CLASSES AND SEMINARS
Taught by Margit K.F. Ragland

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SEMINARS

HOW TO BREAK INTO JOURNALISM:
Wednesday, January 21, 2004

A 3-hour basic training class providing the inside scoop on how to make the transition into journalism. Tips on how to get clips, the easiest parts of magazines to break into, how get "in" with an editor and more.

WRITING FOR WOMEN’S MAGAZINES:
Tuesday, February 3, 2004

What are the secrets to slipping your foot in while losing as few toes as possible? Whether you are thinking of making a career change, preparing to quit your job and go freelance, or just want to do a little writing for women's magazines on the side, this seminar is for you. You will learn how to develop and write a pitch letter to an editor at your magazine of choice. You'll learn happens when your letter arrives and how soon you might hear back. We'll address the pros and cons of freelancing full time. We'll follow the path of a story from a light-bulb of an idea until it appears on the printed page. By the end of the seminar you will understand just what all those folks on staff of a women's magazine really do.

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CLASSES

INTRODUCTION TO MAGAZINE WRITING:
Tuesdays, February 11, 2004 to March 30, 2004

mb's Boot Camp is a hit, but it's an intense, advanced class for very seasoned journalists. So what do you do if you want to break into journalism with serious teachers who currently work in the industry? Enlist in Basic Training. Part lecture, part workshop, this class is designed to give you a professional understanding of both the editing and writing sides. If you're looking to get your start as a journalist, Basic Training will take your writing to the next level. Each week, students receive a lecture on topics like the editing process, journalism ethics, what makes something newsworthy, note-taking, fact-checking, reporting, and more. Over the course of 8 weeks, you will fully workshop two pieces, including a perfectly polished, no-fail pitch letter. Your work can range from personal essays to profiles, from news stories to business or travel features. You'll learn how to query a publication, who to call there, which part of the publication to pitch to.

In this class, you can expect to learn:

• All the issues you need an understanding of to immerse yourself in a journalism career
• How to create captivating stories that editors will buy and readers will love
• How to write compelling pitch letters
• What the table of contents in a magazine means to you
• Which magazines will be interested in your story
• How to approach editors
• How to network
• How to understand the market and detect changes
• All the basic skills any journalist should have

By the end of class, students can expect to have:
Two salable pieces, pitch letters to match, and knowledge enough to survive in the world of journalism.

Admission Requirements:
You must submit a letter of interest that includes a brief work history.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ATTENDING CLASSES AND SEMINARS
Visit: www.mediabistro.com
Or contact: Melissa Fully
Assistant Director of Education
212.929.2588 x 306

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