Masterclass archive 2009-2010
Earlier Masterclasses
These Masterclasses were broadcast during the 2009-10 academic year. They're all still relevant, and many of them offer the latest updates on material in the book.
February 2010
Masterclass 1: Careers
What employers look for in journalism graduates
Two industry experts in multimedia companies - one with its roots in magazines, the other in local newspapers - on the skills they want you to have if you are to be a serious candidate for a job. Find out more
Masterclass 2: Web 3.0 and social media
Where the web is going
Latest developments and how they affect you as a reporter. This is the first in a series of masterclasses on the cutting edge of multimedia journalism. Find out more
March 2010
Masterclass 3: Business to business journalism
Why, far from being boring, B2B is a great segment to work in
Listen to a creator of B2B magazines and a web editor on a B2B title explain what the sector is all about, how magazines are created and what it's like as a journalist on a business title. Find out more
Masterclass 4: Creating stills and audio packages
Leading photojournalist David Berman gives a practical guide
Stills can be far more powerful and memorable than video. Twin them with a great soundtrack and you have a winning combination that didn't exist before the online, multimedia revolution. This masterclass picks up where Chapter 10 left off, and brings the practical advice and experience of a local paper photojournalist to the subject. Find out more
Masterclass 5: How to win an article commission
From idea to pitch, to research, to writing
Follow me as I develop an idea for an article, write the pitch, respond to the editor's guidance, do my research, conduct interviews and write the piece. Find out more
April 2010
Masterclass 6: How to master Facebook and Twitter
The second in our series on the effective use of social media
Facebook and Twitter are very powerful publishing tools, but it is easy to get them wrong, or to use them in a way that does not explore their full potential. This masterclass will help you exploit the opportunities and avoid the pitfalls. Find out more
Masterclass 7: Consumer journalism
How two consumer titles serve their audiences, and how to get a job on them
Our experts are Gary Parkinson, online editor of the football title FourFourTwo, and Simon Strang, online editor of the motor racing title Autosport. They talk about their career paths, what they look for in new recruits, and go into detail on how they seek to serve their audiences through a combinatin of print, web and social media. Find out more
May 2010
Masterclass 8: Search (and everything else) is going social
The third masterclass in our series on social media
In this wide-ranging masterclass we cover three new Google tools: Google Social Search, Google Buzz and Google Wave. We do so in two contexts: their usefulness to journalists, and how they demonstrate that the web is becoming more and more social.
We also look at three social networks that tend to be less effectively exploited by journalists: YouTube, Flickr and LinkedIn. Find out more
Masterclass 9: TV journalism
How to get a job in television, with industry experts
Television is notoriously tough to get into, but with the right approach and experience it can be done. And it's not all about doing a piece to camera for the local news, there are plenty of behind-camera roles for journalists. Find out more
Masterclass 10: Local paper journalism
Sir Ray Tindle, owner of 220 regional titles, on a great future for the regional press
Local newspapers have suffered perhaps more than any other sector as a result of the double whammy of the recession and competition from the internet. But they are still a significant training ground. We look at the future of the local press and what it has to offer you. Find out more
June and July 2010
Masterclass 11: Going mobile
The fourth masterclass in our series on social media covers mobile: the new frontier
Smart phones that offer information and entertainment on the move pose journalists great challenges and opportunities. This masterclass focuses on how to exploit mobile opportunities and how to adapt, and create, content for phones. You'll find practical demonstrations of how to turn a blog, an RSS feed and a full website into effective mobile sites. Find out more
Masterclass 12: How to build your own job
The essentials of entrepreneurialism. Experts and practitioners on how to create your own journalism business
Not so much a masterclass, more a week of postings covering a huge, and hugely important area.
With the rise in freelancing, and the great opportunities that new technologies offer us to launch our own titles, we look at proven strategies for creating your own media business.
Experts include Adam Westbrook, the multimedia journalist, lecturer, author and more who epitomises the entrepreneurial spirit. Eric Gordon, who bought and revived the Camden New Journal, and David Howell, who created his own magazine and is an expert on self-publishing.
One focus is on hyperlocal, and we profile three outfits that offer the prospect of creating a local website/magazine that pays. We also look at how to build a portfolio of money-making activities. Find out more
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