Syllabus: Freelance & Feature Writing

Lesson 1 Starting Out

What makes a good journalist? Learning about the real world of journalism, and the responsibilities and ethics of the profession. A brief look at the way in which the British Press has evolved and an analysis of different categories of newspapers and magazines. Ten key elements which may affect your ability to get your work published.

Learning what readers and editors want, assessing the scope for getting material published and knowing how to research potential markets. How to present manuscripts professionally, avoiding common grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors and learning what is meant by 'house style' and 'newspaper English'.

Developing a strong news sense and recognising what makes a good story. Exploring the practical process of newsgathering, making contacts and identifying and following story leads. The opportunities for freelance contributions in the field of sports journalism.

Exploring the difference in approach required for a features article. Focussing on the importance of interviews in features writing; learning how to adapt the tone and style of your writing to different categories of subject matter. Dealing with topical news features.

Progressing to in-depth features profiles; how to conduct successful face-to-face interviews. Using 'standfirsts' and different features introductions to play up a strong news angle or maximise a story's human interest. Exploring eyewitness and offbeat approaches.

The particular skills required by a range of specialist newspaper writers - from motoring journalists to gossip writers, from political columnists to critics, sports writers and photo-journalists.

Looking in depth at ways of developing ideas into saleable articles and at some of the subjects which provide most scope for freelance contributors. Learning the basic guidelines for producing articles for publication.

Legal restrictions and how journalists can avoid costly legal action. The dangers of libel and other pitfalls; qualified privilege and unintentional defamation; criminal libel; and the need for fairness and accuracy. Restrictions on court reporting, and the dangers of contempt of court when matters are sub judice. The Official Secrets Act, the rights of the Press and a brief look at copyright.

How to develop saleable ideas from the most unlikely sources and how to research your finished articles. How to 'package' intriguing and attractive ideas for newspapers and magazines, and the ground rules for successfully dealing with editors.

You are now in a position to analyse accurately how to produce and sell articles targeted at different markets, from the regional and national press to mass market and specialist magazines and trade and technical publications.

The differences in approach between broadcast and print journalism. Learning the writing requirements of various radio and television outlets. Markets are explored in detail, with advice on how to develop treatments and final scripts for broadcast.

The final lesson gives you the vital preparation required to launch your freelance writing career, whether on a part-time or full-time basis. A questionnaire and detailed revision notes provide an opportunity to tie up any loose ends in your training, while businesslike advice about record-keeping and administration offers a firm foundation for pursuing a professional approach to future writing assignments.