How to impress editors and get your journalism published

Learn how to pitch story ideas to editors at this fun and informative class with Kira Cochrane, acting editor for the Guardian’s online Opinion section

Bursting with ideas for stories, but unsure how to get them published? Don’t miss out on this fantastic class with Kira Cochrane, acting editor of the Guardian’s Opinion section online. In the space of three hours, you’ll learn how to find the right publication or website for your work, construct the perfect pitch email and impress editors with your writing. Whether you’re just starting out as a journalist or want to improve your chances of getting more commissions, it’s the ideal class for writers who want to communicate more effectively with editors and get their work published.

Content

• Finding the right publication – how to decide where to pitch your work
• Pitch perfect: how to craft the perfect pitch email to an editor
• Advice on the kind of stories you should pitch to secure your first commission
• Insider tips on how to impress editors with your writing
• How to keep going in the face of rejection – and keep pitching
• Developing an online presence that helps you to place your work
• Practical exercise: write a pitch email for an idea you’ve brought to the class
• Q&A – an invaluable opportunity to pick the brains of an experienced Guardian editor

Class preparation

• You should arrive with one idea in mind for a story that you’d like to pitch, along with any questions you might have

Tutor profile

Kira Cochrane joined the Guardian in 2006 as women’s editor, and is currently acting editor of the Opinion section online. She’s also worked extensively as a freelance writer, where she had to send out lots of pitches to editors. Kira has written two novels, edited the Guardian anthology Women of the Revolution and co-edited Cupcakes and Kalashnikovs. In 2013, All the Rebel Women, her account of the modern feminist movement, was published as part of the Guardian Shorts series. She tweets @KiraCochrane.

You may also be interested in...

• How to find your voice as a writer with Gary Younge
• Writing opinion pieces with Polly Toynbee and Tim Dowling

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Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website