Course Details

mb's Boot Camp is a hit, but it's an intense, advanced class for very seasoned journalists. So what do you do if you want to first break into journalism, learning from serious teachers who currently work in the industry? Enlist in Basic Training. Part lecture, part workshop, this class is designed to give you a professional understanding of both the editing and writing sides. If you're looking to get your start as a journalist, Basic Training will take your writing to the next level. Each week, students will receive a lecture on topics like the editing process, journalism ethics, what makes something newsworthy, note taking, fact checking, reporting, and more. Over the course of 8 weeks, you will fully workshop two pieces, including a perfectly polished, no-fail pitch letter. Your work can range from personal essays to profiles, from news stories to business or travel features. You'll also learn how to query a publication, who to call there, and to which part of the publication you should pitch.

In this class, you can expect to learn:

• How to create captivating stories that editors will buy and readers will love
• How to write compelling pitch letters
• Which magazines will be interested in your story
• How to approach editors
• How to network
• All the basic skills any journalist should have

By the end of class, students can expect to have:
Two salable pieces, pitch letters to match, and knowledge enough to survive in the world of journalism.

• Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
• Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
• Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend. 
• Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.
  

Instructor Bio

Celeste Mitchell's Courses

Celeste Mitchell has been a women's magazine editor and writer for 15 years. A former deputy editor of Cosmopolitan and senior features editor at Family Circle, Celeste is currently a freelance writer in both New York and Los Angeles. Her work at Cosmopolitan involved crafting and editing articles on such subjects as trends, celebrities, style, decorating, dating, careers, and women's issues. While at Family Circle, she edited and wrote essays, human-interest features, profiles of inspirational women, and service articles on a broad range of topics including personal finance, relationships, education, travel, parenting, health, and fitness. Her work has been published in a variety of national magazines including Fitness, Shape, Woman's Day, Teen, and Walking, as well as in newspapers nationwide. She has been a guest speaker on journalism at New York University, The New School, and University of Oregon, as well as a panelist at American Society of Journalists and Authors conferences.

Testimonials

Celeste Mitchell is a gem, a writer's editor. She knows how to assemble the key ingredients that make a magazine story memorable and she does so in a way that keeps reporters and writers cheerfully plying their craft. With grace under pressure, I have seen her execute her own philosophy time and time again. -- Rob LaFranco, freelance writer and former editor at Forbes and West Coast bureau chief at Red Herring

"I always wanted to try my hand at magazine writing, but I wasn't sure if I had the time or the talent. mb's eClass was the perfect opportunity to test the water. While still holding down my full-time job, I was able to explore and develop my writing skills. I sold the first article I wrote in this class to Woman's Day. But what I found most valuable were the inside tips Celeste Mitchell offered on the components of a successful pitch. (I still refer to my notes!) Her seasoned expertise and thoughtful guidance gave me the confidence I needed to make my first pitch." -- Christine Rand, editor and magazine writer

"I expected Celeste's class to be full of people with little or no experience and was surprised by the number of folks already employed in complementary aspects of media services. In spite of the advanced expertise levels of the instructor and students, everyone was friendly, helpful and supportive." -- Terry Taylor, freelance writer

"Celeste Mitchell is just about the best editor I have ever had. She is the reason I continued being a writer. She is kind, gentle, and remarkably astute with her remarks." -- Amanda Gardner, freelance writer for national magazines and newspapers

"When I decided to take Celeste Mitchell's class, I was working for a PR firm and anxious to make the move into editorial, but to no avail. Taking the class not only kept me focused on my ultimate goal, it also kept me hopeful?I realized through feedback from Celeste that I needed to keep plugging. Within a couple of months, I landed a job at WWD editorial working as an associate beauty editor at Beauty Biz magazine." -- Bryn Kenny, associate beauty editor, Beauty Biz magazine, Woman's Wear Daily

"Celeste is incredibly savvy and able to communicate publication trends while at the same time encouraging and receptive to new ideas and pitches. Her critiques are extremely helpful and on-target, and I appreciated the grace with which she conducted class and gave constructive criticism." -- Jessica Alpert