Media
50 mins
Media match-making for freelance Iranian journalists
- Abstract:
- Finding and getting work in a new environment can be a stressful experience. This course will teach you how to navigate the Western media world – UK, US, international and online – with tips and techniques from some Iranian journalists living abroad.
- About this course:
- This course is designed for Iranian freelance journalists writing for the Western media market. It will teach you who might be interested in your work, what they want and how to contact them. You will also learn how to tailor your work to individual publications, what to look out for when researching the market, how to pitch your work and to whom and which frequently made mistakes you should avoid. The course will be taught by renowned Iranian journalists Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Azadeh Moaveni who will accompany you through examples and interactive exercises.
- What do I learn:
- You will learn which publications want to work with Iranian freelancers and what stories interest them. You will also learn writing styles appropriate to different formats and markets, the importance of ethical guidelines and managing your contacts and how to avoid common mistakes in writing and pitching.
- What do I need to know:
- This course is suitable for those who already have a background and training in journalism and previous experience in Iran or elsewhere.
Trainers
Saeed Kamali Dehghan
We would also like to thank Saeed Kamali Dehghan for his contribution to these course materials. Saeed Kamali Dehghan is an Iranian-born journalist who writes for The Guardian. He was named as the 2010 Journalist of the Year in Britain at the Foreign Press Association. He currently writes for The Guardian as a staff journalist and has worked as an Iran correspondent for The Guardian from Tehran in the past.
Azadeh Moaveni
Azadeh Moaveni is an Iranian-American journalist and writer. As one of the few American correspondents allowed to work continuously in Iran since 1999, she has reported widely on youth culture, women’s rights, and Islamic reform for Time, The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times.
Jack Watling
Jack is an independent journalist, previously Planning Editor at NewsFixed, and has contributed to Reuters, the Guardian, Foreign Policy, Vice and others. He is currently undertaking a PhD examining third party policy responses to civil conflict at Birkbeck, University of London.
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin
Bozorgmehr is an Iranian journalist and filmmaker. He started his career in his home city of Tehran, where he worked for Persian media for almost 10 years. He joined the BBC World Service as a senior broadcast journalist in 2008 and until recently worked as a newsroom editor for BBC Persian TV. Bozorgmehr is now Iran Correspondent for Reuters.
- 1.1 Introduction1.2 Know your market!1.3 Iranian media vs western media1.4 Quiz
- 2.1 Know yourself!2.2 Role models2.3 Role models: Alireza2.4 Role models: Nargess2.5 Role models: Mohammad
- 3.1 Different Sections of a Newspaper3.2 Different sections: Azadeh Moaveni3.3 Different Sections3.4 Which format and style is right for me?3.5 Which format and style is for me: News3.6 Which format and style is for me: Opinion3.7 Which format and style is for me: Long format3.8 Which format and style is for me: UK, US, and Europe3.9 Spot the difference!
- 4.1 First Impressions4.2 First impressions – the importance of the first pitch4.3 Editorial and commissioning guidelines4.4 Who do you contact and how do you contact them?4.5 Pitching4.6 What should I say and how should I follow up? Part One: Bozorg4.7 What should I say and how should I follow up? Part Two: Azadeh4.8 What should I say and how should I follow up? Part Three: Jack
- 5.1 Are you ready to start?5.2 Top Tips and Useful Links5.3 Conclusion – top tips
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