A well-written column is an effective way to raise important issues and express a strong opinion. Whatever your point of view, this masterclass will help you to turn your thoughts and knowledge into a persuasive piece of writing.
Suitable for writers of all levels, this entertaining day of talks includes advice on everything from coming up with ideas to structuring a column. The class is also a unique opportunity to pick the brains of some of the Guardian’s leading journalists at our offices in London.
Content
- Owen Jones, Guardian columnist and bestselling author of The Establishment, offers tips on getting started as a journalist, finding a specialism and developing your writing voice
- Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee gives advice on how to write a column and raise important issues through your writing
- Guardian Weekend columnist Tim Dowling shares tips on how to use your own life experiences in your writing
- Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff offers guidance on how to be more persuasive and build an argument in your writing
- An exclusive Q&A with Guardian Weekend columnist Lucy Mangan, where she discusses her writing and offers guidance on finding sources of inspiration for a column
Speaker profiles
Polly Toynbee is a columnist for the Guardian and former BBC social affairs editor. She won the Orwell Prize for journalism in 1998 and in 2007 was named Columnist of the Year at the British Press Awards. She has also written and co-authored many books including her latest, Cameron’s Coup. She tweets @pollytoynbee.
Lucy Mangan is a writer for the Guardian and columnist for Stylist magazine. She’s also the author of five books including The Reluctant Bride and Hopscotch & Handbags: The Truth about Being a Girl. She tweets @LucyMangan.
Owen Jones is a columnist at the Guardian and a former columnist at the Independent, as well as a regular TV/radio broadcaster and public speaker. He’s the author of Chavs, The Establishment: And How They Get Away With It and the soon-to-be-released The Politics of Hope. Owen is the winner of the 2012 Stonewall Journalist of the Year and 2013 Political Book Awards Young Writer of the Year. He tweets @OwenJones84.
Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist and writer, as well as a political columnist for The Pool. She was previously political editor of the Observer, and has been a judge for the Orwell Prize for Blogs. Gaby is also the author of Half a Wife. She tweets @gabyhinsliff.
Tim Dowling is a journalist for the Guardian. He writes a weekly column for Weekend magazine and is the author of several books, including How To Be A Husband. Read Tim’s Guardian articles here.
You may also be interested in…
- Getting started as a journalist with Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
- How to write compelling features: A one-day workshop
Sign up to our newsletter and you’ll be among the first to find out about our latest courses and special offers. You can also follow us on Twitter, and read our latest articles and interviews on our blog.
Details
Date: Saturday 19 March 2016
Times: 10am-4pm
Location: The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU
Price: £99 (includes VAT, booking fee, lunch and refreshments)
Event capacity: 100
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
Returns policy
Tickets may be refunded if you contact us at least 14 days before the course start date. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
