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  • Berkeley Global

Journalism Workshop

JOURN X473

41380
Delivery Options Online

Do you aspire to a career in journalism or simply want to explore journalistic storytelling? Get a practical, task-based introduction to news writing and reporting, and learn standards embraced by the best media practitioners—old and new.

This class is suitable for those looking to become freelancers, expand on pre-existing freelance gigs, or find entry-level media. Students with undergraduate degrees can take this class to test their aptitude and appetite for graduate school in journalism. Other students may want to explore personal interest along the lines of a hobby or to learn how to tell nonfiction stories focused on environmental or political causes, business or non-profit organizations, and other interests. Student-teacher interactions simulate a newsroom environment.

Together, we’ll come up with story ideas that capture audience attention, and learn how to find the facts, sources and details to bring these stories to life. That is the essence of journalism: telling true stories that affect an audience. You may not change the world. But you will change yourself by learning how to tell print or audiovisual stories that matter.

Course Outline

Expand or collapse section

Course Objectives

  • Identify and produce news stories in a variety of forms
  • Develop reporting, interviewing and writing skills
  • Identify the larger story hidden within a news item and turn it into an enterprise piece
  • Gain confidence and knowledge needed to network among their peers
  • Acquire the basic tools needed to identify and pursue the style of journalism that interests you most

What You Learn

  • Definition and identification of news stories
  • Difference between a news story, an essay and an opinion piece
  • The ABCs of journalism
  • Necessary components of a news story
  • Preparation for interviews: common interview mistakes, thought-provoking questions and difference between powerful and weak quotes
  • The purpose of a lead
  • The inverted pyramid writing structure
  • Breaking news and preparation for a press conference
  • Difference between two main types of sources
  • How to research a basic story
  • Useful data and its utilization for story ideas
  • Sourcing multiple sides of a story
  • Beats, including their role in journalism; traditional beats; geographical, regional and contemporary beats; covering a beat; reporting on an event; and unusual beats
  • Multimedia stories
  • Basic elements of a podcast
  • Utilizing images to tell a story
  • How to source, research and tell a story using social media
  • Editing: style and ethics

How You Learn

  • Reading assignments
  • Discussion participation and assignments
  • Press conference story
  • David Downs event story
  • Final story
  • Writing assignments

Is This Course for Me?

If you are a blogger or just someone interested in learning from professional journalists how to improve your reporting and writing skills, this is the course for you. As an introductory course, it is not designed for current School of Journalism students.

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Sections

Section 040

May 20 to Aug 12

Type: Online, Fixed Date

Instructor:

  • Jennifer Green

Cost: $840.00

See section 040 Details

Type Online, Fixed Date

Dates

May 20, 2025 to Aug 12, 2025

Instructional Hours

30.00

Delivery Options

Online

Available for Credit

2 semester units

Section Notes

This is an Online, Fixed Date course that starts on May 20 and ends on August 12.

Fixed-Date online courses have specific start and end dates. Your access to the course content begins on the course start date. You will complete assignments within the specific dates posted in your online classroom, and as set by your instructor in the course syllabus.

 

Recommended textbook:  The Associated Press Stylebook in a recent year or membership to the AP Stylebook Online

Section Materials

  • Textbook

    (Mandatory)

    Dynamics of News Reporting & Writing Foundational Skills for a Digital Age by Vincent F. Filak

    © 2018 CQ Press 1st edition ISBN 978-1506344744
  • Textbook

    (Mandatory)

    An additional required text that you will choose in Module 1 - students may purchase or borrow from a library.

Fall 2025 enrollment opens on June 16!

This course applies to the following programs:

Professional Writing Program

Expand or collapse section

Required Courses

  • Effective Writing in the Workplace
  • Introduction to Public Relations Writing
  • Writing for Social Media

Electives

  • Writing Skills Workshop
  • Journalism Workshop
  • Writing the Feature Story
  • Editorial Workshop I: Introduction to Copyediting
  • Technical Communication I
  • Creative Nonfiction Workshop
  • Screenwriting: The Art of Visual Storytelling
  • Science Writing

Capstone Project

  • Professional Writing Program - Final Project

Course of Related Interest

Learn More About This Program

Notes

Departmental contact: extension-letters@berkeley.edu

Instructional Types

Live Online
Live Online courses provide an interactive learning experience with scheduled synchronous online sessions held via Zoom video conferencing (Pacific Time). Learn more about the Live Online format.
Online, Start Anytime
Continuous enrollment course begins when you enroll. You have a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course.
Online, Fixed Date
Enroll in this course by its start date and complete it by its specified end date. There are no live sessions, but plenty of opportunities to collaborate with your classmates and instructor.
Classroom
Take classes in-person at one of our buildings or partner locations.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

All of our courses are taught in English. If English is not your first language, please use the following test scores as guides in order to be successful:

  • TOEFL: 90
  • IELTS Academic Format: 7
  • DAAD: C1
  • TEM-4 or TEM-8: Level 70
  • Duolingo: 125

Note: You do not need to submit test scores.

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