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Research and Reporting for Books, Articles, and Television Segments

How to gather solid information for journalism, non-fiction, and fiction stories

Research and Reporting for Books, Articles, and Television Segments
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WHEN 4 weeks, July 23 - August 20
Chats Wednesdays, 8-9 pm ET

WHERE Online. Click here for more information.

LEVEL Beginner

PRICE
$350 ($325 for )
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Course Details

Editors can spot a poorly researched proposal in a minute, and they'll pass on it just as quickly. Supervising producers can spot a poorly researched segment in a matter of moments – and say "no thanks". In this class, you'll learn the top tricks of the trade for finding sources, researching your stories, and ending up with a powerhouse piece. From Internet searches to old-fashioned library legwork, we'll uncover every rock under which good news and reputable reporting hides.

This course is for serious writers (journalists, novelists, even memoirists) who want to enhance, deepen, and flesh out the stories they write and produce. Learn to be a better journalist, sell more work, and eliminate the lazy-bug that hovers around would-be newswriters. What's more -- learn how to turn your material into a story -- rather than just a bunch of facts.

In this class, you will learn:

  • The top 10 sources for great information
  • How to find sources on your own
  • How to outline a story and what type of information you'll need to find
  • What to do when you can't seem to find anyone to interview
  • How to navigate Internet searches
  • How to identify trustworthy sources
  • The ethical considerations of reporting (i.e. whom not to interview and why)
  • How to ask your sources the right questions so you get the answers you need

By the end of this class, you will have:
An arsenal of research, interviewing, and information sources, one story outlined and ready to be reported, and a solid understanding of the ethical quandaries so many journalists face. And, you will be able to differentiate a well researched piece, from a lackluster one.

Admission requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history).

The online classroom has several interactive components:

  • 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.

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Instructor Bio

Jon Leiberman's Courses

Jon Leiberman
Jon Leiberman is an Emmy award-winning investigative correspondent for America's Most Wanted. An expert in all things crime, he regularly appears on Shepard Smith's Fox Report, Nancy Grace, The Dan Abrams Report and The Maury Povich Show.

Jon previously reported from Iraq, Cuba, and from the floor of the 2004 presidential political conventions for Sinclair Broadcast Group. His journalistic actions earned him a 2005 Payne Special Citation for Ethics in Journalism. He has served as a professor in residence at the University of Iowa School of Journalism, and has lectured at the University of Maryland and McDaniel College.
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