Joan Macdonald tells us the NUJ in Glasgow has limited places available on courses taking place in the next couple of weeks via Zoom.
Feature writing and pitching – 8 October 2026 (10 am-4.30 pm)
This course is for anyone who would benefit from understanding the principles and actions behind successful features. It covers writing with style for professional publications and includes sessions on building a story, structure, interviewing, and pitching. Every aspect of writing outstanding features will be covered, from understanding your audience, publication and subject, to research, writing and interview skills.
News Verification and fact checking – 9 October 2026 (10 am-5 pm)
This one-day course delves into the post-truth age, where mis/disinformation is rife and trust in facts, let alone newsgathering, is in freefall. This course will help you reinforce your skills in an ever-evolving media and AI-driven landscape, because facts matter. Trust matters, and reporting something approaching the truth has never mattered more. There will be frequent screen breaks throughout. The course will look at how to spot fake news, check images and videos, and use online investigation tools.
The Effective Freelance – 13 October 2026 (10 am-5 pm)
The Effective Freelance is designed to cover not only the essentials of working as a freelancer – organisation, negotiating, producing work, markets, law and financial record-keeping – but also living as a freelancer, including personal finance, etc. It will include breaking into new markets, establishing terms, chasing payment, improving returns, specialist journalism, handling money, tax and deductible expenses, and copyright.
Filming and editing for iDevices – 15 & 16 October (10am-2pm) both days
This is a one-day, hands-on course designed to introduce journalists and others to some of the principles of using iPhones or iPads to shoot, edit and upload short films. Participants will shoot and capture their own material on the day and edit it into a finished film, learning how to use voice-over, still images, graphics, text and other content to enhance the appearance of the project.
IF YOU WISH TO BOOK A PLACE ON ANY OF THE SESSIONS, PLEASE CONTACT joanm@nuj.org.uk
These courses are being funded by Scottish Union Learning and the Scottish Government for NUJ members in Scotland and will be allocated on a ‘first come’ basis. Student members are only eligible if they have a part-time job.
Regards
Joan
Joan Macdonald
Training Manager
NUJ Training Scotland
2nd Floor
177 West George Street
Glasgow
G2 2LB
Direct Line: 0141 251 0363 Mob: 07730 513991
email: joanm@nuj.org.uk