Date: 10:00, 20 May 2026
Location: Online
Cost: £195.00 + VAT
Trainer: Martin Lloyd

A day of insight, group discussion and practical exercises providing the essential skills to proofread effectively. 

This hands-on session with Martin Lloyd, the former head of writing standards at the BBC, shows you how to proofread stories in a more analytical way.

  • Get checklist tips and spot errors quickly
  • Gain the confidence to correct copy thoroughly
  • Create concise and precise editorial at high speed

Why should you do this course?

  • You need to proofread text quickly and efficiently
  • You don’t want to have to rely on anyone else
  • To give your team the ability to proofread each other’s work             

Who should do it?

  • Journalists, writers, news editors, sub-editors, proofreaders
  • Marketing, social media, PR and comms staff
  • Executives/managers seeking to communicate effectively
  • Content designers

Course content

  • Proofreading tips and checklists
  • Spellings to watch out for and exceptions to the rule 
  • Ensuring you conform to house style
  • Identifying a publication’s tone of voice
  • How to punctuate properly and not change the meaning
  • When to use a comma, semicolon or full stop
  • Avoiding the pitfalls of English grammar

Can’t make this date? We can also run Zoom sessions at short notice for groups of three or more at the same company. Get in touch with ophelia@journalism.co.uk to discuss.

Alternatively, we offer an on-demand, more in depth version of this class where you can start any time and work at your own pace.

This is an online course taking place on Zoom. The course will run from 10am-12:30am (with short breaks), followed by a longer break from 12:30am-1:30pm for lunch. The second session will run from 1:30pm-3:30pm (again with short breaks).

About Martin Lloyd

Martin Lloyd is a JournalismUK and NCTJ trainer.

He spent 10 years as writing standards editor at the BBC’s training division, the BBC Academy, where he trained BBC News journalists, TV and radio producers and senior managers.

He mentored a team of 15 BBC digital content producers, produced writing guides for BBC staff, and was ultimately responsible for training the trainers.

Since leaving the BBC, Martin has trained staff at the likes of Fortune, the UK Government, ITV, Forbes, Global, NICE, Yahoo News and the International Olympic Committee.

He has also mentored editors at The Financial Times and Guardian.

For a while, he was a content designer for the Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Earlier in his career, Martin edited copy and designed pages for newspapers and magazines including The Metro, Broadcast, New Statesman and Marketing Week.

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Martin Lloyd

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