How to Become an Arts Journalist

Course is closed.

WHEN
Thursday, June 2, 7-10 p.m.

WHERE
mb classrooms
494 Broadway
(between Spring and Broome)
New York, NY

WHO
Ideal for anyone interested in learning about or breaking into arts journalism

PRICE
$65 ($50 for )
more info

Course Details

There?s no shame in fighting over the Sunday morning arts page ? it's everyone's favorite to read (and to write for).

Nearly every NYC transplant will tell you they moved here for the ?culture.? So it?s no wonder the arts sections of the city?s newspapers are the vital conduits of information for the city?s arts-hungry inhabitants. From profiles of today's emerging stars and trends to juicy literary feuds and behind-the-scenes scoops, the field of arts journalism is one of the most fertile for freelancers. Editors at nearly every newspaper in Gotham ? from The New York Times to niche publications like The Park Slope Reader?are always on the hunt for imaginative, well-researched arts stories. This three-hour seminar will teach you how to find the right angles in researching, pitching, writing, and publishing your articles.

Unlike news pieces, arts stories have long lead times, which enables freelancers to identify stories as much as six months in advance. This class will teach you how to put your ear closer to the ground than everyone else, and give you the lay of the arts journalism land, from spotting the story and writing a successful pitch to tips on honing your interviewing and writing skills.

In this seminar, you'll also learn:

  • How to find the unique stories newspapers won't find without you, even if they have on-staff arts reporters.
  • How to get yourself into the loop: ordering book catalogs, getting on press release lists, and trawling the best of the Web for scoops.
  • How to write the basic types of arts features: profiles, Q&As, openings, trends, and scoops
  • How to take notes in a dark theater
  • How to know when a film and book equals a trend
  • The differences between a profile and a Q&A and how to know which one is right for your subject
  • The secrets of writing an arts story, from choosing the best quotes to fashioning the perfect nut graf

Instructor Bio

Alana Newhouse's Courses

No courses available at this time.

Alana Newhouse
Alana Newhouse is the arts and culture editor at the Forward newspaper, where she wears the multi-faceted hat of critic, writer, and editor for articles on books, film, visual arts, dance, and music. Her arts reporting has also appeared in The New York Times, The New York Times Book Review, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe Ideas section, and Slate. She is a graduate of Barnard College and the Columbia University School of Journalism.

Testimonials


How to Become an Arts Journalist was fantastic. Alana was clear and concise, while giving a lot of valuable information that made me feel like I could immediately start a career as a freelance arts journalist. I walked away from the class gaining more than I anticipated and I'll definitely take more in the future. -- Keren Baltzer, former student

"Alana's Arts Journalism seminar really helped me refine a pitch I was developing for The New York Times. I had some ideas and a piece, but the seminar I took with Alana really helped me refine the pitch. It provided me with the confidence that my ideas would be heard by the right editors. My essay was published in the Times' Modern Love section in July, 2005. I now feel much bolder about pitching in the future." -- Stephen Johnson, freelancer

"I recommend Alana's class to anyone beginning in the world of arts journalism. She gave a dynamic, clearly thought-out, thorough presentation that covered everything from how to pitch articles to how to write them. Moreover, Alana asked our interests at the start of class and deftly tailored her presentation for the specific needs of those present, and was eager to answer questions about everything from how to become an editor to whether journalism school was worthwhile. She was warm, enthusiastic, extremely knowledgeable, and clearly loved teaching. Her class was a real treat. " -- Kyle Patrick Smith, freelancer

"For the fledgling as well as the established arts journalists out there, Alana's seminar is rich with seasoned advice that can be both immediately serviceable as well as food for constant thought and reevaluation. Her presentation was vibrant, focused while being inclusive, and exhibited an invested generosity towards the fate of her newfound students that can only be described as stunning. The best teachers make their disciplines seem easy, while maintaining the allure of complexity, and Alana succeeded marvelously. Quite the treat, and not to be missed." -- Alex Ambrose, freelancer

"Alana presents such an informative class. I've already made some progress now that I've learned which steps to take first. Yesterday I approached the editor-in-chief of Art + Auction about my story, and he offered me a chance to start writing small, uncredited pieces in the magazine's "spotlights" section. It's the exact opportunity I needed! Thanks a million times, Alana!" -- Maggie Perez, assistant LTB Custom Publishing

"Alana's seminar was my first class with mediabistro and both she and the course exceeded my expectations. The information she presented was both helpful and entertaining, and Alana did a really great job of creating a dialoge amongst the participants rather than just lecturing to us. I would highly recommend her to my friends and take another one of her seminars. I'm also going to keep my eye out for her articles because I think she is a talented and insightful writer." -- Michael Valaire, freelancer

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