WHEN 2 days, Saturday, November 7 & Sunday, November 8, 10 am-4 pm WHERE Midtown West LEVEL Beginner PRICE $425 ($400 for ) more info

Course Details

You're a great reporter and a great writer, right? Too bad the last dozen journalism job postings you found required knowledge of Flash. Fret not. This class is your answer, even if you shiver at the mention of any software application other than Word.

Note: This class is taught on Macintosh computers, but you should also be able to use the the skills you learn on a PC. Email us if you have any questions.

Admission Requirements:
This class is intended for writers and editors (not graphic professionals). Students must have basic knowledge of Photoshop (if you can resize an image, you're golden). Students should be comfortable with working on a Mac.

Course Syllabus

Flash (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Digital Media & Tech

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Journalism

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Design & Photo

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New York, NY

Instructor Bio

Duy Linh Tu's Courses

Duy Linh Tu is a co-founder and the creative director of Resolution Seven, a video and Web production studio. He is a writer, photographer, and videographer. Prior to forming Resolution Seven, Duy founded Missing Pixel, an award-winning interactive production company.

Duy is also an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and coordinates the school's New Media program. He has also taught interactive journalism at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. Duy received his masters degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Testimonials

Duy was helpful, informative, and fun! He made intimidating software become approachable, all while leading an engaging class. -- Tara Foster

"Duy was knowledgeable, energetic, and funny. I was able to create my first Flash project after just one weekend." -- Julie Fiedler

"I thoroughly enjoyed Duy's class and was very excited to walk away with a real website. The class was a true springboard thanks to Duy's detailed lesson plan and clear instruction." -- S. J. Gluck

"Duy's class prepared me for my new job and allowed me to dive into the world of multimedia as a journalist and beyond. Duy's teaching style was relaxed, clear, and to the point." -- Cindy Rodriguez

"Duy is a terrific teacher and instructor. I would definitely take more classes with him!" -- Josh Levin, Gallant Films, LLC

"Duy is a wonderful web instructor. His teaching style takes even the most difficult and technical concepts and makes them simple." -- Naomi Burgess

"Duy is amazing! He gave me the extra confidence and push I needed to finally put my business together. All the information provided was great." -- Patricia Rhinvil, CEO/founder, 48K Media, LLC

"My time with Duy was the most valuable time I have spent in developing my business and turning my dream into a reality." -- Emily Koteff

"Duy efficiently and effectively demystifies new media by sharing his knowledge in a very informal and relaxed atmosphere." -- Dolores C. Nolan, RMM, vice president, Stations Radio Advertising Bureau

"Duy has patience, wit, and enthusiasm for everyone. He gives you all the tools you need to create a Web presence. I had my site up and running within a few days." -- Cherie Henderson

"I'm amazed at how much I learned over two days and that I can now create slide shows, timelines, and other interactive graphics after coming in with zero prior Flash knowledge. Duy is an amazing teacher and the class comes exactly as advertised." -- Michael Morton

"Duy was just fabulous. He's clear, concise, supportive, interesting, entertaining, and patient." -- Paula Froke

"Duy is truly an amazing teacher -- patient, generous, and extremely knowledgeable. He demystifies the tech process and makes learning fun!" -- Jennifer Stromberg

"Duy was extremely knowledgeable and very focused on giving students the entire picture of what they needed to know. You gain a start-to-finish understanding of how to put up a site." -- Elizabeth Barr

"Duy was an ideal instructor. His instruction seemed to be very well planned, and his delivery was clear." -- Christine Reslmaier

"Duy is patient, clear, and has a level of expertise and practical know how that would be hard to top." -- Celia Colista

"Duy is the perfect instructor! He is clear, engaging, informative, practical and fun." -- Fay Torresyap

"Duy is an excellent communicator and clear instructor. I learned skills that I can apply to work outside of the class right away. This was a valuable experience for sure." -- Molly Seamans

WHEN Monday, November 9, 7-10 pm WHERE Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, Chicago, IL 60657 PRICE $65 ($50 for ) more info

Course Details

Do you itch to relocate a misplaced modifier? Does nonparallel construction make your blood boil? If you excel at grammar and thrive on detailed work, copy editing might be the career for you. A good copy editor can be an invaluable member of an editorial staff or enjoy a lucrative freelance career. But to flourish in the business, you must have impeccable skills, work well on a team, and be able to use QuarkXPress or Adobe InDesign. This seminar will tell you all you need to know about starting your copy editing career.

In this seminar, you will learn:

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Journalism

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Chicago, IL

Instructor Bio

Derek Gale's Courses

Derek Gale is a senior editor at Reed Business Information's Hotels magazine, where he writes and edits features, along with maintaining a blog and e-newsletter and producing multimedia editorial packages for www.hotelsmag.com. He has also worked as an editor at Reed's award-winning Restaurants & Institutions magazine.

Previously, Derek has worked as a copy editor at The Kansas City Star and Chicago's The Courier News. He received his master's degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Testimonials

Derek is knowledgeable and approachable. His handouts and advice are very valuable and his exercises on brevity and clarity should be required for all journalists and business writers. -- Mike Reilley

WHEN 4 weeks, November 9 - December 7 Chats Mondays, 9-10 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for more information. LEVEL Intro PRICE $350 ($325 for ) more info

Course Details

You've written a book and gotten it published. Or you're working on a great proposal but need some help establishing your platform. How can you make your hard work stand out in an incredibly crowded publishing marketplace? The answer lies in your ability -- and your determination -- to personally publicize both your book and yourself to the media and new audiences.

By the end of class, you will have:
A polished mission statement and author biography, a formal press release and/or article pitch for your book, a sample guest blog post or article, and a list of targeted publications and media outlets for book promotion.

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.

Course Syllabus

Develop Your Author Platform (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Book & Mag Publishing

Instructor Bio

Joel Schwartzberg's Courses

Joel Schwartzberg is in charge of new media and outreach for NOW on PBS. He is often invited to the National Publicity Summit as an expert to help authors uniquely market their material. He has also held senior executive roles at Time Inc. Interactive and Nickelodeon Online.

Joel coached competitive public speaking/forensic teams at Queens College, St. Joseph's University, Seton Hall University, and the University of Pennsylvania. He won the 1990 National Championship and was ranked among the ten top public speakers in the country. Joel was inducted into the National Forensic Association Hall of Fame in 2002.

He is also an award-winning essayist whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New York Daily News, Newsweek, New Jersey Monthly, The New York Post, Babble.com, Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Huffington Post, and regional parenting magazines around the country. He is the author of the memoir The 40-Year-Old Version.

Testimonials

Joel's observations and feedback were constructive and positive. I would definitely take another class with him and recommend him to others. -- Hugo Corvalan

"The course offered a number of excellent drills to help attendees learn to stand, speak, and gesture before an audience with confidence. I would recommend Joel and this public speaking class to anyone interested in fine-tuning their public speaking style." -- Anne Hollyday

"Joel conducts a fun, hands-on class where everyone walks away a more confident speaker than before." -- Nicole Niebisch

"I would highly recommend this class. It provided practical instruction of public speaking." -- Courtney Colwell

"Joel was funny, patient, and encouraging. He provides a number of tricks to get over speaking anxiety, to sound confident and project strength, and to win over any audience." -- Lionel Beehner, mediabistro.com instructor

"Joel was extremely helpful and engaging. He peppered his presentation with humor and made the whole room feel at ease. It was remarkable to see the improvement people made in just four hours. It was well worth the money." -- Debbie Sirico

"Joel delivered an enormous amount of information in an extremely palatable -- not to mention memorable -- way." -- Laura Harrison McBride

"Joel was an enthusiastic and accomplished speaker. I came away with great information that I can put to use right away." -- Valerie Peterson

"Joel is a virtual lightning bolt shot in the arm for anyone who wants to get awesomely creative and individualized ideas for promoting their book or project. I was up all night after this class, my head spinning with ideas." -- Dr. Christine Ranck

"Joel is an inspiring, energetic, and well-informed teacher. He generously shared savvy tips from his years of experience in magazine publishing. I would recommend this class to anyone." -- Karen Sorensen

"Joel was a wonderful source of information. I'd read several books on publicity for authors, but I still walked away with lots of new information as well as helpful critiques of my pitches." -- Shann Fountain-Culo

"Joel helped me develop a new way of thinking about the content I am creating for my book. As a result, I am rewriting and believe that I will have a much better written and more marketable book." -- Sandra Carpenter

"Joel had great energy and was a great speaker. He was a perfect instructor and I enjoyed taking his class." -- Beverly Anderson

"Joel did an excellent job sharing his skills and a lot of information was shared. I definitely will remember all the techniques in the future and it is my hope that I will become a more effective public speaker." -- Khristina Godlewski

WHEN 8 weeks, November 9 - January 11 Chats Mondays, 9-10 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for more information. LEVEL Intermediate PRICE $499 ($475 for ) more info

Course Details

Publishing a personal essay can put you on the fast track to getting an agent or even a book deal for your memoir. A series of essays often produces a theme, and this theme is often linked to a period of our lives that we'd really like to write about. But how do we get from A to Z?

• Your instructor's lectures are posted once a week: you can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience. Supplemental material—readings, examples, or handouts—may also be available.
• Students post completed assignments on the course bulletin board, where the class gives feedback. Students ask questions, share resources, and support each other, creating a conversation that continues all week.
• A regular chat time allows your class to converse as a group via instant message. Transcripts are available when you can't attend, or if you want to review the discussion.
• Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.

Course Syllabus

From Essay to Memoir (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Creative Writing

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Journalism

Instructor Bio

Abby Sher's Courses

Abby Sher is a writer and performer. Her memoir Amen, Amen, Amen: Memoir of a Girl who Couldn't Stop Praying will be published by Scribner in October, 2009. Her first novel, Kissing Snowflakes, was published in the fall of 2007 by Scholastic. Abby's words have appeared in Modern Love: Tales of Love and Obsession, Behind the Bedroom Door, The New York Times, The L.A. Times, Self, Jane, Elle, HeeB, and Redbook. She has written and performed for The Second City in Chicago, the Upright Citizen's Brigade, the Magnet Theater and the New York International Fringe Festival. She loves to make sand castles and drinks too much coffee.

Testimonials

With enthusiasm, humor, and generosity, Abby gave practical advice on how to improve a story's dialogue and also how to have an eye for what works and why. I learned a great deal! -- Marsha Lebedev Bernstein

"Abby is super attuned to the art of conversation. She shares her wisdom and keen insights into what your characters are really thinking in a way that will surprise you and make your story all the more compelling." -- Jami Kelmenson

WHEN 12 weeks, November 9 - February 8 Online chats: Mondays, 9-10 pm EST WHERE Online. Click here for details. LEVEL Intermediate PRICE $610 ($575 for ) more info

Course Details

Even experienced writers can balk at having to fill hundreds of pages with tens of thousands of words. In this class, you will learn how to manage the tricky process of writing a nonfiction book from an instructor who has overseen the development of nonfiction titles of all kinds, including memoir, narrative journalism, self-help, social and political issue, business, and narrative nonfiction.

By the end of this class, you will have:
A working draft (75-100 pages), a full chapter outline, and a plan for the completion of your book.

Students who have taken this class have published:
The Creative Girl's Guide To Having It All: How to Brave the Odds and Make Your Way in a Creative Career (Perseus/Running Press), Something New: Wedding Etiquette for Rule Breakers, Traditionalists, and Everyone In Between (Simon Spotlight), and Escape from Corporate America: A Practical Guide to Creating the Career of Your Dreams (Ballantine), and Read My Hips (Harmony)

Admission requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history), and a writing sample (less than 2,000 words).

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.
  

Course Syllabus

Nonfiction Book Writing (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Book & Mag Publishing

Instructor Bio

Ashley Shelby's Courses

Ashley Shelby is the author of Red River Rising: The Anatomy of a Flood and the Survival of an American City. Her journalism, essays, op-eds, and fiction have been widely published and anthologized. Ashley spent several years as an associate editor at Penguin Group (USA) Inc., where she specialized in political and social issue nonfiction, memoir, and narrative journalism. While at Penguin, she acquired and edited The United States of Wal-Mart by John Dicker, Persian Girls by Nahid Rachlin, Buddha's Warriors by Mikel Dunham, Now Write by Sherry Ellis, and Fat: The Anthropology of an Obsession by Don Kulick and Anne Meneley.

Prior to that, Ashley was a literary associate at the Vicky Bijur Literary Agency. She received an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing from Columbia University and was awarded the William Faulkner Short Fiction Award in 2002 and the 2009 Third Coast Fiction Prize. Ashley founded the KGB Bar Nonfiction Reading Series in New York and is currently director of Mill City Writers' Workshop.

WHEN 8 weeks, November 9 - December 28 Online chats: Mondays, 9-10 pm EST WHERE Online. Click here for detials. LEVEL Intro PRICE $499 ($475 for ) more info

Course Details

A well-written, well-placed op-ed essay can make your voice heard in print, online, and around the world. You can shape the public debate. And you don't have to be a well-known expert to get published. In fact, an op-ed can make you an expert.

The op-ed page is the most sought-after real estate in any publication. And there are more venues for your work as newspapers, magazines, websites, and blogs expand their first-person content. There are lots of opportunities for authors to showcase great writing while laying out forceful arguments.

This class covers the basics of writing brilliant op-ed essays. Students will learn from powerful examples taken from the nation's leading publications and will write and submit three pieces of standard length, each about 700 words.

By the end of this class, you will have:
Three op-ed pieces (up to 700 words) with pitch letters and suggestions on where to pitch them.

Students who have taken this class have been published in:
Huffington Post, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Post, the New York Daily News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek, and others.

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.

Course Syllabus

Op-Ed Writing (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Journalism

Instructor Bio

Lionel Beehner's Courses

Lionel Beehner is formerly a senior writer for the Council on Foreign Relations. He currently writes about U.S. foreign policy for the startup Big Think. His writing has appeared in the op-ed pages of The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Newsday, Baltimore Sun, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, The New Republic, Foreign Policy, Russia Journal, Kiev Post, Seed, and Worth magazine. He writes a weekly blog on foreign affairs at the Huffington Post. His commentary has appeared on CNN International, BBC Radio, CNBC's Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo, C-SPAN's Washington Journal, CBC, Bloomberg TV, and Voice of America, as well as The New York Times Magazine, Washington Times, Newsweek International, and Weekly Standard. He was the 2006 recipient of a German Marshall Fund journalism fellowship for a research project on post-Soviet youth movements in Ukraine and Belarus. He holds a master's degree from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.

Testimonials

Lionel's experience in the field both here and abroad definitely informs his discussion and the pointers he gives. -- Heather Chin

"Lionel knows exactly what he's talking about and has an impressive roster of published pieces. I got an op-ed published in The Los Angeles Times and syndicated as far away as Australia! Now I have the confidence to keep putting myself out there." -- Mary Kolesnikova

"Lionel is engaging, incisive, friendly, and throroughly knowledgable about the field. I'd recommend this course to anyone who is intersted in breaking into op-ed writing." -- Alex Andrews

"The class provided useful tools to both develop and hone op-ed writing skills. Lionel's excellent background enabled him to provide current, relevant information on all the areas that the class was interested in pursuing." -- Renee Fountain

"Lionel is an accomplished op-ed contributor who is happy to share his talent to help his class get their op-eds published." -- Martha Katzeff

"Lionel is a very successful op-ed writer, and when I read such pieces of writing now I will have a better sense of what went into them. It was very useful to learn how to pitch an op-ed." -- Ruth Papazian

"Lionel blends talent with experience, selflessness with tirelessness. Anyone wishing to enter the field, or to advance in it, should take one of his courses." -- Frank A. Campbell

"I would highly rate this class as an A+. Lionel is a wonderful, fun, and honest editor, as well as a classy guy who gives us the real scoop on how to get a pitch to work." -- Donna DeLeno Neuworth

"Lionel is a wonderful instructor. He really is the ideal teacher. He's extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his subject and he cares about improving his students' skills. I highly recommend his course." -- Lonzen Rugira

WHEN 4 weeks, November 9 - December 7 Chats Mondays, 10-11 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for more information. LEVEL Advanced PRICE $350 ($325 for ) more info

Course Details

The swell of interest in public relations, unmatched by any other branch of marketing, has created an unprecedented number of opportunities in PR firms, corporations, non-profits, and consulting. But how do you take advantage of these growing opportunities? This class is designed for those who understand the basics of PR and want an introduction to the more specialized areas of crisis communications, conferences, and social media. You will gain the skills you need to climb the PR ladder.

Admission Requirements:
This class is designed for professionals with PR experience. Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history).

(Beginners: If you want learn how to write pitch letters, news releases, and PR plans, check out our Intro to Public Relations class.)

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.com staff.

Course Syllabus

Advanced Public Relations (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Career

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Public Relations

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Advertising & Marketing

Instructor Bio

S.j Sebellin-Ross's Courses

S.j Sebellin-Ross is a senior independent marketing and public relations consultant and writer with nearly twenty years of experience. She manages and writes marketing and public relations communications for clients including IBM, Visa, the Toronto Stock Exchange, and Ronald McDonald Children's Charities. S.j also writes feature articles for leading publications, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and CNET.com. She is the author of a top-selling marketing book, and delivers executive training seminars to organizations including The Association of Journalists.

Testimonials

S.j is deeply knowledgeable in the public relations field. She displays a genuine concern for her students and their growth professionally. I hope to take additional courses with her in the future! -- Tim Pulice

"S.j gave me the necessary tools to assist me in my career goals. No question was turned down." -- Ebony Clark

"This class was an incredible learning experience. I learned a lot and definitely plan to take more classes." -- Robin Ochoa

"S.j. is constructively critical, presents thorough and easy-to-follow lectures, and offers timely and actionable responses to assignments and questions. All around great." -- Maayan Heller

"S.j. was great! She was candid and informative, but with a fun sense of humor." -- Gloria Krupa

"S.j. was an engaging instructor who obviously knows her stuff! She presents information succinctly and answered my many questions with grace and wit." -- Jessica Sellers

"S.j. made the course very worthwhile. She really knows PR and was direct and targeted in her instruction and comments." -- Elizabeth Tober Lyon

"S.j. delivers a suitcase full of useful tools for her students to carry with them in the world of PR." -- Tamryn Hennessy

"There isn't a question that S.j. struggles to answer! She offers relevant, effective feedback on assignments and chat sessions that have the feel of breezy, stimulating coffee shop conversation." -- Jessica Wangsness

"I loved taking this class with S.j. I obtained an internship at a PR firm in NY before the class ended." -- Tracey Boyd

"S.j. was very knowledgeable and produced great lectures. She gave me new tools that I put into immediate use. I look forward to taking more courses with her." -- Tiana Webb-Evans

"S.j oozes knowledge and information about today's media industry. Her classes are concise and very informative and will serve me as a reference for years to come." -- Mark Stokes

"S.j. is a great instructor who helped break down the basics. Great course -- two thumbs up!" - Lorna Umphrey

"S.j. was great! She really knows her stuff and gave great advice both on the writing and career aspects of PR." -- Jeanette Khan

WHEN Monday, November 9, 6:45-9:45 pm WHERE Letelier Theater, 3251 Prospect St. NW, Courtyard, Washington, DC 20007  PRICE $65 ($50 for ) more info

Course Details

Is your real life stranger than fiction? Do you think, day after day, "this would make a great book"? This seminar will cover every step of the process of writing a chick lit novel, from the formation of the idea to the publication of your novel. You will also get an overview of the publishing industry and how chick lit novels get published, along with the basic elements of crafting a novel that will sell. Whether you've just been on a ton of bad dates or are already beginning to write, this is the seminar for you.

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Creative Writing

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Book & Mag Publishing

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Washington DC, DC

Instructor Bio

Kristin Harmel's Courses

Kristin Harmel is the author of How to Sleep with a Movie Star, The Blonde Theory, and The Art of French Kissing, all from Warner Books/5 Spot/Hachette Book Group and When You Wish, a teen novel from Random House. In August 2009 look for her fifth novel, Italian for Beginners, (Hachette Book Group). In early 2010 her sixth novel, After, (Random House) hits shelves.

Kristin is also a reporter for People magazine and a freelance writer for Glamour, American Baby, Woman's Day, and Health. Visit her web site at www.KristinHarmel.com.

Testimonials

Kristin is the most motivating and empowering writing instructor I have had the privilege to work with. I would highly recommend any class she teaches. -- Kristen Conway

"Kristin is truly a dynamo! She made herself available in and out of class. She is truly a wonderful person and teacher." -- Ellen Feig

"Kristin's simple, straightforward, and encouraging methods made the class a pleasure and I am so glad that I attended." -- Olivia Martel

"Kristin is a great instructor. She motivates you to get the idea from your head onto the paper and get your book done. I would recommend her to anyone." -- Linda Olatunde

"I could not have asked for a better instructor than Kristin. I've taken two classes with her and can honestly say I wouldn't have produced the pages I have without her guidance." -- Debbie Feit

"I was inspired by Kristin! I'm realizing that I might even have a young adult novella under development, and I'm quite excited!" -- Amy Friedman

"Kristin is a generous, enthusiastic instructor who lit up the room with her humor and wit. Fun and educational!" -- Leslie Knox

"Kristin was fabulous! She far exceeded my expectations. She was very generous with her time and was so enthusiastic. I will definitely sign up for her online class." -- Kathy Goodman

"Kristin knows how to balance reality with inspiration. She left her students feeling they can conquer the publishing world!" -- Maureen Jenkins

"Kristin's enthusiastic no-nonsense approach encourages anyone with a good idea to tackle writing. Her energy and her generosity in offering tips has got me fired up to write!" -- Helen Mitternight

"Kristin was very candid and insightful. I look forward to attending another one of her seminars!" -- Cynthia Gbetibouo

"Kristin is extremely knowledgeable about her craft. Her input was valuable, and her direction on characterization was inspiring." -- Lauren Bahlman

"Kristin is an engaging, friendly, and experienced instructor who knows her stuff and makes her students feel at ease." -- Rebekah Gordon

"Kristin is warm, funny, and well-spoken. She provided solid advice mixed with her personal experiences and perspective." -- Liz Grimes

"Kristin really helped me develop my manuscript and my writing. She had well thought out ways of helping students make progress and keep our projects on track." -- Ellie Parker

"Kristin has incredible amounts of energy and an obvious true passion for writing. It is truly inspirational to learn from her and I left the class feeling a renewed sense of drive to write my book!" -- Sara Mailloux

"Kristin's experience comes through in the lecture notes and chat sessions. She has a very casual, inviting style which makes her seem less like a strict instructor and more like a colleague. I would definitely recommend taking one of her courses." -- Christine Guerrini

"Kristin really knows what she's talking about and genuinely wants her students to be as successful as she already is. She's a great teacher who gives wonderful advice and plenty of encouragement." -- Meredith Bodgas

WHEN Tuesday, November 10, 7-10 pm WHERE The Meeting Room, 2999 Overland Ave., Ste. 205A, Los Angeles, CA 90064 MORE INFO Email us, or call 212-547-7890 PRICE $65 ($50 for ) more info

Course Details

Now that Friends, Frasier, and Sex and the City are off the air, networks are looking for the next great new show. And with so many cable networks actively seeking original programming, the time has never been better to develop and pitch your own series idea. This seminar will show you how to develop and write a pilot, detail what to include in a proposal, and discuss the elements of the perfect pitch.

In this seminar, you will learn:

• Which types of shows the networks are looking for
• Where to pitch and who to pitch to
• How to write a synopsis that captures producers' attention
• How to create compelling characters
• How to generate ideas for a season's worth of episodes
• What to include in your pitch -- and what to leave out
• How to write a saleable pilot

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TV, Film & Video

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Los Angeles, CA

Instructor Bio

Chad Gervich's Courses

Chad Gervich is a television producer, author, and playwright who spent five years as a development executive and producer with the Littlefield Company, where he developed pilots and series for NBC, ABC, CBS, UPN, the WB, and FOX. Chad has worked in development and production at NBC Studios, Sony Pictures, CBS Productions, and Twentieth Century Fox where he was involved in the development, production, and maintenance of Love, Inc., Malcolm in the Middle, Like Family, Time Tunnel, Star Search, and Do Over.

Chad has created and produced Style network's hit series Foody Call and executive produced Celebrity Drive-By, a talk show pilot for E! Entertainment. Chad has also developed, written, and produced Dirty Laundry, a soap for FOX TV Studios, Wig Out, a Warner Brothers sitcom, and Fox Reality Channel's Reality Binge. He is currently executive producing Spellbound: The Witches of Orange County for The Weinstein Company.

Chad is the author of mediabistro.com's Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writers Guide to the TV Business and is a contributing editor for Writers Digest, where he writes Script Notes, a regular screenwriting column/blog. He also writes for Daily Variety, Fade In, Moving Pictures, and Orange Coast.

Testimonials

Chad is a very energetic and charismatic speaker with a non-judgmental, supportive teaching style. I left his class with tangible tools to move forward with the next step. -- Sue Karlin, freelance journalist, Newsweek, Forbes, Esquire

"Chad has valuable insights to share about the TV business and the craft of writing pilots. Whether you're a rookie or a professional, you'll feel focused, smarter, and ready to write." -- Wendy Calhoun, staff writer, NBC-Universal/NBC

"The course content was fabulous and exactly what I expected in terms of starting from scratch to getting into the minute detail. It was just perfect." -- Georgia Cassimatis

"Chad is very knowledgeable and is able to present all topics in an informative, logical way with lots of enthusiasm." -- Vanessa Amador

"Chad is passionate about television and very down to earth. I was very impressed with the candid nature of Chad's information and his honest responses to people's questions. He gave them real answers." -- Chayah Masters

"I started this class with a blank writing tablet and ended the course with a spec script that I would be proud to submit to an agent. That's worth the time and the money." -- Dylan Conroy

"Chad was a dynamic speaker and took his time to make sure that everyone in the class participated and got their questions answered. I will definitely take another class with him." -- Angie Truschel

"The presentation of the material was excellent. This is probably the best course I've taken." -- Roberta Cruger

"Chad is a great teacher and brings with him a wealth of information. I learned a great deal and the class is a heckuva lot of fun!" -- Susan Morris

"Chad gives you the edge of really understanding the business, what it takes to get those pitch meetings, and how to leave an impression that gets you the assignment." -- Erica Land

"Chad is one of a kind in the entertainment industry. He really wants others to succeed and shows you the pathway to do so. Take his class!" -- La Mer Walker

"Chad not only gives you the basics, but tells you how everything works when you're entering into TV pilot script territory." -- Jerome Cleary

"Chad is an invaluable resource on the art and business of writing for television." -- Sarah Schreckengaust

"Chad knows his stuff and breaks it down for both the beginner and someone who's already in the business." -- Stevie Mac

WHEN 4 weeks, Tuesdays, November 10 - December 1, 6:45-9:45 pm WHERE New York (Soho) LEVEL Intro CERTIFICATE CREDIT This course counts towards the Mediabistro Copy Editing Certificate. PRICE $350 ($325 for ) more info

Course Details

This four-week course will put a spotlight on the sentence. We'll be examining and breaking down parts of speech and the elements of good grammar. We'll touch on basic grammar rules and common mistakes. We'll also address the basics of punctuation. We will refer to mainstream periodicals for examples. Weekly assignments will reinforce topics covered in class.

Course Syllabus

Grammar, Punctuation, and Meaning (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Journalism

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New York, NY

Instructor Bio

Magdalena Alagna's Courses

Magdalena Alagna has worked as a copy editor for Infobase Publishing, a copy chief and copy editor for Rosen Publishing, and a proofreader for The National Law Journal. She has edited hundreds of books on subjects that range from the life and times of Abigail Adams to the dangers of cosmetic surgery. She holds strong opinions about split infinitives and serial commas.

Testimonial

Magdalena is the high priestess of grammar. She will teach you how to make dangling participles, misplaced modifiers, and poorly formed sentences disappear from your life. -- Peter Messina

"Magdalena is a wordsmith and she is very enthusiastic about teaching and making sure everyone gets it. This class has allowed me to walk away with the tools and guides to find the answers to my grammar questions." -- Grace Cavallo

"Magdalena is an excellent instructor who gives practical information and real world examples." -- Joseph Marchelewski

"Magdalena gave me the all the tools and pointers I need to excel at copy editing. She met all of my expectations in terms of course content, and exceeded them in terms of her teaching style." -- Henry Visotski

"Magdalena was enthusiastic about every topic, and had an obvious fervor for the art of constructing sentences. She was approachable and professional." -- Katie Sherman

"Magdalena's clearly a pro at copy editing. I would love to take another class with her." -- Danielle Nuzzo

"I found Magdalena to be quite patient, knowledgeable, and helpful in regards to finding all the resources necessary to accomplish my goals. She rocks!" -- Genevieve Hewitt

"Magdalena makes learning and relearning grammar rules fun, which is a hard task! Having such an easy-going, yet knowledgeable, instructor made class worth every minute and penny." -- Patricia DeLuca

"Magdalena's presentations were engaging because she not only has an academic grasp of the subject but also a hands-on approach, which gave us a broad picture of what to expect in the industry." -- Nirvana Williams

"Magdelena gives you the skills and confidence to become a copy editor in just weeks. Her extensive knowledge of grammar and language is an amazing added bonus." -- Karen Grant

"Magdalena is outstanding! She really knows her stuff and is able to communicate very clearly and inspire confidence. She also offered great insights that others probably would not have shared." -- Jody Potter

"Magdalena was great and was always really candid about her experiences in copy editing without ingraining false hope." -- Alice McKenney

"Magdalena clearly knows copy editing. Her knowledge and experience are first-rate." -- Kelly Osterhout

"Magdalena was great. She was inspired about grammar. Her passion for it was infectious." -- Gabrielle Zuckerman

"I began using the material we covered on the job right after the first class. This is real-world grammar at its best." -- Gloria Dawson

"Magdalena is smart, knowledgeable, lighthearted yet serious, respectful, and very encouraging. I can't imagine anyone being better." -- Fran Schoenfeld

"Magdalena was an outstanding instructor because she gave us real world and practical examples to help us better navigate the copy editing world." -- Roya Bell

"I took the class together with my daughter, and we both felt the information Magdalena presented was useful, important, and relevant." -- Mary Brown

"Magdalena is a personable professional who really knows her grammar. She is very approachable for extra help and emphasizes practicality over jargon. This course will benefit everyone from the novice to the seasoned professional." -- Stuart Ellison

WHEN 6 weeks, Tuesdays, November 10 - December 15, 6:45-9:45 pm WHERE New York (Soho) LEVEL Intro PRICE $425 ($400 for ) more info

Course Details

Even in an ever-changing media climate, magazine publishing continues to grow. In fact, more new magazines launched in the first quarter of 2009 than in the previous two years. If you've always had an interest in magazines, and wondered how successful magazines are launched and continue to thrive, this course is for you.

We will cover all job opportunities within the editorial and business sides of consumer magazines. This class will be extremely interactive and hands-on. Industry guests from major publishing houses, as well as clients, will join us to share perspectives on content, selling, and the buying and marketing of magazines. Learn how to create buzz with effective marketing, promotion, and public relations. Learn how circulation numbers relate to building a subscription and newsstand base.

Course Syllabus

Intro to Magazine Publishing (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Book & Mag Publishing

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Advertising & Marketing

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New York, NY

Instructor Bio

Katherine Rizzuto's Courses

Katherine Rizzuto has worked in magazine publishing for over 20 years, most recently as associate publisher at InStyle and Instyle.com. Prior to this, she was associate publisher at Fitness and Brides magazine and publisher at Marie Claire, Fitness, and the Conde Nast Bridal Group. She began her career at SSC&B advertising as a media buyer and has held advertising sales positions at YM, Seventeen, and Womans Day.

WHEN 8 weeks, November 10 - December 29 Online chats: Tuesdays, 9-10 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for details. PRICE $499 ($475 for ) more info

Course Details

Congratulations! You've got a clip or two -- now you want more, in bigger, better publications, with bigger, better paychecks. You're ready for Boot Camp for Journalists.

Each week, you'll push yourself to research, write, and pitch a new piece. Lectures, handouts, reporting and writing tips, and examples will guide you. By the end of eight weeks, you'll have a new portfolio of work and a new set of skills.

In this class, you will learn:

• How to write a pitch an editor can't turn down
• Which magazines are most freelancer friendly
• How to edit yourself and manage tight deadlines
• How to work with editors

By the end of class, you will have:
A complete portfolio of 7 publishable articles that will impress any magazine editor, the ability to work under tight deadlines, and an understanding of how to achieve the career you want.

Students who have taken this class have been published in:
The New York Times, Portfolio, The Village Voice, The New York Observer, Pregnancy, Fit Pregnancy, Real Simple, and more

Admission requirements:
Students must have at least one published article. Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history), and a writing sample (less than 2,000 words).

• 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.

Course Syllabus

Boot Camp for Journalists (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Journalism

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Book & Mag Publishing

Instructor Bio

Alison Overholt's Courses

Alison Overholt is senior editor at ESPN The Magazine, managing investigative features and sports business coverage in addition to working on multimedia initiatives. Before joining ESPN in 2005, Alison was a staff writer and editor at Fast Company, where she covered emerging technologies and women in business from both Silicon Valley and New York. Her writing has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Inc., Working Mother, Fitness, Sports Illustrated for Women, American Way and San Francisco magazines, and LifetimeTV.com. Alison received the Asian American Journalists Association's National Print Journalism Award for a 2004 Fast Company cover story about Starbucks entering the music business, and was a two-time "30 Under 30" pick for TJFR/NewsBios' annual list of influential business journalists. She holds a government degree from Harvard and is a graduate of the Radcliffe Publishing Course.

Testimonials

I couldn't have wished for a better instructor than Alison. I've submitted two of the pieces I wrote in her class. My art review has been accepted and my Op-Ed is pending. I'm very happy I signed up for the class and would highly recommend it! -- Gabrielle Selz

"Alison is knowledgeable, thoughtful, and provides great insight. Since she is both a writer and editor, her suggestions for improving our writing were always accurate. Alison is truly fantastic." -- Michele Perkins

"Alison was an awesome instructor. I learned a lot about freelancing, masthead organization, and salary. I would definitely recommend this class." -- Lindsey Hunter

"Alison was an amazing instructor. She brought real-life examples, challenges, and wins into our class and was so personable and helpful that the class was a delight." -- Kristin Colangelo

"I would certainly take another class with Alison and mediabistro. I have learned a great deal about the writing and business aspects of the magazine industry and feel much more confident in the world of freelance writing. I left with motivation to write and confidence in getting published." -- Amy McIntyre

"Alison was a real pro -- she gave fully of herself, seemed to really want to be teaching the class, and was engaged throughout. The class was full of practical advice and assignments that really helped me look at magazines through an editor's eyes. The tone was positive and can-do." -- Leslie Koren

"Alison is a superb instructor. I looked forward to our class activities and discussions, and the homework was challenging without being overwhelming. Alison's can-do spirit was infectious. I learned more in these eight weeks than I did in my first job." -- Michelle Wiener

"Alison was enthusiastic, inspiring, funny, and sharp. She was able to explain and illustrate the writing, editing, and business sides of the process in a way that really made sense to me. I'd recommend this course to anyone!" -- Charlotta Kratz

"My career as a business journalist launched after I'd taken a class with Alison. While I was publishing some of my first breaking news and investigative pieces for Trader Monthly she was still there to offer advice and editorial direction." -- Teri Buhl

"Alison is a great instructor! I would highly recommend any class that she is teaching." -- Erin Cates

WHEN 4 weeks, November 10 - December 3 Online chats: Thursdays, 9-10 pm EST WHERE Online. Click here for more information. LEVEL Intermediate/advanced CERTIFICATE CREDIT This course counts towards the Mediabistro Copy Editing Certificate. PRICE $350 ($325 for ) more info

Course Details

Journalism school doesn't teach you how to be a magazine editor. So where are you going to learn what it really takes? If you already have the requisite type-A personality and a sense of humor, this class will guide you through everything from finding original story ideas to handling kill fees to editing copy for online publications. You'll get practical advice on things you didn't even know to ask about.

Admission requirements:
Applicants should be involved in staff editorial work or be freelancers who work with editors. Please submit a letter of interest, including a brief work history and your desired outcome for this class.

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.

Course Syllabus

Boot Camp for Print and Online Magazine Editors (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Journalism

Instructor Bio

Christopher Scapelliti's Courses

Christopher Scapelliti is the executive editor of Guitar World magazine and the consulting editor of Future Music, a magazine for people who make music on computers. He was a founding editor of Revolver; he currently writes the magazine's monthly Crash Course, a fast-and-furious "everything you need to know" synopsis about a band or musical artist.
Christopher has interviewed and written about Pete Townshend, Elvis Costello, Marilyn Manson, Sheryl Crow, Billy Corgan, Jack White, and Slash. He was a contributing writer to the MusicHound series of reference guides. Christopher served for four years as editor-in-chief and assistant publisher for the Midwest regional arts magazine On-the-Town.

Testimonials

Chris's class is a brief but effective journey into the world of magazine editing. The assignments are relevant, the lectures informative, and the discussions stimulating. I recommend this course to new or aspiring magazine editors. -- Beverly Buncher

"Chris's class gave me the confidence to move forward in the space of 4 weeks. To tap into Chris's expertise was a privilege, and his methods and sense of judgement will undoubtedly shape my own approach. I already received writing commissions from Australian GQ and Marie Claire." -- Stephen Wood, deputy chief subeditor, Sydney Morning Herald

"This class really helped me achieve a higher level of confidence in my job and understand the industry standards when dealing with difficult writers. I learned that being a good editor goes beyond the editing." -- Nichole Brown

"If you need to sharpen your editing skills, this class is perfect. You will be able to share your frustrations, offer suggestions to others, and learn about the industry. The homework assignments are in-depth and well worth the critique. I loved the course and plan to take others in the future." -- Marie Wolf

"Chris told me what I needed to hear and wrote without judgment or emotions. He was completely accessible and willing to help us with whatever issues we were facing. He wanted us to be successful." -- Aleix Hodges

"Chris balances criticism with praise without seeming trite. He takes a great deal of care in reading and assessing assignments. I got more than my money's worth. I'm looking forward to taking more classes from him in the future." -- Erin Moore Bean

"I'm so happy I took this course. I can't explain how much I learned in just four weeks. Chris was a brilliant instructor, leading interesting and important discussions and offering priceless insight. I'd recommend this class to any editor." -- Anna Bogdanowicz

"Chris was a wonderful instructor. His lessons were well-planned, comprehensive, and very detailed. He was incredibly helpful, quick to respond, and worked diligently with his students to help them achieve their goals." -- Ann Kohler

WHEN 6 weeks, November 10 - December 22 Chats Tuesdays, 9-10 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for more information. LEVEL Intro CERTIFICATE CREDIT This course counts towards the Mediabistro Copy Editing Certificate. PRICE $425 ($400 for ) more info

Course Details

If you're a true stickler for detail and get a special charge out of spotting grammar errors and typos, copy editing is calling you. This course is for anyone who wants to break into copy editing -- or just feel more confident wrangling words. We'll cover the basics, from proofreader's marks to essential rules of grammar and punctuation. By the end, you'll be a pro at creating smooth, readable copy.

By the end of class, you will have:
An overall knowledge of the copy editing field and the tools to pursue a job as a copy editor.

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.com staff.

Course Syllabus

Intro to Copy Editing (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Journalism

Instructor Bio

Indira Ranganathan's Courses

Indira Ranganathan is a journalist and attorney who worked as a news and copy editor at Gannett Newspapers. She wrote an online column about her life read by over 30,000 readers when the Internet was just beginning to hit the mainstream. From there, she moved on to Yahoo! where she worked for five years in sales, marketing, and promotions. Indira is currently a freelance editor and writer working on her first novel. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Maryland and her J.D. from Tulane Law School in New Orleans.

Testimonials

Indira is a sharp, succinct, and skilled instructor. It was a very worthwhile class. -- Michele Weston

"In Indira's class, I picked up more than just the basics. Indira gave us real world advice for job hunting and constructive feedback." -- Jocelyn Hawkes

"Indira made herself available, gave terrific feedback, and really seemed invested in her students." -- Tiffany Napper

"Indira was very open with her vast array of knowledge and provided a lot of insider tips that might be hard to come by elsewhere." -- Jenny Seay

"Indira taught us how to edit with the author's voice in mind, how to tear a piece apart, how to come up with a great headline, and much more. The quality of my work has increased." -- Heather Ciras

"Indira, thanks so much for a great class. I've mentioned it in my cover letters, and it has made a huge difference!" -- Nina Sharma

"I found the lectures to be very well written, the recommended readings to be very informative, and the optional workbook assignments to be very helpful." -- Joni Lacroix

"Indira was approachable, prepared, and very encouraging. Her class has already paid for itself in the skills I have been able to provide my clients." -- Jessica J. Week

"Do yourself a favor, and take a class with Indira! She is a skilled, precise, and fantastic teacher." -- Kelly Deegan

"If you want to learn the ins and outs of copyediting, this course with Indira is what you want to take." -- Amy Smith

"Indira was great! This class definitely taught me what I needed to know about copy editing, but also taught me about how to approach my job search." -- Amy Wasserman

"Indira was a true pleasure. She taught me to be a stickler for details while looking beyond simple grammar to help a story shine." -- Lorelei Mann

WHEN 8 weeks, November 10 - January 12 Chats Tuesdays, 9-10 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for more information. LEVEL Intro PRICE $499 ($475 for ) more info

Course Details

Travel the world and get paid for it? Yes, it's true! Whether a long weekend in Mendocino or a long walk across Nepal, there's a market out there for your stories, and a proven path that successful travel writers follow. In this course, you'll learn how to grow your freelance writing career by mastering one of its most adaptable, engaging genres: travel. Travel writing is a conduit to many parallel genres, from food to art, politics to technology, and the skills and experience you'll gain covering travel can be applied to all your writings.

Over the course of the class, we'll reveal the inner workings of the field, showing how travel editors think and what they want from their writers. We'll diagram the many different styles of travel writing, study the critical role of pitch letters, analyze key components to strong travel writing, and show how and why you can use travel writing as a springboard to other genres. Throughout class we'll extensively workshop your pitches and articles, and you'll graduate with a series of solid pieces ready for you to sell. So pack your bags for the glamorous life, whether that's poolside mai tais at boutique hotels or chicken-packed buses bouncing along Andean backroads.

In this class, you will learn:

By the end of class, you will have:
Two salable pieces and pitch letters to match (and the know-how to send them out!)

Students who have taken this class have been published in:
The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, National Geographic Traveler, Travel+Leisure, Outside, Sunset, Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Entrepreneur, San Francisco, and Budget Travel  

• 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.

Course Syllabus

Intro to Travel Writing (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Journalism

Instructor Bio

Jason Clampet's Courses

Jason Clampet is editor of Frommers.com, where he oversees all of the website's online-only content and develops new products. Previously, Jason researched, wrote, and photographed the first edition of the Rough Guide to Baja California while shuttling between Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Cassis, France.

He spent six years at Citysearch.com, where he launched the Philadelphia site, ran the New York site, and wrote about restaurants, hotels, and bars in cities across the U.S. His print writing has appeared in Architectural Record, Shonen Jump, and Everyday with Rachel Ray. You can follow his Frommers.com-related tweets at twitter.com/clampetfrommers.

WHEN 6 weeks, November 10 - December 22 Chats Tuesdays, 9-10 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for more information. LEVEL Intro PRICE $425 ($400 for ) more info

Course Details

Online content is here to stay, but so are magazines. Not that long ago, putting a magazine online just meant uploading previously published articles and inserting a couple of links. Those days are gone.

Online audiences are demanding and fickle. In order to compete with online media, stay relevant, and extend their brands and readerships (online and off), magazine sites are increasingly investing in new technology. They're creating web-exclusive content, and integrating their print and online brands more imaginatively (think Lucky).

In this 6-week course you'll learn the essentials of creating successful magazine sites and what that means for print magazine writers and editors.

In this class, you will learn:

• How to be a great writer/editor for magazine web sites
• Where the role of editor ends and producer begins
• How to webify magazine articles, including pitfalls to avoid
• Which new web technologies have become an expected and integral part of web content, and how to develop them
• The importance of user-generated content -- when and how to encourage it, how and why to use it
• How to evaluate, identify, and incorporate potential content partnerships

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.

Course Syllabus

Reinventing Print Content for the Web (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Journalism

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Book & Mag Publishing

Instructor Bio

Steve Singer's Courses

Steve Singer has over 18 years of wide-ranging new media editorial and broadband experience, including being a founding member of Discovery Channel's Interactive Multimedia division, executive producer for Macmillan New Media, "rich media ninja" at Sapient, and managing producer for Harvard Business Digital. He's also been on the faculty of Boston University's College of Communication, teaching interactive and broadband media since 1996.

Testimonials

Steve is a web wizard who knows how to convey how it works for those of us still in the formative stages. This course is an eye-opener for anyone who has been preserved in the amber of the print world. -- Claudia Perry

"Steve was knowledgeable and did a great job of making sure the class was engaging." -- Melanie Medina

"Steve gave us great web resources, most of which I had never heard of and would probably not have found on my own." -- Susan Comolli

"I found Steve to be a thoughtful and engaged teacher. His course was a down-to-earth practicum from someone active in the field." -- Kerry Tremain

WHEN 8 weeks, November 10 - December 29 Online Chats: Tuesdays, 10-11 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for information. LEVEL Intermediate PRICE $499 ($475 for ) more info

Course Details

Maybe you're a lawyer. Or an accountant. Or maybe you sell batteries on the subway. And you think to yourself: Hey. I'm funny. There's got to be a way I can make a living off this. Like writing comedy for television. But how the hell do you write comedy for TV and get paid for it? Well, this course is for you.

Course Syllabus

Writing Comedy for TV (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Creative Writing

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TV, Film & Video

Instructor Bio

Alan Cross's Courses

Alan Cross is a former head writer for VH1's Pop-Up Video, where he was nominated for three Emmy Awards. He was a freelance contributor for Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update" for four years. Other credits include MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch and 3-South, VH1's Name That Video, the WB's Ultimate Muscle, and Comedy Central's The Man Show. Currently, Alan is writing and producing a syndicated radio program for Paul Shaffer from The Late Show with David Letterman; he was also a senior writer for Carson Daly. He co-wrote/produced "Video Shmideo", a winner at the 2007 New York TV Festival. In 2004 he published his first book (with writing partner Paul Fourie), What Would W Do? His political humor has also appeared in Slate.com, Cracked Magazine, and Nylon for Men. Alan has appeared in national voiceover campaigns for McDonalds, Mercedes, Priceline.com and others; as an actor you saw him during the 2006 Superbowl in an ad for Sprint, a spot that Adweek called "one of the ten funniest."

Testimonials

"Alan is more than a teacher -- he is a motivator. Since class, I've been creating quality material at a blistering pace. His critiques are direct, comprehensive, and honest. The skills I learned in this class will benefit me throughout my career." -- Jonathan Cohen

Alan went above and beyond in this course, helping us whip our comedy into shape for a real, live show. As a result, our sketches got a lot of laughs when the actors performed them in front of an audience. -- Tom Carter

"Alan definitely knows the field of comedy writing, especially the little ins and outs that are virtually impossible to discover on your own. The class was definitely worth my time and money!" -- Laurel Brown

"Alan is a witty and welcoming instructor who truly wants his students to get their fingers good and messy in the many different pies available to those looking to write comedy for TV." -- Paul Hagen

"Alan is great because he explains what you need to do to improve your writing and why you need to do it." -- Adam Ullian

"Alan was refreshingly easygoing, encouraging, supportive, helpful, and honest. Imagine my surprise and pleasure at seeing some of those exact headlines used in last Saturday's SNL Weekend Update! Receiving timely info like that and seeing it come to life rocked!" -- Jennifer Anderson

"Alan covered the basics of joke writing and gave everyone confidence. He explained how to use this ability to break into a business that seems very intimidating. I found the class very rewarding and inspiring." -- Eric Kabakoff

"Alan is a gifted comedy writer and an equally gifted instructor. His enthusiasm for his craft is contagious! Alan's instruction and encouragement have provided the impetus for what I'm hoping will be an effective career transition." -- Matt Nelko

"Alan's brilliant sense of humor, first-hand knowledge of the industry, and unwavering support of beginners makes his class essential for those interested in writing comedy." -- Serena Schonbrun Connelly

"Alan provided excellent guidance and information that would take forever to uncover for yourself." -- John Emery

"It's one thing to impart knowledge, it's quite another to inspire passion in others. Alan is a genuinely gifted teacher and I hope he continues giving to successive groups of writers, because what he gives is a lot." -- Russell Smith

"A writing class is only worth what you put into completing the writing assignments. The assignments Alan offered and the way he uses the assignments to build on each other were quite valuable, and his advice is priceless." -- David Nieker, mediabistro.com instructor

WHEN Wednesday, November 11, 7-10 pm WHERE BCA, Stanford Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116 PRICE $65 ($50 for ) more info

Course Details

You eat. You write. You dream of combining the two. But to be a food writer, you have to be an intrepid reporter and translate what you learn into informative, enticing stories. And most important, you have to actually get published. Reviewing restaurants isn't the only way to write about food. But snagging that coveted slot at a magazine or newspaper gets easier if you've got some food writing chops and clips (and if you really love to eat). This seminar will teach you the best ways and venues for breaking into the food writing business.

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Journalism

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Book & Mag Publishing

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Boston, MA

Instructor Bio

Janice O'Leary's Courses

Janice O'Leary is the editor-in-chief at Boston Common magazine and was formerly associate editor at Body+Soul. She got her start writing about food with the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. Her articles have also appeared in the Boston Globe's dining section, Boston Weddings Magazine, Natural Health, and HomeSpa. She has taught journalism at Boston University and fiction writing at Harvard University. Recently, she has appeared on Martha Stewart's Sirius radio channel and on the Martha Stewart Show.

Testimonials

Janice's greatest attribute is her transparency, can-do attitude, and optimism. She has you leave class feeling that all the freelance world is your oyster. -- Lisa Peters O'Brien

"Janice's openness and willingness to answer anything and everything was refreshing, and the class gave me a newfound confidence!" -- Laura Mandel

"Janice de-mystified the article submission process for me. In her astute and charming way, she offered me both ideas to ponder and practical "how-to's" that gave me the confidence to dig in and start submitting." -- Rosie DeQuattro

"Janice gave the students three hours of valuable information. Her can-do attitude is contagious." -- Ann Trieger

"Janice was encouraging and provided a realistic picture of what one can hope for and expect in the world of food writing." -- Patricia Howells

WHEN Wednesday, November 11, 6:45-9:45 pm WHERE University Settlement, 273 Bowery (at E. Houston), New York, NY 10002 WHO Anyone looking to land an agent for their fiction writing PRICE $65 ($50 for ) more info

Course Details

Aspiring authors often spend as much time worrying about getting representation as they do writing their books. The truth is, there are scores of agents out there, and landing one is nowhere near as hard as it seems -- even if you have no publishing connections. In this seminar, you'll learn how to find the perfect agent for your novel, how to know when your book is ready to send out, and how to write a professional-sounding query letter. We'll also discuss the do's and don'ts for dealing with agents, and what you can realistically expect when you sell a book.

In this seminar, you will learn:

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Book & Mag Publishing

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New York, NY

Instructor Bio

Lauren Lipton's Courses

Lauren Lipton's romantic comedy Mating Rituals of the North American WASP has been called "a light-hearted love story starring two remarkably stubborn protagonists who seem hellbent on ignoring the fate they clearly are meant for" by the Hartford Courant. Her last novel, It's About Your Husband, was called "smart, sassy and impossible to put down" by The Princess Diaries author Meg Cabot. She is also a journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times' Sunday Styles section, the Wall Street Journal, and elsewhere.

Testimonials

Lauren shares tips and insights that can work for anyone. --Jami Kelmenson

"Lauren combines years of journalistic know-how to help her students craft smart novels that sell." -- Nicole Hernandez

"Lauren teaches a fun, well-organized class that quickly provides the promised information. Her real experiences steered us in the direction of what to do and what not to do." -- Ann Votaw

"How much did I like Lauren's class? I stopped into a book store on the way home and bought one of her novels." -- Howard Solomon

"Lauren is able to excite you about the prospects of getting published. She makes you believe you can do it, while being candid about the difficulty and work needed to achieve." -- Antranig Dereyan

"Lauren is the perfect instructor. She is witty, wise, creative, and informative, but she doesn't take herself too seriously and is refreshingly approachable and real." -- Catherine Donaldson-Evans

"Lauren was very engaging, warm, pointed, and funny in giving an insider's view of the submissions process. She has an uncanny eye for typical mistakes and a "real world" appreciation for what nervous authors are thinking as they send their queries." -- Rob Jacklosky

"I highly recommend Lauren's class for anyone who has started a book. This class will set expectations, encourage, and motivate you at the same time." -- Theresa Coulter

"Lauren is well organized and well presented. Worth the money." -- Yuanzeng Lu

"Lauren was extremely helpful. I'm well on my way to pitching agents successfully now." -- Melinda Ehrlich

WHEN 4 weeks, November 11 - December 16 Online chats Wednesdays, 9-10 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for more information. LEVEL Intro PRICE $350 ($325 for ) more info

Course Details

In today's extremely competitive marketplace -- whether you are pitching an idea for a novel, short story, TV show, film, stand-up comedy act, or internet-based web show -- you need to make an impression and stand out. The clearest, quickest way to do that is to create your own brand.

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.

Course Syllabus

Brand Yourself (PDF) View a sample syllabus for this class here.

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Public Relations

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Advertising & Marketing

Instructor Bio

Laurie Scheer's Courses

Laurie Scheer is a former vice president of programming for WE: Women's Entertainment and is currently a key member of the Film Faculty at Flashpoint Academy in Chicago. She has worked as an assistant, d-girl, and producer for some of the most powerful media conglomerates in the world, including ABC, Viacom, Showtime, and AMC-Cablevision. She has been a professor at numerous universities across the US and considers herself a media goddess, helping creative professionals realize their goals of working and improving 21st century media. Her book Creative Careers In Hollywood: From Extra Girls to Errand Boys (Allworth Press, 2002) chronicles and celebrates all of the movies ever made that feature women working in Hollywood. She also has a DVD, How to Pitch and Sell Your Screenplay.

Testimonials

Laurie has boundless enthusiasm and offers the opportunity to succeed. -- Paul Hagen

"Aside from priceless information and insight based on her background in TV, Laurie offers the constructive feedback and moral support that fledgling TV writers are unlikely to find elsewhere." -- Roslyn Ross

"Laurie's seminar was by far the best I have ever taken! She's the most knowledgeable instructor I've ever had, excellent on every level." -- Jamila Bey

"Laurie's class provided invaluable tips. She's one of the coolest instructors I've ever had. I would recommend her classes to anyone interested in learning more about writing for film and television." -- Imani Dawson

"Laurie's generous advice about television writing helped give me the confidence I needed to negotiate the contract process. I'll always remember that if you are a professional, you're worth it." -- Gina Laurie

"Laurie's classes are a must for anyone wanting to progress in the television industry. It is quite unusual to have someone offer to share their experiences, and even more unusual for them to truly want you to succeed." -- Tamara Federici, writer & former associate producer, Chappelle's Show

"Laurie is a professional who generously shares with her students her love and first-hand knowledge of the complex TV industry." -- Nancy West

"Laurie was informative, funny, and extremely knowledgeable. I found myself riveted and wanting to know more. If anyone is thinking of a career in television writing, this course is your starting point." -- Inger Slade

"Laurie's message of being well-researched, prepared, and realistic -- while also having supreme confidence in yourself and your ideas -- is one that all producers should hear." -- Tony Monterastelli

"Laurie gives you a thorough step-by-step process that will make you hone in on your concepts, brand, writing, and pitching skills." -- Denise Hendricks

"Laurie is friendly and personable but she will also get in the ring with you and make you face yourself." -- Laura Buchholz

"Laurie will help you plan the route between where you are now and that dream job in TV." -- Leslie Knox

"Laurie was exceptionally knowledgeable about the industry and provided insider information. I will happily take more courses with her." -- Candi Carter

"Laurie's a supremely talented, intuitive, and inspirational tutor." -- Joan Smith

"Through a series of fun exercises, Laurie helped me define my brand as a writer. I had no idea it could be so simple. And her information about marketing online is priceless. She is truly the media Goddess!" -- Tessa Smith McGovern

"I'd recommend Laurie's course to anyone interested in a career in TV writing. I found her passion for the subject matter and genuine enthusiasm in our projects very refreshing." -- Nate Paige