Distance learning is the ideal solution for anyone wanting to train as a news journalist, features writer, freelance writer or creative writer without having to juggle an existing career or other commitments. Simply by studying at home and corresponding regularly with your tutor you can set yourself on the path to knowledge and success - all while working at your own pace.

In this course we aim to give students a thorough grounding in all aspects of professional journalism, from the traditions of good reporting to the latest advances in newspaper technology, from the first assignment as a cub reporter to the demands of a live broadcast. The course structure is as follows:

Lesson 1 - Starting Out In Journalism

The real world of journalism - the myths and realities, the responsibilities and the ethics of the profession. A brief look at the way in which the British Press has evolved and the legacy it has given to the world's Press. The constant battle to maintain and increase circulation figures. An analysis of the five main categories of newspaper, from the national dailies to the provincial weeklies. Students are also introduced to the world of magazines and trade and technical journals. The hierarchy of a daily paper, from cub reporter to editor.

Assessment tasks include:
• writing a factual report of a recent event
• writing a good descriptive passage

Lesson 2 - What Is News?

Students learn how to develop a strong news sense and recognise the different factors which dictate the strength and prominence of published stories. Having identified the professional skills and personal qualities required of an effective news reporter, they learn how to make contacts and identify and follow up story leads.

Assessment tasks include:
• rewriting poorly written copy
• filing a 250-word news story

Lesson 3 - The Junior Reporter

In this lesson students are assigned the job of junior reporter on a provincial weekly paper. As well as discovering more about the structure of the paper and its role in the community, they will learn essential basic newsgathering and copy-writing skills - the golden rules of good journalistic style. The lesson explains the importance of the news diary in allocating workloads, what is involved in making the 'calls' and how reporters set about crafting accurate and attention-grabbing 'intros'.

Assessment tasks include:
• writing a brief news item
• editing a press release

Lesson 4 - The Senior Reporter

What can be learnt from experience? Insight and instinct, the accurate interpretation of complex facts and their repercussions. Students pay their first visit to a magistrates' court, and find out how cases are reported. They learn the basic rules of interviewing, both face-to-face and by telephone, and pick up pointers on the key skills required and pitfalls to avoid.

Assessment tasks include:
• writing up a court report
• conducting an interview and writing it up

Lesson 5 - Filing Copy

Before tackling any more practical assignments, students need to get to grips with the most fundamental journalistic skills - filing clean, accurate copy, avoiding common grammar and punctuation errors, understanding the purpose of house style and learning how newspaper English differs from other forms of writing. There is also guidance on how and where to find important information in a hurry and how to produce news items based on information culled from handouts and press releases.

Assessment tasks include:
• writing up a lively news story for an evening paper

Lesson 6 - The Evening Papers

The pace hots up as students are introduced to life on a busy evening paper. Its structure and staff hierarchy are explained, along with the importance of deadlines and the use of separate editions. Students learn about the structure and procedure of Crown Courts in England and Wales and cover a typical case; how to present a 'running story' and a news special; and what special treatment is required for stories produced for gossip and diary columns.

Assessment tasks include:
• covering a running story
• selecting a news item for treatment as a 'special'
• writing two items for a gossip column

Lesson 7 - The Nationals

Students discover how national newspapers differ in content, culture, structure and style from the provincial press and explore the myths and realities about Fleet Street. The importance of politics and exclusives is explained, along with exactly what is meant by a 'national outlook', issues surrounding chequebook journalism and other ethical concerns. Most importantly, how do nationals identify their target readership - and how does that shape their content?

Assessment tasks include:
• comparing news styles in the morning dailies
• writing a feature article based on a major news story

Lesson 8 - Journalists and the Law

Journalists must know when the law restricts what they can write and how they can avoid costly legal action. The buck stops where? Students learn about the dangers of libel and other pitfalls; qualified privilege and unintentional defamation; criminal libel; and the need for fairness and accuracy. Restrictions on court reporting are explained, along with the dangers of contempt of court when matters are sub judice, the Official Secrets Act and what it entails, the rights of the Press and a brief look at copyright.

Assessment tasks include:
• tackling a specialist column or feature
• producing a safe, fair and accurate crime report
• defining legal terminology

Lesson 9 - Writing Features

Not all reporters find it easy to adapt to the different structure and style required in a features article. Students explore the difference in approach, focus on the importance of interviews in features writing and learn how to adapt the tone and style of their writing to different categories of subject matter. Topical news features are dealt with in detail.

Assessment tasks include:
• comparing the merits of published news features and personal profiles

Lesson 10 - More About Features

Students progress to in-depth features profiles and learn how to conduct successful face-to-face interviews. The format and purpose of standfirsts is explained, along with different ways of introducing features to play up a strong news angle or maximise the story's human interest element. Storytelling, eyewitness and offbeat approaches are explored.

Assessment tasks include:
• tackling a 600-800 word in-depth features profile

Lesson 11 - Specialist Writing

Students learn about the work undertaken by a cross-section of specialist newspaper writers and the specific skills and qualities required in each area. From motoring journalists to gossip writers, from foreign correspondents and political columnists to critics, sports writers and photo-journalists, this is the world of the expert and the committed enthusiast, where dedication and determination are required to make it to the top.

Assessment tasks include:
• filing a despatch as a foreign correspondent
• writing a book, film or TV review
• tackling a specialist column or feature

Lesson 12 - Specialist Writing 2

The role and duties of a sports reporter are examined in depth, along with the challenges involved in filing copy from the Press box at a sports ground and the role of the sporting commentator. Students learn how magazines differ from newspapers in content, style and approach and find out about the opportunities to specialise in different fields, from the 'glossies' to the trade and technical press.

Assessment tasks include:
• compiling a sports round-up
• reporting a live sporting event
• developing and writing stories as magazine features

Lesson 13 - The Qualified Journalist

As part of a comprehensive review of their training to date, students undertake a self-assessment exercise and learn of the process by which trainee journalists achieve seniority. They also find out how subediting skills can sharpen their writing style and how to use proof correction marks.

Assessment tasks include:
• an intensive revision exercise posing testing questions relating to practical journalism issues, including legal and ethical dilemmas.
• Marked papers will help students assess their progress to date and identify strengths and weakness

Lesson 14 - Subediting and Design

The role of the newspaper subeditor is poorly understood, yet a vital link in the tasting, editing and projection of copy. Students learn how to write headlines and discover that type has the power to convey a variety of messages which can be harnessed in dramatically different ways in the process of newspaper production. The factors which decide an editor's approach to design and layout come under the spotlight, as does the process by which basic design principles are developed to shape the appearance and impact of the published product.

Assessment tasks include:
• subediting copy for a national paper
• writing headlines for news and features

Lesson 15 - Television and Radio

Broadcasting plays an increasingly important role in today's society, so how does newsprint survive in the face of such strong competition? Students examine differences in approach between broadcast and print journalism and learn the requirements of broadcast news presentation and the relevant technical terms. The links in the chain and the roles of key personnel are explored, along with how not to succumb to stress and how scripted narration, pre-recorded items and other inserts are integrated to form a broadcast news item. Students become familiar with the techniques of 'voice-over' and 'piece to camera' in TV news reporting, as well as the skills of the radio and TV commentator.

Assessment tasks include:
• covering a news story for radio and TV transmission
• putting together pictures, sound and interviews

Lesson 16 - The Editor's Chair

The most coveted job in newspapers demands extraordinary dedication, commitment and decisive leadership. Students find out more about the high-pressure world of the senior editorial executive - the role and responsibilities, the skills and personal qualities required and the significance of circulation figures and advertising revenue in deciding the fate of different titles. Behind the hectic race to produce each day's paper and avert minor crises, there will also be a need to make time for strategic planning, liaison with other departments, meeting the public and finding out more about what makes the readers tick.

Assessment tasks include:
• dealing with a series of dilemmas facing the editor of a busy evening paper