The essentials of freelance journalism with Stuart Heritage

An introduction to features writing, freelancing and getting paid

Whether you're new to freelance writing or just considering it as a possible sideline, this crash course in the logistics of journalism covers everything you need to know about how to get ahead in the industry. Featuring inspiring speeches from Hecklerspray founder Stuart Heritage, Observer Magazine deputy editor Emma John and journalist and digital media consultant Alan Rutter, the course offers up-to-the-minute advice from working writers and editors on everything from learning the lingo to a variety of ways to make journalism pay.

You'll learn how to identify the right publication for an idea, tailor your concept to their audience, pitch with professionalism and craft memorable articles both readers and editors will love. With practical exercises in generating and pitching features, you'll leave this day-long seminar with new ideas and the confidence to pitch them to editors.

This course is for you if…

You're considering freelance feature writing, either as a career or sideline, and are looking for insight into how the publishing industry works, what commissioning editors typically look for, and how to find paid employment in the field

Course description

Mixing presentations, discussions and practical exercises, this comprehensive course focuses on the practicalities of freelance features journalism, from generating fresh ideas to analysing the market for opportunities and pitching to commissioning editors. There will be regular opportunities to ask questions, ensuring your individual concerns are addressed. Topics covered include:

• Journalism jargon buster
• How the features desk works: who does what and how to deal with them
• Where the money is: which publications pay the best (and which won't or can't pay at all)
• How to use angle and execution to put a fresh twist on a pedestrian subject
• How to dissect magazines and newspapers to spot pitching opportunities
• Tips and tricks to bring your writing to life

Tutor profiles

Stuart Heritage is a freelance film and TV writer. He founded and wrote the award-winning satirical celebrity blog Hecklerspray for five years from 2005, and has been writing blogs, liveblogs, interviews and features for The Guardian since 2009. In addition to this, he co-runs www.luvandhat.com and has also written for several television programmes, none of which he is prepared to reveal because none of them were very good.

Emma John is deputy editor of the Observer Magazine and a former deputy editor of Observer Sport Monthly. She writes features, interviews and comment across the paper, and was the first woman to win a Sports Journalism Award.

Alan Rutter is a journalist and digital media consultant. He works with data on editorial projects, and as a presenter and speaker on technology – speaking to varied audiences in the UK, US, Spain, China and Taiwan. Working with Condé Nast he oversaw the UK iPad edition launches of WIRED, GQ, Vanity Fair and Vogue, and he currently works with the publisher's international technology team. He has previously worked as an editor and journalist at Time Out, as online editor and deputy editor of the magazine, and as an editor and writer for the Telegraph, Men's Health, Jack and Maxim.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website