Lecture 2 hours/week
Seminar 2 hours/week
The course will be conducted in a workshop format to allow for instructor feedback on draft writing. Guest speakers will address specific magazine topics. Some field activities (interviewing, meetings) are required.
1. Analyze Genres
- distinguish types of magazines
- distinguish types of writing: profiles, service pieces, issue articles, personal experience features, cultural reviews, short features, long features
2. Research Potential Markets
- research the market for specific topics of potential interest to a specific editor
- review magazines for editorial bias and style
- investigate and examine online magazines
- develop an editorial profile
3. Develop Text as Product
- research audience-specific and genre-specific material
- learn and apply interviewing techniques used in writing feature articles
- produce outlines for various articles
- write a column and a feature profile
4. Work to Schedule and Deadlines
- develop timelines and action plans to meet objectives
- develop prioritizing skills to meet deadlines
- use problem-solving strategies to meet objectives
- use skills necessary to maintain scheduling deadlines
5. Evaluate Product
- develop specific client-centred revision and editing strategies
- undertake rewrites as a way to learn critical self-editing skills
6. Market the Product
- produce general and specific query letters
- develop text for specific editorial markets
- use follow-up strategies
- pursue professional publication of writing produced in this course
7. Learn about Freelance Writing
- learn business and survival strategies for successful freelance writing
- develop an understanding of how writers and editors work together
- learn to use the terminology of the magazine publishing industry
- investigate online publishing possibilities
Students who successfully complete this course will:
- understand the history of magazine writing and how the genre differs from other types of writing
- analyze and discuss sample articles from online and print magazines
- develop a story topic from idea to completion
- actively participate in discussion of draft columns and articles
- develop the skills required for freelance and in-house writing for online and print magazines
- become aware of the related responsibilities and expectations in this field
Students are expected to be self-motivated and to demonstrate professionalism, which includes active participation, good attendance, punctuality, effective collaboration, ability to meet deadlines, presentation skills, and accurate self-evaluation.
Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in the course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.
Students may conduct research as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans, which can require obtaining Informed Consent from participants and getting the approval of the Douglas College Research Ethics Board prior to conducting the research.
Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. This is a graded course.
Example evaluation schedule:
| Story ideas | 20% |
| Queries and cover letters | 20% |
| Column | 20% |
| Feature article | 35% |
| Attendance/professionalism/participation | 5% |
| Total | 100% |
A list of required textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester. Example texts include:
- Canadian Press Stylebook (current edition)
- Caps & Spelling (current edition)
Acceptance into the Post-Degree Diploma in Professional Communication
OR
A minimum of 45 credit hours including a university-transfer course in English, Communications, or Creative Writing with a grade of B or higher
OR
Permission of the Professional Communication Program Coordinator
None
None