How to be a Journalist - The Complete Guide to Journalism

Tony Bosworth

So, you want to be a journalist? But you've never known where to start...

Perhaps you thought you needed to go to college or university and spend thousands on a degree first...

So, you want to be a journalist? But you've never known where to start...

Perhaps you thought you needed to go to college or university and spend thousands on a degree first...

Fact is, whoever you are and whatever life and career stage you're at, this complete guide will equip you with all the skills needed to become a proper journalist.

And you'll learn how to earn a living writing great journalism too.

How to be a Journalist - The Complete Guide is written and presented by Tony Bosworth, an experienced international editor and journalist across newspapers, magazines and online. Tony's written for some of the world's best daily newspapers, including the Guardian, Times, Financial Times and Independent.

He's launched or relaunched 15 magazines and websites. He's had his own weekly radio spot on London's LBC, and he's appeared on TV too.

But Tony is also an educator who's trained hundreds of beginner journalists in practical journalism and media law at colleges and universities across the UK and Australia.

"So I know what editors are looking for," says Tony. "Either freelance writing or full-time."

"They are not looking for people with college and university degrees, believe me. Quite simply, editors want good, well written stories. They want people who can sit down and pull a good news story together. They want people who can craft a compelling feature. They want writers who can interview. And they want writers who know and understand media law too."

"You will learn all these crucial skills, and more through my course. And at the end of the course you will be able to confidently go out and pitch real stories to editors, and they will listen because they know you can write."

Tony Bosworth is an editor and journalist so he knows what editors are looking for and through this course he shares all his experiences, knowledge, and even tricks of the trade, so you learn all the skills you need to be successful. Whether you're young, old, experienced or inexperienced - this enjoyable practical course will help turn you into a real journalist.

Video lectures, assignments and quizzes keep you interested, motivated and learning quickly.

Through the Udemy Discussion boards, you'll also be able to ask me questions anytime.

Here's what the course covers:

• What is a journalist?

• What is news?

• Who, what, where, when, why, how?

• The news intro or lead

• Building your story

• Headlines

• Quotes in depth

• Apostrophies

• Accuracy

• Fact, opinion or both

• How to plan and set up interviews

• Getting the interview

• The confident interview

• Getting people to talk

• The different types of interviews

• Getting the facts right

• Keep your words to yourself

• When things don't go according to plan

• No comment and off the record

• What is a feature?

• The importance of word count

• Pictures with your story

• Specialist reporting

• What is media law and why do you need to know

• The basics of media law and privacy

• Contempt of court

• Slander and libel

• Defamation

• In the public interest

• Court reporting

• Getting the facts right

• Who does what

• Style guide

• What you need to know before you pitch

• Getting paid

• What next?

Enroll now

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Write news and feature articles and get them published

Work as a freelancer or apply for jobs with leading media organisations

Write news and feature articles and get them published
Work as a freelancer or apply for jobs with leading media organisations

Syllabus

Welcome to the course. Start to discover what a journalist is and what a journalist does, and how you become a successful writer

Welcome to the course. By the time you get to the end of this course you will have learnt all you need to know to become a journalist.

Find out who journalists are and what they do.

Find out what journalists do and how they work.

Spot news stories, structure stories and write compelling news articles

Learn what makes a news story.

News story building blocks - what they are and how to use them.

Grabbing readers' attention with a great opening paragraph. Learn how to write them.

Getting the facts, quotes and when to use them, adding colour and depth.

Write great headlines, and why editors like it when you do.

Why quotes are important, the difference between live and indirect quotes.

What they are and how to use them correctly.

How to get it right every time, and why it helps anchor your writing career.

When to put your opinion in, why you usually don't, and the difference it makes.

Test yourself on what you've learned so far.

A round-up of this section and focus on what you can now do with the skills you've learned.

Write a news story based on what you now know about the news gathering and writing process.

Let's look at your news story and see how you've done.

Lecture 16: Assignment - how to write a story

Lecture 17: Assignment - How have you done?

Know how to successfully plan an interview, get an interview, write a story and what happens when it doesn't all go according to plan...

What you need to do before you try to get the interview.

The secret to confidently interview anyone.

How to get interviewees to tell you everything you need to know.

A guide to the different types of stories you can write from an interview

Double-checks and follow-ups to make sure it's all correct.

What if someone wants to read your work before it's published?

Not all interviews run smoothly, but that's not always a bad thing...

What they mean and what you can do about them.

A round-up of everything you've learned in this section.

You'll be able to come up with feature ideas and craft compelling articles

How to spot a feature idea and come up with great original ideas.

Why it's important to stick to the word count an editor gives you, and how to suggest you need more space.

How to provide them, how many, and why they are important.

How you become a specialist, plus the pros and cons.

Let's see what you've learned in this section.

You will have a full understanding of media law, including what you can and cannot report, plus libel, defamation, contempt of court and writing in the public interest.

An overview of media law and the crucial role it plays in everything you write.

Learn how far you can go when reporting, and when you need to stop...

What contempt of court is, and how to avoid it.

The difference between them and how journalists stay on the right side of the law.

How you can defame someone, and how to avoid it.

Writing in the public interest and the protection it can give a journalist.

All you need to know about court reporting.

Check how much you've learned in this section.

Put a story together based on an interview with some tricky traps...

Let's run over your finished story and check how you've done.

You'll be able to successfully and confidently pitch story ideas to editors.

Find out who to get in touch with on a newspaper, magazine, website or blog so your story gets pitched to the right person.

Every publication has a style guide. Here's why it's important.

Make sure the pitch is spot-on.

How to successfully make the pitch

Find out how much you can expect to earn, and how and when to put your invoice in.

How to take the next steps in your journalistic career.

How to get work as a freelancer. Plus, the best place to start a full-time job in journalism.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Taught by Tony Bosworth, a recognized experienced international editor and journalist across newspapers, magazines, and online

Develops foundational skills in the skills needed to be journalist, including the specifics of interview process, writing, and more

Applicable in any industry or job, including those that require written communication and journalism skills

Teaches the core principles of writing news and feature articles, which is a foundational skill in journalism

Offers the opportunity to get work as a freelancer or apply for jobs with leading media organisations, which direction aligns with course purpose

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to be a Journalist - The Complete Guide to Journalism with these activities:

Refresh on journalistic concepts and ethics

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Get your mind up to speed with the basics of journalism.

Browse courses on Interview Techniques

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Review your notes or textbooks on journalistic ethics and standards.
Reread articles from reputable news organizations and analyze their adherence to journalistic principles.
Watch videos or attend workshops on interview techniques and ethical considerations.

Find an experienced journalist as a mentor

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Seek guidance and support from an experienced professional in the field.

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Identify journalists whose work you admire and respect.
Research their backgrounds and reach out to them via email or social media.
Clearly express your interest in mentorship and explain how their guidance can support your career goals.
Be persistent and follow up politely if you don't receive an immediate response.

Create a resource library

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Gather and organize materials to support your learning.

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Collect lecture notes, readings, assignments, and any additional resources provided by the instructor.
Organize the materials into folders or notebooks based on topics or modules.
Create a digital or physical index or table of contents for easy reference.
Consider adding additional materials such as articles, books, or videos that supplement the course content.

Four other activities

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Practice writing news articles

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Refine your writing skills and learn from experienced journalists.

Browse courses on News Writing

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Find online tutorials or workshops on news writing techniques.
Choose a topic and write a practice news article using the guidelines provided in the tutorials.
Share your article with a peer or the instructor for feedback and improvement.
Repeat the process with different topics and article types.

Attend a journalism workshop or conference

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Connect with other journalists, learn from experts, and expand your knowledge.

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Research and identify journalism workshops or conferences that align with your interests and goals.
Register for the event and make arrangements for travel and accommodations.
Actively participate in the sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities.
Follow up with contacts you make at the event and continue learning from the resources provided.

Start a blog or online portfolio

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Showcase your work and build your online presence as a journalist.

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Choose a blogging platform or website builder that suits your needs.
Create a professional-looking design and structure for your blog or portfolio.
Develop a content plan and regularly publish articles, stories, or other relevant content.
Promote your blog or portfolio on social media and other online channels.

Mentor a junior journalist

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Share your knowledge and help a new journalist develop their skills.

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Identify a junior journalist or student who would benefit from your guidance.
Schedule regular meetings or communication sessions to provide support, feedback, and encouragement.
Share your experiences, insights, and advice on journalism techniques and career development.

Career center

Learners who complete How to be a Journalist - The Complete Guide to Journalism will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers: