Journalism training news

How to master Twitter for journalists

September 11 2009

Journalism trainer Cleland Thom is offering an online course to show journalists how to master the social networking craze Twitter which he says is the first of its kind in the world.

The £175 course is delivered in 12 modules by email for home study. They include how to write effective Tweets, how to find story ideas, ethics and the law including libel, how to promote yourself and how to make money. Twitter is a micro-blogging network, where users publish 140-word messages, known as Tweets, online and by text to mobile phones.

The Sussex-based journalist, who runs the CTJT journalism college, says: "Twitter is one of the fastest growing applications in journalism. Already it's been used to break world-beating exclusives ahead of TV and the rest of the web.

"Our Twitter e-course - the world's first - will show you how to make those 140 character sparkle - and ensure people find and read your updates.

"It will also teach you how to use Twitter to source information, story ideas and quotes - and to keep within legal and ethical boundaries. It also covers the key Twitter gadgets and tools."

The course includes exercises and assignments with email support from a tutor. It is aimed at paid journalists and citizen journalists. The course work will be graded and a pass will earn the CTJT Diploma, which is accredited by the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council. Find out more on the CTJT website.