With rigorous, trustworthy reporting more necessary than ever, there is no better time to act on your curiosity about a career in journalism. Whether you’re interested in pursuing a story, have a burning idea for features or a punchy opinion piece – or simply want to refine your writing skills – this masterclass is your ideal starting point.
This hands-on course – designed with the complete beginner in mind – will demystify an industry that can appear at times closed-off or complicated. Over three workshops, and supported by an online community, you’ll gain advice on all the essentials – from story-seeking and interviewing, to writing and pitching your work to editors.
Led by the features journalist Erica Buist, with special guest appearances from Guardian writers, this is a course intrinsically linked to Guardian values.
And if you enrol by Friday 14 July, you will receive the additional benefit of a personal one-to-one mentoring session with Erica Buist, where you will have the invaluable opportunity to receive feedback on your work, discuss pitch ideas or simply to ask for career advice from a highly experienced journalist.
This course is for …
Complete beginners
Anyone with a basic knowledge of journalism looking to hone their skills
Course content
Workshop one: Finding the story, Monday 21 August, 6pm-7.30pm BST
We’ll start by looking at idea generation, what makes a news story and how to pitch your ideas to editors. You’ll also dip your toes-in with a writing exercise with the opportunity to share your work for feedback on our online community workspace.
Workshop two: Interviewing skills, Tuesday 22 August, 6pm-7.30pm BST
Our second session will look at four different types of interviews, including how to find your case studies and manage relationships. We’ll cover the important issues of interview etiquette, trust and ethics.
Workshop three: Writing skills, Thursday 24 August, 6pm-7.30pm BST
Finally, we’ll dig into the rich subject of how to write compelling copy and how to structure your writing. You’ll leave with expert advice on how to discover your own authentic writing voice, and the confidence to show it to the world.
Online Community
Throughout your time with us, you’ll have access to an online community where we’ll post additional learning material and share optional tasks to help you make the most of your time with us.
Personal Mentoring Session
If you enrol by midnight Friday 14 July, you will have the option to receive a 15-minute online mentoring session with the journalist Erica Buist, with appointments available on Tuesday 29 August, Thursday 7 September and Thursday 14 September 2023.
Tutor profile
Erica Buist started working for the Guardian in 2013. Having graduated from her journalism Masters in the middle of a jobs crisis, she accidentally became the voice of the unemployed youth via an anonymous comedy blog called How to Be Jobless. She was hired at the Guardian after her blogpost about the interview went viral. After a year as a Guardian staffer she was taken on as a contracted features writer. She then went freelance, travelled to death festivals all over the world and wrote a book called This Party’s Dead. She has taught journalism at Goldsmiths, Lincoln, Cambridge, Exeter and Keele Universities, and also writes plays as part of the writers room at Stockroom Theatre Company.
Details
Dates: Monday 21 August, Tuesday 22 August and Thursday 24 August 2023
Time: 6pm-7.30pm (BST)
Price: £299 (plus £7.80 booking fee); includes personal tutorial if you enrol before Friday 14 July 2023
Catch up recordings will be shared after each class and will be available for four weeks.
This masterclass is available globally. See this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.
6pm BST | 7pm CEST | 10am PDT | 1pm EDT
You will be sent a link to the webinar 24 hours and 30 minutes before the course start time. Please email masterclasses@theguardian.com if you do not receive the access link 24 hours before the scheduled start time.
About Guardian Masterclasses
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Returns policy
Once a purchase is complete we will not be able to refund you where you do not attend or if you cancel your event booking. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
