Feature Writing Background If you have ever wondered how difficult it could possibly be to string enough words together to fill the space between the adverts in your favourite newspaper or magazine, then Cityvarsity's feature writing course should be next on your list of things to do. The course covers the requirements and techniques for composing feature articles for almost any subject, from 'how to' features to blogging. The course is presented by Karen Jayes, an experienced journalist and subeditor for several major publications. The course is presented with a heavy emphasis on writing, with students expected to write from the first lesson. Karen present clearly and engages her audience with first hand experience of how to write for the media. The course starts with tricks for generating. Good stories, and in the second lesson looks at interviewing skills. This is followed by a practical lesson on writing profile stories of prominent people, and the ever popular how to features. Karen will then teach you how to capture your travels for the enjoyment of others, and the methods for critiquing your favourite restaurant. The course concludes with a look at writing for web 2.0.The course is offered part-time, twice a week for 6 weeks, and is offered several times a year. Parking is available onsite, and notes are included in the course fee.
We seem to be bombarded on a daily basis with stale opinion, verbose presentation of poor logic, and the products of handicapped intellects. I recommend this course to anyone that thinks that they can offer refreshing insights, offer sound commentary, and that can breath new life into their favourite read.
Lecturer Karen Jayes has been an editor and writer for eleven years, serving most recently as the deputy editor of Fairlady magazine, and overseeing their transition online. She is currently a lecturer on City Varsitys multimedia journalism programme. Before that, she worked as an online editor at iafrica.com and as deputy editor on the travel magazine Out There. She has also edited websites, magazines and newspapers in London, including The Middle East Times, which covered at close range the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns. She has had stories published in Psychologies and the Mail and Guardian and continues to write features for Fairlady. She also writes fiction, and has recently been awarded the PEN/Studzinski Literary Award, as judged by Nobel laureate JM Coetzee.
Admission requirements Ability to write in English A commitment to write hard for eight weeks Some experience of the feature writing process
Course outline The course will run over 8 sessions, twice a week in the evenings for 6 weeks, with assignments spread between the sessions.
Session 1: The birth of the story Where do ideas come from? Some tricks and tools for refining great ideas The big sell: how to pitch your story so an editor will listen The brief: Identifying key elements and running with them Research: using the internet wisely and securing that interview Task: Writing and evaluating our own story pitches
Session 2: Interviewing skills Evaluating a source are they reliable? Structuring the interview How do I know Im asking the right questions? Stumbling blocks: Anonymity and the tough subject Etiquette: Note-taking tips, body language etc Capturing character and scene Task: Interviewing each other
Session 3: The profile story What makes a great profile story? Researching subjects prior to the interview Adding colour and background The Q-and-A structure The nut graf structure Working with the profile photographer some tips TASK: Write our own profile stories
Session 4: The how-to feature Structure and function of the informative feature Brainstorming methods Laying it out Closing holes Fact checking, accuracy Delivery TASK: Write your own how-to feature with a specific magazine in mind.
Session 5: The trend piece or news feature What is a trend feature and how do I sell it? Working with statistics and other scary figures Selecting the right real people for the story Mapping the story The nut graf The sequential block narrative and the double-stranded narrative Task: Write our own story map for a trend feature
Session 6: Travel stories Types of travel stories narratives vs. informative Lonely Planet stories Red flags: Total immersion and cultural stereotyping Free writing as a technique to capture scene The ethics of travel journalism what if I havent paid for the trip myself? Photography and delivery The art of the short travel piece Task: Write our own travel piece on Cape Town.
Session 7: Columns What makes a good column? Finding your voice Emotion vs. argument how to back-up your points well Top columnists in SA and how they do it Writing sharp, to-the-point columns The humorous column TASK: Write our own columns.
Session 8: Editing for online How Google searches for features Some tricks for Search Engine Optimisation (keywording for Google) The art of the subhead How to create meaningful links Media convergence: working towards a multimedia journalism
COURSE INFORMATION
Commencement date 22 June 2010 Code FW310 Day Tuesday & Thursday Duration 6 weeks Time 17:30 19:30 Course fee R4 500
Bookings and enquiries Call Tanya Nortje on 021-466 6807 /
Charlton Fredericks on 021-466 6808 or
Anthilly Snyder on 021-488 2019
Fax: 021 423-6300, or
Email: Charlton.fredericks@cityvarsity.co.za /
Email: Tanya.Nortje@cityvarsity.co.za or
Email: Anthilly.snyder@cityvarsity.co.za
STUDENT SHOWCASE
Staff
Karen Jayes
COURSE: Feature Writing
SKILL: Lecturer
Karen Jayes has been an editor and writer for eleven years, serving most recently as the deputy editor of Fairlady magazine, and overseeing their transition online. She is currently a lecturer on City Varsitys multimedia journalism programme. Before ...
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