Live blogs enable journalists and bloggers to provide audiences with instant coverage and commentary on unfolding events – from breaking news and football matches to the season finale of the latest TV drama. The Guardian has been at the forefront of the live blogging revolution, and this lively course gives you the opportunity to learn from our experience.
As well as an introduction to the basics of picking your platform and writing to micro-deadlines, you’ll learn how to identify the best subjects for a live blog, and how to strike the right tone to keep your audience informed and entertained.
You’ll also get involved in a practical live blogging workshop using your own laptop or tablet, enabling you to try out your new skills and get invaluable personal feedback. Perfect for journalists who want to master an ever-more important skill, and bloggers who want to make their site required reading.
This course is for you if...
- You’re a group of bloggers who want to improve their live blogging skills and learn how to create more newsworthy content
- You’re a team of journalists or editors who want to futureproof your skills
- Your team updates your company website and you want to find effective new ways to engage with audiences via live blogging
Course content
- Why liveblog?
- The difference between news and entertainment live blogging
- The best and worst subjects for a live blog
- Live blogging platforms, from Twitter to CoverItLive
- Should I prepare? And if so how?
- Balancing information and humour
- How to link your live blog to social media
- Practical live blogging exercise on laptop computers or tablets, with time for feedback
- Q&A and discussion
This comprehensive course can be tailored to the needs of your team. Please contact alastair.price@theguardian.com with the title of this course in the subject line for more details.
