The secrets of becoming a successful journalist by senior Guardian contributors

Learn the fundamentals of interviewing, pitching and digital storytelling from some of the Guardian’s most established contributors

If you’ve set your heart on getting into journalism, or already write and are keen to pick up some new skills and invaluable advice, this masterclass will enable you to learn from some of the very best in the industry.

Our panel, including senior Guardian feature writer Jon Henley, former Comment editor Becky Gardiner, former assistant national news editor James Randerson and interviewer extraordinaire Decca Aitkenhead, will provide you with an indispensable, practical guide to what you need to get ahead in the industry.

You’ll learn how to enhance your writing and interviewing skills, gain insight into pitching to editors and understand how digital advances and new platforms are changing the nature of journalism.

In addition to tips on finding leads and developing them into stories, you’ll discover tricks for teasing out fascinating information from interviewees. Our panel will also share their experience on how to meet deadlines and keep your writing fresh and relevant to your readers.

This course is for you if...

• You’re an aspiring journalist or a blogger who wants an overview of the skills and tools needed for writing and pitching
• You currently run or write for a blog covering news or culture and want to produce more polished, professional content
• You’re considering moving into journalism and want a better understanding of what the job entails
• You’re a working journalist and want an insight to best practice and editorial priorities from major industry figures

Tutor profiles

Decca Aitkenhead writes the Guardian’s Saturday interview. She began her career at the Independent, before joining the Guardian as a columnist in 1997, but left in 2000 to write a book about going round the world trying to find the perfect Ecstasy pill, which was less fun that it sounds, so she returned to the Guardian as a features writer, and became an interviewer in 2008. Gordon Brown’s spin doctor used to advise politicians, ‘Thou shalt under no circumstances do an interview with Decca Aitkenhead’. She thinks he was wrong about that, but some interviewees would probably agree. Read Decca’s Guardian articles here.

Jon Henley is a senior Guardian feature writer responsible for the acclaimed series Greece on the Breadline and groundbreaking, multi-award-winning multimedia interactive Firestorm. Over a 20-year career at the Guardian, Jon has reported from more than 30 countries and all five continents, including a 10-year stint as the paper’s chief Paris correspondent.

Becky Gardiner joined the Guardian in 1998 as Women’s editor. She was Comment editor from 2010 until April this year, and has held a number of other positions including Education editor, deputy editor of G2 and launch editor of Family. Becky recently left the Guardian and is now a senior lecturer, teaching journalism at Goldsmiths university.

James Randerson is an award-winning journalist with 15 years’ experience. He has been assistant national news editor at the Guardian, working on both print and digital editions and was previously the paper’s online environment editor and science correspondent. Before joining The Guardian, he was deputy news editor at New Scientist magazine. He tweets @james_randerson.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website