Certificate in Journalism

Course details

The Certificate in Journalism course has 10 modules covering the following subjects:

Module 1: Introduction to Journalism

A look at the role and function of a journalist including the organisation, collection and processing of information, defining your audience and working to time constraints.

Module 2: Use of language

Grammar, punctuation, syntax, monotony, verbosity and spelling.

Module 3: News reporting

How to write a story including the Inverted Pyramid method, the 5 Ws & H, and writing with authority and balance.

Module 4: Writing for Newsletters

Writing for ezines - blogging - writing for the web - monitoring tweets - sourcing information from social media etc.

Module 5: Feature Writing

Writing a feature (including Hook, Line and Sinker), different types of features, finding sources and handling off-the-record comments.

Module 6: How the media works

Newspaper departments including editorial, news, features, photography, production, and specialist sections. Press conferences, syndicates and newspaper libraries.

Module 7: Journalists and the law

The Courts structure, contempt of court, libel and defamation.

Module 8: Sourcing the News

Keeping a contacts book, finding an idea, researching a story, finding a newspaper to publish it.

Module 9: Interviewing techniques

Funnel and inverted funnel interviews, planning and structuring questions, dealing with 'no comment', personal questions and hostile interviewees.

Module 10: Colour writing

Writing with atmosphere, emotion, presence, perspective and insight.