Opinion Writing and Media Commentary
Overview
A good op-ed or commentary is concise. It hits hard with strong arguments, vivid images and relevant analogies. It does not just display expertise; it has to be timely and provocative. At the same time, it is not just emotion or opinion, but it is informed and backed by facts.
In general, your op-ed, review or commentary is a section for advocacy, denunciation and astonishment in the media. Editors want opinion pages to drive public debate.
Whether you’re new to writing or want to improve your craft, this is the ultimate course for you to learn how to present a strong argument with confidence. Our experienced writers will provide the guidance for translating the basics into opinion writing and commentaries that are reasoned, forceful, responsible, engaging and readable.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Develop original and engaging angles for stories and express your personality in your writing
- Conduct in-depth research and write critically with sound argumentation to counter logical fallacies
- Understand ways audiences form opinions and how writers can influence and sometimes manipulate public opinion
- Recognise the boundary separating constitutionally protected opinion from legally actionable defamation
- Build a platform for writing and pitch story ideas to editors
This course is for you if
- You’re an aspiring editorial writer or columnist – whether a student or journalist in transition – who wants to learn the responsibilities, techniques and art of opinion writing
- You are with or without publishing experience and want to write with power and clarity
What you will learn
- About Opinions
- Setting The Scene
- Combining Topic and Tone
- Getting Down to Writing
- Revision and Error Correction
- The Business
Meet your Trainer
TBA
Course Date
29 June to 7 July 2019 (Sat & Sun only; 9:30am to 5:30pm)