Investigative journalism: a taster
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
Course Code: HJ117
Duration: 2 sessions
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
The skills of an investigative journalist take years to develop, but this taster course will introduce you to the core research and writing knowledge needed for the job.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
- Finding and following a story.
- Gathering information.
- Pulling threads together into a piece of written journalism.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand the basics of investigative journalism.
- Put together the beginnings of your own research project.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an intermediate course and most suitable for those with some prior experience in journalism or nonfiction writing.
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.
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.
For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.
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?
Pen and paper.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit offers a range of courses on journalism and nonfiction writing. 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 Twitter.
Allis is an experienced freelance journalist and broadcaster with a wide range of credits over more than two decades. As well as presenting her own shows on BBC and commercial radio, she is known for partnering Danny Baker on the award-winning Radio 5 Morning Edition breakfast show and Radio 1 weekends. She spent a decade as a newsreader on BBC World Service, was a staff continuity writer-announcer on BBC1 and contributes to programmes such as ‘From Our Own Correspondent’ and ‘Witness’ on Radio 4 and World Service. She worked in Paris for some years as a presenter for Radio France International and as a correspondent for Radio Netherlands Worldwide here in the UK. Most recently Allis has been spotted on Wimbledon Centre Court (at the mic) and in the forecaster’s Tower at the All England Lawn Tennis, where she is the Voice of the world-famous Championships. She is a White Rose Scholar for Leeds University, writing and presenting history for broadcast and press including The New European, Archant News and Time Out Paris. She is the author of the local history book, ‘The Jigsaw Journey’. She has taught at the Global Institute, London Met and University of Southampton Solent.
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.
