience. What do readers want? An opportunity to consider different writing styles and formats

14.15-14.30 Break

14.30-15.15

Exercise: Write a 250-word letter to Newham Voices on an issue that interests you

15.15-15.30 Break

15.30-1600 Feedback/discussion

16.00 CLOSE

Session 3

News writing

10.00-10.30 What makes news for a community newspaper?

10.30-11.15 Basics of news reporting

11.15-11.30 Break

11.30-12.30 Identify a news story that you could write.

Exercise – draw up a plan to research your story – where will you go for information, who will you need to speak to. What photographs will you need? Carry out the research

12.30-13.45 Lunch

Session 4

News writing continued

13.45-14.30 How to carry out an interview, notetaking and recording

14.30-15.15 Exercise in pairs – interview each other (role play)

15.15-15.30 Break

15.30-1600 Feedback, questions and answers

16.00 CLOSE

Session 5

News writing continued

10.00-11.00 Write a 350 word news story based on the interview and any research undertaken

11.00-11.15 Break

11.15-11.45 Discussion of the news stories

11.45-12.15 Exercise – cut your news story to 150 words, write a headline and a picture caption

12.15-13.30 Lunch

Session 6

What happens to your news story?

13.30-14.15 The editorial process and the basics of production

14.15-14.45 Discussing the brief, finding out what is wanted by the editor, dealing with queries on your copy

14.45-15.00 Break

15.00-16.00 Is it true, is it fair, is it legal? An introduction to ethics in journalism

16.00 CLOSE

Session 7

Ethics continued

10.00-10.45 Exercise in pairs: A case study

10.45–11.15 Group discussion on the case study

11.15-11.30 Break

11.30-12.30 The five core values of journalism. Video, presentation and discussion

12.30-13.30 Lunch

Session 8

Getting your message across

13.30-14.15 Main elements of a press release

14.15-15.00 Exercise – write a short press release based on a handout

15.00-15.15 Break

15.15-15.45 Write a report for Newham Voices based on your press release

15.45-16.00 Feedback

NB: homework – overnight watch a TV programme, film or YouTube video so that you can write a review of it tomorrow

Session 9

10.00-10.45 Introduction to feature writing

10.45-11.15 Exercise – come up with:

* A list of feature ideas for Newham Voices

* Names of people who would make a good interview for Newham Voices

11.15-11.30 Break

11.30-12.00 Other types of article: reviews, opinion articles, information announcements.

12.00-13.00 Write a 150-word review of the programme you watch the night before.

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

Session 10

14.00-14.30 Share reviews

14.30-15.15 Write a 300-word piece on something you do for pleasure, a hobby, sport or political activity. (You will carry on with this after your break)

15.15-15.30 Break

15.30-16.00 carry on writing your opinion piece

16.00 CLOSE

Session 11

10.00-10.45 An introduction to virtual publishing – online and social media

10.45-11.15 Discuss how you use the internet, what do you use it for, how does it differ from print?

11.15-11.30 Break

11.30-12.15 Exercise: turn your opinion piece into a 500-word blog for the web, including appropriate links etc

12.15=13.15 Lunch

Session 12

13.15-15.45 Mobile journalism – including exercises and break

15.45-16.00 Last things

16.00 CLOSE

For more information or to enrol, contact training@newhamvoices.co.uk.

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