Journalism courses

If you've already done a Writing course, and want to build on that foundation; this could be a course for you.

It's a relatively flexible study program, and it's greatest strength is that it offers you a unique opportunity to be monitored and guided by writing professionals who have decades of experience in industry. 

Perhaps you have had some minor work published, but need to improve your overall technique and develop a more "efficient" approach to your work. Perhaps you just seek an opportunity to work through a structured program to take your skills to the next level.

The Children's Writing market is huge - picture books for toddlers, school textbooks, comics, and novels for older children -plus lots more. Opportunities abound for children's writers if you have appropriate skills, network with the right people and are prepared to write what the publishers need.

How do you become a Children's Writer?

Children’s writing is a specialised craft. It is a rewarding, inspirational, and often demanding, branch of writing. Very few people can easily recall their own childhood, and write in a manner that children can relate to. For most, it takes many hours, months, and possibly years, to write a unique and appealing story that children will want to read. This course is designed to set you on an appropriate course for more successful writing geared to the children's market.

Want to Work as a Creative Writer?

For the purposes of this course, ‘creative writing’ is any writing that expresses events and emotions in an imaginative manner and whose primary intent is to arouse emotions.

Creative writing can therefore be fiction, using imaginative narration, or non fiction, based on facts and events. The common ground of fiction and non-fiction writing is the creativity the writer uses to express his or her thoughts and emotions.

Tutors in this course are exceptionally well qualifed, with relevant university degrees,  more than 10 years experience in writing and publishing;  and are published writers themselves. Learn from their experience!.

Dan Read, a student on our Creative Writing course has recently had an article purchased for publication.  He said of the course - "I feel that the course has given me the tools and confidence necessary to make this possible."

There are many different types of writing – short stories, poems, novels, screen plays etc. Dramatic writing can fall into all of these. A short story usually takes place over a shorter period of time. It is often set in just one setting/scene, and the characters may be shown with broader strokes – there is not as much time to analyse characters as there is with novel writing.

• Have improved communication skills, particularly with respect to clarity, conciseness and correct grammar.
  
• Be familiar with the "writing industry"; having a clear idea of where opportunities exist for obtaining work as a freelance writer.
  
• How to go about approaching potential clients to obtain work.
  
• Have an understanding of the processes involved in publishing books, magazines and newspapers; from generating concepts to seeing the finished publication on sale.
  

Practical Home Studies Course

This course takes you through the processes of writing for a specific publication, submitting work for publication, and meeting the requirements of an editor and publisher. Under the guidance of a mentor (a writing/editing tutor), you will learn to write according to specific criteria, deal with a publisher, and communicate effectively with others involved in the publishing process. And, you will come away with at least one published work (maybe more), which will set you on the path to a career as a writer. No matter what you want to write, you will find this a great learning experience.

Many journalists commence their careers as freelance writers, submitting articles to newspapers and magazines. Eventually, they may be employed on staff. Others develop a strong freelance business. This course is designed to prepare people for such career paths. It concentrates on developing the skills needed to succeed as a writer, and an awareness of how to develop a career in this industry.

Student Comment

'Many of the skills that I have learnt from this course help me on a day to day basis'.
A. Peterson, ACS Journalism student.

This Course is Accredited through the International Accreditation & Recognition Council

Graduates of this course wishing to do the Advanced Certificate in Applied Management -Publishing and Journalism, will be granted significant exemptions from that accredited course.

Become a Professional Journalist

Being paid to write things is a dream shared by many. It can be an exciting profession, but before embarking on a substantial course of study whit us or anyone else; be sure you fully understand what is involved. Some people simply don't succeed perhaps because the dream is not the same as the reality; or maybe they are simply not the right personality. This job is not just about writing well: it also requires you to be able to write fast, work under pressure. You also need to be prepared to write what an employer wants, which is not always the same as what you want. This is the reality of journalism. If you can get past these considerations, and with a bit of luck, you may be able to forge a serious career.

Dan Read, a student on our Diploma in Journalism course has recently had an article purchased for publication.  He said of the course - "I feel that the course has given me the tools and confidence necessary to make this possible."

Learn Technical Writing from a school and publishing business that has been doing it for over 30 years!

Technical writing is any writing in which the focus is on the correct, accurate and precise communication of practical information; information that is presented in order to instruct, guide, facilitate or train. Falling under this broader definition are reports, text books, records, submissions, plans and other documents that are not necessarily about technology.

Some of the most common types of technical documents are listed below:

• Instruction manuals and handbooks
• Workplace and technical procedures
• Technical specifications (specs)
• Business proposals
• Reports
• Memos
• Agendas
• Meeting minutes
• Presentations
• Business letters
• Newsletters
• Fact sheets and brochures
• Forms
• Questionnaires
• Briefing materials to support oral presentations
• Feasibility studies
• Policy statements
• Academic theses
• Resumes
• Reference and text books
• Technical articles in journals and other periodicals
• Web-based documentation

Learn to write fiction: whether short stories, a novel or anything else.

A major aspect of the journey to becoming a competent fiction writer involves developing an understanding of processes.  This course sets you on that path, but also involves you undertaking practical tasks of writing pieces of your own fiction; and analyzing the writing of other authors.

All of this learning experience is monitored by accomplished, published professional writers who through a series of 10 submitted assignments will monitor your progress, treating you as the individual you are, correcting you where necessary and ensuring you are moving forward each step you take.