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Advanced Freelance Journalism

FJA

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The Advanced Freelance Journalism course, will teach you the keys to writing good articles that editors want to buy and you will learn how to work with the five fundamental questions every journalist must know to get their stories published.

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In this course you will learn about the value of selling and re-selling your articles and how syndication works. With this aim in mind, you will gain invaluable skills in how to profit from freelance journalism.

Course summary

Qualification gained
Australian College Diploma of Journalism (Advanced Freelance Journalism)
Course code
FJA
Study mode
Flexible delivery (including online with some projects / activities and/or skills-based training)
Course fees
Pay up-front, pay by installment or completely customise your own payment plan here. Employers, ask about our group/corporate rates and traineeship availability.
Flexible duration (with an option to extend)
Up to 18 months
Study load
Self-paced
Start date
Start anytime
Assessment method
Short Answer Questions, Writing Assessments
Nationally recognised
No

Course units

Unit 1 - Getting Started in Freelance Journalism

Reading 1 - The World of Journalism

An Introduction to Freelance Journalism
The Journalist's Role
Careers in Journalism
A Brief History of Journalism
Inside a Newspaper
Working as a Freelance Journalist
The Journalist's Toolkit
Writing a Journalism Article
Getting Started - Space Fillers

Reading 2 - News Reporting

What You Need to Succeed as a Freelance News Journalist
Article Structure: The Inverted Pyramid
Writing The Lead
Writing The Body
Writing The Tail
Angles Sell Stories

Reading 3 - Freelance Journalism Essentials: Responsible and Equipment Needs

Writing for Newspapers
Responsible Journalism
The Journalist’s Equipment
Accounts and Stationery

Reading 4 - Writing as a Freelance Journalist

Selling Yourself and Your Work
How to Present Your Articles
A Basic Freelance Contract

Unit 2 - Developing Writing Styles

Reading 1 - How to Structure Your Story

Beginnings, Middles and Endings
Hooks and Angles
Reporting Quotes
Reporting Media Events
The Uses of Tense

Reading 2 - Research, Statistics and the Internet

Research and Information Sources
The Internet
External Research Resources
Accessing 'Official' Information

Reading 3 - Journalism Interviews

Good Interviewing
Setting Up the Interview
Conducting the Interview
Interview Quotes

Reading 4 - Writing Style

Your Personal Style
Why Style Matters
Writing Technique
House Style

Unit 3 - Writing for a Diverse Industry

Reading 1 - Writing for Newspapers and Magazines

A Journalist's Way with Words
Working With Sub-Editors
Using Language Correctly
Writing Headlines
Opinion Pieces

Reading 2 - Media Law and Ethics

Key Legal Concepts
The Law and Court Reporting
Copyright
Ethics and Courtesy Count, Too

Reading 3 - Feature Writing

The Value of Feature Writing
The Joy of Feature Writing
The Human Interest Story
Researching a Feature Story
Writing the Feature
Reviewing a Feature Story

Reading 4 - Writing Columns and Reviews

A Column of Your Own
Writing for Specialist Publications
Writing Reviews
Writing Arts and Entertainment Reviews
Sports Writing
Travel Writing
Your Contacts Book

Unit 4 - Broadcast and Photo Journalism

Reading 1 - Applied Journalism and Multimedia

The Role of Applied Journalism
Writing Press Releases and Public Relations Pieces
Writing a 'People' Piece
Writing Editorials
Writing Content for the Web
The Virtual Newsroom: Your News Desk
Producing Copy Under Pressure

Reading 2 - Choosing Assignments

Newspaper Versus Magazine Writing
Writing for Magazines
Choosing the Right Magazine
What Magazine Publishers Want
Choosing Your Assignments
Domestic Versus International Markets

Reading 3 - Broadcast Journalism: Television and Radio

The Electronic Media Market
Journalism in Broadcasting
Reporting for Television and Radio
Television and Radio Writing Techniques
Television and Radio Presenting Techniques
Techniques for Writing Scripts and Speeches

Reading 4 - Photojournalism and Specialisms

Photojournalism
Photojournalism - The Background Story
Basics Concepts in Photojournalism
Photographic Lenses and Techniques
Writing for Specialised Markets
The Trail of the 'Paparazzi'

Unit 5 - Becoming a Freelance Journalist

Reading 1 - Professional Freelancing

How Professionals Get Work
How Professionals Handle Rejections
Building Relationships with Editors
The Final Edit
Journalism Rates
Earning an Income from Freelance Journalism
Negotiating Rates and Contracts

Reading 2 - On Assignment

Three Elements of Freelance Success
What To Take With You On Assignments
Managing Your Assignments
Other Sources of Income
Building Your Freelance Journalism Business
Your Future as a Freelance Journalist
Using Online Resources

Entry requirements

  • Access to a computer with word processing, PDF reader capabilities and an internet connection
  • A good command of written English
  • Ability to allocate appropriate study hours per week

If you have these essential requirements, then you can get started immediately.

Student reviews

The great customer service and prompt responses to my email enquiries helped me to choose Australian College as my preferred online training course. This was also the case while completing my course online and the trainers were especially helpful with their responses and feedback.

I would be happy to recommend Australian College and would strongly consider their courses for any future study requirements. Thank you!"

Rima Obeid, 2nd September 2014

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