MASTERCLASSES

Thursday 19 August 2010

MMJ: Announcing the next season of Masterclasses

The next season of masterclasses will kick off in late September, to coincide with the start of the academic year.
The subjects below are provisional at this stage.
Feel free to suggest subjects you'd like to see included through this contact form

September 2010

Masterclass 13: Careers in journalism, an overview and update

What's right for you: consumer magazines, business mags, TV, radio, local papers, hyperlocal, or self-employment?

We're all multimedia journalists now, but the simple truth is that the people handing out the jobs are still - predominantly - operating in one of the traditional media categories. We'll look at how to pick the area that best suits you, and how to demonstrate in your application, and at interview, how good you'll be at enhancing the multimedia capabilities of anyone who gives you a job.
We'll also cover working as a freelance, and the opportunities that developments in hyperlocal are opening up.
Going live: September 20

Masterclass 14: How to pass the NCTJ Newswriting Diploma exam

A guide to what examiners are looking for, and a sure-fire approach to the exam

We'll cover the golden rules you need to follow to convince NCTJ markers that you are a safe pair of hands, hear from those with enviable records in getting student journalists through the exam, and offer a step-by-step approach to the exam that will maximise your marks.
Going live: September 24

October 2010

Masterclass 15: iPhone for Journalists

Smartphones are a highly convenient way for the multimedia journalist to publish instantly

We'll look at how to turn your iPhone into a fully-enabled multimedia reporting device, so you can file text, stills, video and audio instantly to a custom-made blog, to a mobile-enabled multimedia site, and any combination you like of Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and a huge range of other platforms.
We're concentrating on the iPhone, but what we cover is also applicable to other smartphones.
Going live: October 16

Masterclass 16: A new struture for online, multimedia story-telling

Has the traditional inverted triangle/pyramid had it's day? 

With multimedia content, combining material from other sources and linking, the simple story structure journalists have been taught for generations needs some refining.
Going live: October 30

November 2010

Masterclass 17: Topic areas and beat blogs

How to make your website a valuable resource and attract loyal users.

We've concentrated a good deal in these masterclasses on how to reach out to new audiences with the effective use of a wide range of social media. The goal was always to draw readers who appreciate what you are doing back to your branded website and print publication.
Now we look at how to make that website as effective as it can be at turning casual visitors into committed and regular consumers of our content.
Going live: November 13

Masterclass 18: NCTJ Multimedia Portfolio

What the examiners are looking for in your multi-platform news and features

Going live: November 27

December 2010

Masterclass 19: Curating user-generated content

How to cover a major story by blending your own material with that from other professional and citizen journalists


Masterclass 20: Hyperlocal reporting and geotagging

Industry experts with the latest guidance


January 2011

Masterclass 21: Travel writing

An experienced travel writer on how to do it right


Masterclass 22: Email bulletins

How to turn an RSS feed into a bulletin, and add your Twitter feed to it


February 2011

Masterclass 23: Social media update

What platforms you should be using now – and how


Masterclass 24: Features writing

Analysing how the very best features writers do it


March 2011

Masterclass 25: The jobs market

Industry experts on where the opportunities lie right now


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