Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This taster course will show how a story develops from an idea to an article on the page or screen, and give you the tools to write and research your own news and features.
What will we cover?
- Types of articles - from news reports to profile interviews - Where ideas come from - How to develop an idea - What do I do next?
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Come up with an idea for a newspaper, magazine or website - Start to develop your idea into a short news report or feature - Read your favourite publication as a journalist - Take the next step to develop your skills.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for absolute beginners and no skills are needed.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught using a mix of individual, group work, tutor presentation and in-class writing exercises.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Bluesky.
Laura Silverman is Deputy Editor of Country Living. She has also worked at The Sunday Telegraph, The Times and the Daily Mail, editing and writing features for print and online. Her work ranges from profile interviews and arts reviews to pieces on food trends and country estates. She read Philosophy & Theology at Oxford University and holds a PGDip in Magazine Journalism from City University.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/journalism-a-taster221951Journalism: a tasterhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/j/o/journalism_a_taster-square.jpg1919GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Writing/Journalism/Journalism/Courses/Taster courses/Courses/Taster courses/Humanities tasters/Courses/Writing/Creative writing taster courses/Courses/Short Courses/Courses/Short Courses/Humanities/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Journalism/Courses/vm/Courses under £69/Courses/Online courses228512071803180913396134111341713581135871355117311228513581135871803134111653What makes a great story? Discover what goes into a magazine or newspaper article and be inspired to write your own.34.43035722Journalism: a taster1919https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/j/o/journalism_a_taster-square_13.jpgInStockEveningThuOnlineAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2026-12-03T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersDec 2026WritingHJ1141919Journalism: a taster191919Laura Silvermanjournalism-a-taster/hj114-2627What makes a great story? Discover what goes into a magazine or newspaper article and be inspired to write your own.0000-Available|2026-12-03 00:00:00This taster course will show how a story develops from an idea to an article on the page or screen, and give you the tools to write and research your own news and features.What makes a great story? Discover what goes into a magazine or newspaper article and be inspired to write your own.- Types of articles - from news reports to profile interviews<br>- Where ideas come from<br>- How to develop an idea <br>- What do I do next?- Come up with an idea for a newspaper, magazine or website<br>- Start to develop your idea into a short news report or feature<br>- Read your favourite publication as a journalist<br>- Take the next step to develop your skills.This course is suitable for absolute beginners and no skills are needed.You will be taught using a mix of individual, group work, tutor presentation and in-class writing exercises. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Paper and pens.<p>City Lit run <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing/journalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a range of beginner, intermediate and advanced journalism courses</a>.<br><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/citylitwriting.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bluesky</a>.</p>JournalismJournalismvirtual3046912Journalism: a taster1919https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/j/o/journalism_a_taster-square_14.jpgInStockEveningThuOnlineAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2027-03-25T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersMar 2027WritingHJ1151919Journalism: a taster191919Laura Silvermanjournalism-a-taster/hj115-2627What makes a great story? Discover what goes into a magazine or newspaper article from an experienced journalist - and be inspired to write your own.0000-Available|2027-03-25 00:00:00This taster course will show how a story develops from an idea to an article on the page or screen, and give you the starter tools to write and research your own news and features.What makes a great story? Discover what goes into a magazine or newspaper article from an experienced journalist - and be inspired to write your own.- Types of articles - from news reports to profile interviews.<br>- Where ideas come from.<br>- How to develop an idea.<br>- What do I do next?- Come up with an idea for a newspaper, magazine or website.<br>- Start to develop your idea into a short news report or feature.<br>- Read your favourite publication as a journalist.<br>- Take the next step to develop your skills.This course is suitable for absolute beginners and no skills are needed.You will be taught using a mix of individual, group work, tutor presentation and in-class writing exercises. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Paper and pens.<p>City Lit run a range of beginner, intermediate and advanced journalism courses. You may want to look at our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/introduction-to-journalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Introduction to Journalism</a> course as a next step.<br><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/citylitwriting.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bluesky</a>.</p>JournalismJournalismvirtual191919HJ114,HJ115NONEThu03/12/2619:00 - 21:0019:0021:001 session1One-off onlyWeekdayOnlineOnlineLaura SilvermanBeginnersAvailable courses2026-12-03T00:00:00+00:00,2027-03-25T00:00:00+00:00EveningDec 2026,Mar 2027Writing1919Journalism: a tasterjournalism-a-taster/hj114-2627,journalism-a-taster/hj115-2627What makes a great story? Discover what goes into a magazine or newspaper article and be inspired to write your own.,What makes a great story? Discover what goes into a magazine or newspaper article from an experienced journalist - and be inspired to write your own.0000-Available|2026-12-03 00:00:00This taster course will show how a story develops from an idea to an article on the page or screen, and give you the tools to write and research your own news and features.,This taster course will show how a story develops from an idea to an article on the page or screen, and give you the starter tools to write and research your own news and features.What makes a great story? Discover what goes into a magazine or newspaper article and be inspired to write your own.,What makes a great story? Discover what goes into a magazine or newspaper article from an experienced journalist - and be inspired to write your own.- Types of articles - from news reports to profile interviews<br>- Where ideas come from<br>- How to develop an idea <br>- What do I do next?,- Types of articles - from news reports to profile interviews.<br>- Where ideas come from.<br>- How to develop an idea.<br>- What do I do next?- Come up with an idea for a newspaper, magazine or website<br>- Start to develop your idea into a short news report or feature<br>- Read your favourite publication as a journalist<br>- Take the next step to develop your skills.,- Come up with an idea for a newspaper, magazine or website.<br>- Start to develop your idea into a short news report or feature.<br>- Read your favourite publication as a journalist.<br>- Take the next step to develop your skills.This course is suitable for absolute beginners and no skills are needed.You will be taught using a mix of individual, group work, tutor presentation and in-class writing exercises. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Paper and pens.<p>City Lit run <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing/journalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a range of beginner, intermediate and advanced journalism courses</a>.<br><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/citylitwriting.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bluesky</a>.</p>,<p>City Lit run a range of beginner, intermediate and advanced journalism courses. You may want to look at our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/introduction-to-journalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Introduction to Journalism</a> course as a next step.<br><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/citylitwriting.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bluesky</a>.</p>JournalismJournalismconfigurable
