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GeneralitiesWhat's the Catch?There isn't one!That is, unless you become hooked on the practice of journalism which has been variously defined as "90 percent boredom, 10 percent excitement", "a ring-side seat as history is made" and so on.Your reporter's card should never be a license to bore the readers. It may bring you sleepless nights, missed meals, emotional turmoil ... or even money. If you can't land a full time paid job, don't worry; freelancing requires no specific educational attainments. It does require great self-discipline and effort, however. Oh yes, you have to be reliable and trustworthy as well. And able to write accurate, concise copy of the required length to deadline. Why free lessons?Originally the idea was to let potential students see what they were letting themselves in for.Who is this for?It's for anyone who wishes to find basic techniques on writing for newspapers. Television and radio have slightly different requirements but they almost always prefer people who've learned the basics in a newspaper environment.It is not for the would-be book author, songwriter or poet, nor the person who thinks "journalism" means looking glam on cam while reading an autocue. Rather, it's aimed at those people who wish to report events in this fascinating world to readers too busy to find out for themselves. A successful reporter, the late Nicolas Tomalin memorably said, needs a modicum of talent, a plausible manner and rat-like cunning. He was referring to the British national Press. Beavering away in the hinterland are people who are quite pleasant and good journalists. |
