Meet the Editors

They'll tell you what they want from you, and what they think of your work

Course is closed.

DURATION/TIME
8 weeks
Thursdays, 7-10 p.m.
Apr. 27-Jun. 22

LEVEL
This class is taught at an intermediate/advanced level. Students should have at least some published journalism experience.

LOCATION
Beverly Hills

PRICE
$550 ($525 for )
more info

Course Details

Meet the Editors is a rare and exclusive opportunity to get inside the minds of some of Los Angeles's top magazine editors. Each week, the class, led by veteran mediabistro.com instructor and freelance writer David Hochman, welcomes a guest editor from a local or national publication. Members of the workshop will learn what they really look for in pitches, what mistakes to avoid, and how decisions are made about which freelancers to hire and which to steer clear of. Editors will also critique students' writing and pitches as well as field questions about pitch protocol, unspoken codes of the industry and how to make yourself indispensable to any editor.

The workshop will cover a range of publication genres, including women's magazines, entertainment and news mags, men's magazines, free weeklies, health and fitness publications and national newspapers.

Confirmed visiting editors so far:

-Craig Tomashoff,  TV Guide
-Stephen Randall, Playboy
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Serena Kim, Vibe
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R.J. Smith, Los Angeles
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Joshua Rich, Entertainment Weekly
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Rick Wartzman, L.A. Times' West magazine

....and more to come!

Instructor Bio

David Hochman's Courses

No courses available at this time.

David Hochman
David Hochman has been writing for newspapers and magazines for 10 years, from both Los Angeles and New York. He writes frequently for Esquire, The New York Times, Travel + Leisure, Harper's Bazaar, Details, TV Guide, T+L Golf, Outside, Men's Journal, Food & Wine, and many other publications. With a pitching hit rate of 88 percent (well, at least on a good week), he is the happiest freelancer on his block.

Testimonials


Even a seasoned essay writer can benefit from David Hochman's insightful comments and advice. The class was highly beneficial and resulted in my sale of a humorous commentary to Public Radio International's Weekend America -- Wendy Dale, author and journalist

"I found Boot Camp invaluable in helping me sharpen my skills as a freelance writer and as an on-staff editor. I forced me to look at the entire process - from story idea to final draft -in a whole different way, and I got lots of practical tips that I can use on the job every day." -- Doug Newcomb, executive editor, Mobile Entertainment

"David's class was amazing. He is a talented writer and excellent teacher with a "tell-it-like-it-is" approach. I took away a lot of good information on both the writing and business sides of the freelance world. I think his class has given me the tools to (hopefully) fast-forward my freelance career. I also had a lot of fun in class which made me look forward to showing up for class each week." -- Lizbeth Scordo, freelance writer, Boot Camp for Journalists alum

"David was great. He's smart, charming, open-minded, and helpful. His stories were fascinating, he had excellent insider tips, he was complimentary without pandering to anyone, and gentle when giving feedback that might be tough to handle. He encouraged an atmosphere of student contribution, which helped to develop our critical skills. At the beginning of the class, I didn't know how to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of an article. Now I have a foundation to build on." -- Rick Danenberg, screenwriter

"David is knowledgeable, credible, friendly, warm, and generous. He genuinely wants to help us and to see us succeed." -- Maureen Kingsley, Personal Essay Boot Camp alum

"If you love to write and want to break into the magazine industry, Travel Writing Boot Camp is a good place to start. You'll learn industry basics like pitching to an editor, fashioning an article for travel readers, and how to use LA as your exotic travel destination. More than this, though, you will have the opportunity to learn from your writing peers and all under the instruction of David Hochman, who allows you to breathe through the whole process of learning. The class is hard - as any writing and critiquing class can be - but it will give you the tools you need to survive in the world of magazine journalism." -- Carol Turpen, author and journalist

AvantGuild* Discounts on mediabistro.com courses are just one of the wonderful benefits of being in AvantGuild, our premium membership program. For just $59 a year, you'll receive instant access to our How to Pitch articles and other premium articles, transcripts from selected seminars and panels, and discounts on virtually everything we do (including eClasses and the Freelance Marketplace)! Click here to join now.