uct feature journalism course information pack

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UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

Feature Writingshort course

Information Pack

May 2014 Presentation


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Tel:+27 21 447 7565 | Fax:+27 21 447 8344

Website:www.getsmarter.co.za | Email:[email protected]

Need for the courseThe last decade has seen signicant changes in the feature journalism industry. Newspapers,

magazines, blogs and editorial-based websites are in a desperate scramble for professionals

able to produce quality feature articles that can help them generate readership and compete

in a rapidly changing and competitive media landscape. In a business context, the rise of

content mareting has created the need for trained feature writers in the form of brand

journalists, professionals with the journalistic sill to tell brand stories and produce brand-

related feature articles as a promotional tactic. Learning the traditional principles and

techniques behind producing quality feature articles is imperative for success whether in

writing for traditional print formats or for the new digital media channels.

Career OpportunitiesIf you are an aspiring feature writer hoping to sell your articles to a magazine or newspaper

for prot, this course provides the perfect stepping-stone into the world of feature journalism

by teaching you how to write for a wide variety of media. If you are a woring professional

seeing to advance your career or are looing to add to your current sill set, this course

will benet you by teaching the sills and techniques that can be applied to writing feature

articles for content mareting purposes. Similarly, if you are hoping to start or grow your own

business, you can benet from learning the sills needed to produce quality written pieces fora blog or website that could promote your business. Current feature writers will also benet

by polishing and formalising your writing sills through taing this course.

COURSE CONTENTWrite your rst full-length feature article and form part of an online writing community

where you can interact with fellow writers, share your wor and ideas and review one

anothers written projects as part of a structured learning process, which is supported and

guided by an industry expert.

WEEKLY Course modules

The following modules are covered during the course:

Module 1 Introduction to feature writing

Module 2 What maes feature writing dierent?

Module 3 Developing feature story ideas

Module 4 Researching the feature article

Module 5 Interviewing for feature writing

Module 6 Essential elements of feature articles

Module 7 Language and structure

Module 8 Editing your article for style and clarity

Module 9 Journalistic ethics

Module 10 Selling your writing

FEATURE WRITING

SHORT COURSE

Course OverviewThis highly practical 10-wee

short course teaches the

sills and techniques needed

to write professional feature

articles for a wide variety of

media, including newspapers,

magazines, websites and blogs.

The course culminates in your

production of a 2,000-word

feature article.

COURSE DURATION:

10 wees online, available

throughout South Africa

COURSE APPROVAL:

This course is approved by the

University of Cape Town. Youwill receive a certicate issued

by the university once you have

successfully completed the

course.

COURSE DATES:

Registrations close:

2 May 2014

Course starts:

12 May 2014

COURSE FEES:

R9,390

CONTACT

Natalie

021 447 7565

021 447 8344

[email protected]


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Tel:+27 21 447 7565 | Fax:+27 21 447 8344


Module 1

INTRODUCTION TO FEATURE WRITING

Students will be introduced to the energetic and rewarding

eld of feature writing. In particular, they will learn about the

aims that steer this form of writing, and explore strong real life

examples. Students will also be introduced to the dierence

between news reports and feature articles and how best to

approach each of them.

Module 2

WHAT MAKES FEATURE WRITING DIFFERENT

Students will learn how feature writing relates to the wider

family of journalistic forms of writing. In particular, they will

understand, and be able to recognise, ey dierences in form

and function between features and news reports on the one

hand, and personal columns on the other. For beginner writers,

understanding these dierences is vital to being able to deliver

on an editors brief; for practising writers, examining these ey

dierences will help them in building up a repertoire of writing

sills.

Module 3

DEVELOPING FEATURE STORY IDEAS

Students will gain practice in developing feature story ideas

for publication. In particular, they will learn how the notionof newsworthiness can be unpaced and applied to various

inds of media publications. Two complementary approaches

will be taen. In the rst, students will learn to critically

examine publications in order to assess their needs; in the

second, they will gain insight into how they can generate

stories starting from their own personal circumstances.

Module 4

RESEARCHING THE FEATURE ARTICLE

Students will learn how to unpac the topic of their story and

develop a plan of action for their eldwor and destop re-

search. In particular, students will gain expertise in identifying

what the research needs of their story topics are and how they

can go about fullling these needs. Students will also gain an

understanding of how various top-ight writers have ap-

proached this all-important aspect of their craft. Crucial to this

module is the matter of the dierence research sources and

phases that can be used in establishing a database of informa-

tion for a feature.

Module 5

INTERVIEWING FOR FEATURE WRITING

Students will gain insight into numerous interviewing methods,

techniques and common diculties. They will learn about the

rules of engagement with a potential source, namely how to

approach interview subjects with care and broach sensitive or

personal topics. Students will also loo at the dierent inter-

view strategies that can be used and how to be ecient with

specic questioning techniques.

these security threats.Module 6

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF FEATURE ARTICLES

This module focuses on the composition of the feature article.Students will learn about the building blocs of an article such

as the 5 Ws and H (who, when, where, why, what and how),

establishing atmosphere and developing characters. They will

also loo at the use of interview quotes and the dierences

between summary exposition and narrative scenes.

FEATURE WRITING

SHORT COURSE


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Module 7

LANGUAGE AND STRUCTURE

Students will examine a selection of classic feature story

structures, with the focus being on writing eective lead-in

and closing paragraphs. The module will outline techniques for

creating strong narrative threads and will give practical tips on

tone, register and elements of structure.

Module 8

EDITING YOUR ARTICLE FOR STYLE AND CLARITY

Students will learn how to edit their writing for improved style,

clarity and eect an indispensable part of the writing process.

They will learn how to approach their own writing objectively

and create a distinctive style through editing.

Module 9

JOURNALISTIC ETHICS

Students will gain critical insight into a range of ethical issues

commonly associated with journalism in general and feature

writing in particular. This module will answer pertinent

questions about the right to and the limitations of freedom

of speech. It will also cover common problem areas such as

the reliability of eyewitness accounts, attributing sources and

invading privacy.

Module 10

SELLING YOUR WRITING

Students will gain expertise in analysing maret opportunities for

freelance feature writing, in addition to learning how to compose

compelling, targeted pitches for their articles. This module will

expose students to opportunities both in traditional print media

and in the exciting online space. It will also cover the dierent

aspects of payment and copyright as well as what it means to

wor with an editor.

FEATURE WRITING

SHORT COURSE


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Who should attendThis course is suitable for rst-time writers, current writers and anyone wanting to polish

their writing sills. It is particular suited to current or aspiring journalists, copywriters,

content developers, email mareters, sales consultants, content mareters, mareting and

media professionals, advertising professionals, and bloggers, as well as any business owner

or entrepreneur wishing to oer or utilise feature writing services as part of their business.

Course deliveryThe course is delivered through the unique GetSmarter Learning website. To ensure that

you are able to maintain a wor-life balance while completing the course, the content is

divided into manageable weely modules. On each Monday of the 10-wee course, you

will receive one module to complete in your own time and at your own pace throughout the

wee. Each module consists of the following components: downloadable PDF course notes;

video lectures; online discussion forum; online multiple-choice practice quiz; weely module

assignment; and further reading and resources (optional). The Course Instructor, Andre

Wiesner will provide you with academic support through the online discussion forum for the

duration of the course. A designated Course Coordinator will also be available on email and

telephone to provide you with administrative support. The course has been designed in such

a way that it allows you to study anywhere and anytime, at your own pace.

Assessment and award of the certificateThe course is focused on teaching you practical, formal sills and techniques in writing

feature articles. You are not required to write any exams. As this is a creative course, all

assignments are assessed through a peer review process and are therefore not formally

graded. You will need to complete and submit 10 practical assignments, which will be

randomly and anonymously allocated to three of your fellow students for review. The

Course Instructor will also review each assignment and provide his expert advice and

guidance. You will need to complete all 10 assignments to receive the certicate as

issued by the University of Cape Town.

Course APPROVALThis course is approved by the University of Cape Town. You will receive a certicate

issued by the university once you have successfully completed the course. The course is

developed and presented by the University of Cape Town in partnership with GetSmarter.

GetSmarter is the rst and only entirely online education company to be accredited by

any SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) as a provider of education in South

Africa. Institutional accreditation number: 3692.

About GetSmarterGetSmarter is a premier online education company that partners with prestigious universities

and leading organisations to oer continuing education short courses, undergraduate

programmes, postgraduate programmes and customised business solutions.

FEATURE WRITING

SHORT COURSE

How to registerRegister online at

www.getsmarter.co.za. Clic

Feature Writing on the left

menu and then clic Register

for this course to complete

the registration form.

Entry RequirementsThe only entry requirement

for this course is a desire

to learn and advance your

career; no prior nowledge of

feature writing is needed. In

order to do this course, you

will need to:

Have a current email account

Have access to a computerand the internet

Be able to open and read

PDF documents

Be able to create documents

in Microsoft Word

Read and write in the English

language

Any course requirements that

are for assessment purposes

must be completed in English.


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Tel:+27 21 447 7565 | Fax:+27 21 447 8344


Payment detailsPAYMENT OPTIONS:

1.ONCE-OFF PAYMENT

R9,390 by 2 May 2014

2.PAYMENT PLAN

R9,500, paid as follows:

First instalment:R3,200 by 2 May 2014

Second instalment:R3,200 by 30 May 2014

Third instalment: R3,100 by 27 June 2014

Payment methods1. ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER (EFT)

Please mae use of your name and surname as a reference.

2. CREDIT CARD (MASTERCARD AND VISA)

Students will be contacted by telephone to obtain details.

Banking detailsACCOUNT NAME: GetSmarter

BANk: Standard Ban

BRANCH: Claremont

BRANCH CODE: 025109

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 07 251 0684

SWIFT CODE: SBZAZAJJ

FEATURE WRITING

SHORT COURSE

Contact us:Should you have any queries,

please contact Natalie at

GetSmarter:

CONTACT:

Natalie

021 447 7565

021 447 8344

[email protected]

uct feature journalism course information pack

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