Introduction to Journalistic Writing
A course by Paco HerranzJournalist
A course by Paco Herranz, Journalist
Learn to write a good, non-fiction story that combines journalistic techniques and genres, such as interviewing and news reporting
According to Paco Herranz, who has more than three decades of experience in journalism, those in his profession carry the responsibility of reporting on current events and uncovering stories that deserve to be told. If you're intrigued by finding out the facts and effectively reporting them to your audience, this course is your gateway to journalistic writing.
Paco introduces you to the field of journalism and techniques for creating a compelling article. Learn about different formats, the importance of sources, how to prepare and conduct a successful interview, and the steps to writing a well-crafted news report. By the end, you'll know how to tell stories that are critical, honest, and engaging without being morbid.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 38 downloads
Foundations of journalistic writing
18 minutes, 41 seconds
Journalistic formats and genres
8 minutes, 1 second
Journalistic genres: interview and profile
13 minutes, 27 seconds
Journalistic genres: reportage and chronicle
9 minutes, 10 seconds
Choice of current topic
8 minutes, 27 seconds
Target
4 minutes, 47 seconds
What's included in this course?
Paco Herranz introduces himself and tells you about his more-than-30-year career in journalism. He also shows you some of the literary and audiovisual influences that have shaped the way he understands and approaches his profession.
Begin by learning how to think like a journalist. Paco explains the foundations that journalistic writing is built upon before diving into the different genres and formats, like interviews, profile pieces, new reports, and chronicles, along with some tips on how to write each one.
Once you understand the essentials, get to work on your project. Look at a few tools and resources for choosing an interesting and/or current topic. Determine the target audience for your report and search for direct and indirect sources to substantiate it.
Next, start compiling material for your story by gleaning information from your sources. Learn to carefully prepare for an interview with prior research and discover techniques for getting the most out of it when conducted. Move on to writing and editing your story following your teacher's expert advice.
Paco wraps up the course by talking about how journalism has evolved, new trends and the challenges it's facing, as well as adapting texts from paper to digital format. He also gives you a few practical tips on making a living in this exciting profession.
What is this course's project?
Prepare, write, and edit a news report on a specific topic (preferably current) using an interview as your main source of information.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of good journalism and playing an active role in promoting positive social change.
Requirements and materials
All you need for this course is curiosity, a desire to write, good people skills, a notepad, a pen, and a computer.
Reviews
- simone_placidoPLUS4 months ago
Bel corso
- 5 months ago
Ottimo corso per imparare da zero o rinfrescare le basi!
- 6 months ago
bacana!
- 11 months ago
excelente!!!!
- 1 year ago
Un gran maestro, tiene el tema dominado, y es de fácil entendimiento.
Me voy con un grato sabor de boca.
From 1989 to 2013, Paco worked for the Spanish newspaper El Mundo and held a variety of positions during his time there, including collaborator, reporter, correspondent in Moscow, and head of international news. As a reporter, he has covered three armed conflicts, written numerous reports on a broad range of topics, and interviewed people from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances. His career has taken him across the world to report in countries like the United States, Canada, Venezuela, Brazil, Angola, Taiwan, South Korea, Israel, Turkey, Algeria, Poland, the Baltic States, Italy, and Sweden.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Thinking like a journalist
- Foundations of journalistic writing
- Journalistic formats and genres
- Journalistic genres: interview and profile
- Journalistic genres: reportage and chronicle
- U3
Acting like a journalist
- Choice of current topic
- Target
- The importance of sources
- U4
Writing like a journalist
- Document for the interview
- The interview
- Report writing and editing
- U5
Living like a journalist
- Adaptation of the report for the internet
- The new (new) journalism
- FP
Final project
- Introduction to Journalistic Writing
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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FAQs
This course is aimed at individuals with prior knowledge in communication or journalism who want to refine their skills in writing, interviewing, reporting, and media analysis across traditional and digital platforms.
Basic knowledge of journalism or communication is recommended, as this is an intermediate-level course covering specialized techniques and approaches.
You’ll learn how to prepare interviews, write news stories and reports, analyze political discourse, apply investigative techniques, tailor content for digital formats, and uphold ethical standards in journalism practice.
All you need is internet access, basic writing skills, and an interest in contemporary journalism. Prior professional experience is not required.
The course covers journalistic writing, interviews, international coverage, media analysis, literary storytelling, data journalism, professional ethics, digital adaptation, and publishing through crowdfunding.
You’ll be able to prepare and conduct interviews with political figures, expert sources, or notable personalities using professional guidelines, follow-up questioning techniques, and ethical protocols.
Yes, you’ll learn how to adapt reports for digital formats and use tools like Google Trends, social media, and multimedia resources for comprehensive news coverage.