Writing and Journalism Courses

This is a course for people who already have skills in freelance writing, who have perhaps had some minor work published, but need to improve their overall technique and develop a more "efficient" approach to their work.

Our staff include well established and successful freelance writers; and through this course, you have opportunityy to communicate with these professionals and be guided by their decades of experience.

This course provides students with a first step toward a career in editing and proof reading.

Graduates may well start with part time work editing web sites, newsletters or low circulation magazines; but over time (and perhaps with further study) can work up to full time employment as a proof reader, sub editor, book or magazine editor, copy editor, freelance editor, or even publishing assistant or publisher.

Editors work for publications both in house (eg. in a magazine, newspaper or web development office), or outside as contractors (eg. self employed from home).

Good editors are always in demand and with greater access to the internet, today’s editors can often work from virtually anywhere in the world.

Alone, this course does not make you into a professional editor, but it can lead to valuable career opportunities when combined with other courses that develop your knowledge and skills in publishing and journalism.

This course is designed for self-editors, aspiring professional editors and desktop publishers. Its aim is to develop the student’s understanding of the editing processes.

Develop a capacity to edit an broad range of publishing material including both print and electronic media, text and graphics, commercial and non commercial material.

Enrolments now being accepted.
Gain hands-on experience as an editor in a student publishing team! In this module, you will develop essential practical knowledge and skills that you will need in your career as editor or publisher. Under the guidance of a mentor (a member of our academic staff), you will plan, design, write, and publish a magazine, journal, or other publication. Think how that will look on your resumé!Gain hands-on experience as an editor in a student publishing team!

Prerequisites

• Publishing I and Editing I, or equivalent
• Medium level computer skills

• Have improved communication skills, particularly with respect to clarity, conciseness and correct grammar.
• Be familiar with the "writing industry"; having a clear idea of where opportunities exist for obtaining work as a freelance writer.
• How to go about approaching potential clients to obtain work.
• Have an understanding of the processes involved in publishing books, magazines and newspapers; from generating concepts to seeing the finished publication on sale.

Gain valuable journalism experience by writing for a student publication. This course takes you through the processes of writing for a specific publication, submitting work for publication, and meeting the requirements of an editor and publisher. Under the guidance of a mentor (a writing/editing tutor), you will learn to write according to specific criteria, deal with a publisher, and communicate effectively with others involved in the publishing process. And, you will come away with at least one published work (maybe more), which will set you on the path to a career as a writer. No matter what you want to write, you will find this a great learning experience.

Prerequisites

• Freelance Writing, Publishing I, and Editing I, or equivalent
• Medium level computer skills, or higher.

Enrolments accepted from June 2008
Like Journalism Practice 1, this module gives you valuable experience in writing for a student publication, which will greatly enhance your resumé. Publishers are more likely to employ writers who have already been published! Under the guidance of a mentor (a writing/editing tutor), you will participate in the production of a specific publication. As a feature writer, you will prepare and submit works for the publication and work with other students to produce a polished, professional-looking online publication that you can proudly show to a prospective employer.

Prerequisites

• Freelance Writing, Publishing I, Editing I, and Journalism Practice 1; or equivalent
• Medium level computer skills or higher

Understand Legal Language

Legal terminology is the collection of words and phrases that have a precise or peculiar use in the law profession. Legal Terminology is not only used by Lawyers; but is also used in a wide range of associated legal professions. 

This course is valuable for anyone who needs to understand and communicate better with legal language, from people who write about business and politics, to Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Solicitors, Law Professors, Legal Receptionists/Secretaries, Private Investigators, Authorised Government Inspectors and Officers, Law Enforcement Officers and many others.

Develop your ability to write and understand the different types of poetry.

This course provides those interested in poetry with an introductory course into the different elements of poetry and how to write it.

Fiction is writing that encompases imaginary characters, events and/or settings created by the writer. All of the components of a fictitious story do not necessarily need to be fictitious though:

• Imaginary characters might be set in a real world setting such as a well known city or a particular country.
• Characters might be fictitious, but set in a “real” event. For example, you might write about the experiences of a fictitious character during World War II.
• Real characters may be used for a fictitious story that embraces an imaginary event or setting (eg. a story about William Shakespeare travelling through time; 00or something more realistic, like a summer’s holiday at a fictitious beach resort, taken by a famous historical figure such as Mozart).