British College of Journalism launches online-only course in freelance journalism

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The British College of Journalism (BCJ) has launched a new distance learning course on freelance journalism.

The College is claiming a first for journalism education with its professional freelance journalism course, which started for the first time today, as teaching is conducted entirely online.

The course can be completed full or part-time over 12 or 24 weeks and costs £410.

Students will receive a diploma upon completing the course, which has been designed as a practical programme and ensures writers get paid for their efforts, Peta Fraser, BCJ registrar, told Journalism.co.uk in an email.

Students will be assigned a tutor from the area in which they wish to specialise as a freelance. Contributors to the course include freelance music journalist Craig Mathieson; specialist in technology writing Garth Montgomery; and print and online freelancer Kristen King .

"The professional freelance journalism course is designed to get you published as quickly as possible. From your first assignments, you are developing your own story ideas, editing them from first draft to finished copy, and submitting them to newspapers and magazines," Fraser's email explained.

"The course is not only structured to teach you the techniques of freelance journalism. It's also intended to get you published and paid for your efforts. Stated simply, you'll know how to write and sell a vast range of subject matter to the thousands of newspapers and magazines that buy freelance material."

Teaching will also cover writing for in-house publications, company reports and PR material.