Journalism Certificate

Partner: Hove College
Price: £1,050

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Journalism certificate programme

Professional copywriting: journalism for print, broadcast and the web Certificate Programme 18-Wk Part-Time (3 hours per wk) Daytime Training Sessions > Learn the writing skills needed for publication > Find out what makes news > Discover how journalists handle stories and features > Learn the techniques of writing for new media

This course is for anyone who wants their writing to be clear, effective and eye-catching. It illustrates clearly the techniques for successful communication in any medium, and shows how professional journalists think and operate. It is a valuable first step for anybody considering writing for money - in print, for broadcast or on the web.In addition, because journalism and public relations are two sides of the same coin, it is a powerful adjunct to the college’s PR curriculum.

The journalism course looks at the entire information-gathering and writing process from deciding what is and is not newsworthy to producing copy and presenting it in a professional manner. An essential part of that is analysing how copywriting dovetails with web design to create websites that will attract browsers.

The course also goes behind the scenes of the various media to look at how print and web journalists and broadcasters make their decisions, what influences them and how PRs can have an impact on them.

At the end of the course, students will be able to communicate even the most complex messages in a clearly understandable and readable form, and will have strong insights into how to deal most effectively with the different audiences they may encounter.

“I found out about the college through a friend of mine who had studied 2 years before. After working for a year to save for the course fees I enrolled in the spring intake. Just 6 months later I was offered a job at Associated Newspapers, working for the Evening Standard and The Mail on Sunday.

Studying at the College was a great experience. I was amazed at how friendly people were right from the start. Although I had opted to study New Media, students from other courses were encouraged to mix so we had a great time supporting one another and socialising together. I would not recommend this course for someone that didn’t want to focus on professional, intensive study. Sure we had time to sit in the garden and chat, walk on the seafront at lunch Ð but studying at the College is no easy option. The small classes are fun but professional, focussing on real skills and up to date knowledge of all aspects of the media industry. The lecturers worked out there in industry and were creative, knowledgeable and friendly.

The whole College experience was fantastic but the real experience has come since graduatingÉgetting a job straight away was proof that my time was well spent and that all the hard work I put in to gain the skills has paid off.

Finally, I have to say that I would not be in the position I am today If it wasn’t for the dedicated staff and the valuable skills I acquired whilst at the College.”

Charlotte Hollands

Course Overview

- OCN Level 4 qualification

• Public relations and communication

• Knowing your readers

• Analysis of publications

• Understand the importance of house style

• Basic sub-editing

• Creating headlines

• Captions, and presenting copy

• Theory and practice of newsroom techniques

• Hierarchy of a national daily

• Defining of features, where ideas come from, general, specialist and news

• Publicity, press offices and identifying a worthwhile story or feature item

• Hands-on: writing copy, story structure and how to keep the story moving

• How to handle a running story

• Copy for web publication

• Legal and ethical responsibilities of being a journalist

• Professional experts: Guest speaker/s

• External visit

• Interviews; preparation, execution and review

• ‘Glamour’ journalism; the issues, techniques and style

• Final, competency exam