Exeter Observer offers free community journalism training courses to help potential contributors gain skills and confidence.
Each course is comprised of six weekly three hour small group sessions which involve tuition, discussion, practical exercises and reviews of coursework and reading assignments.
The course is supported by comprehensive online resources, with textbook and online resource readings and film recommendations each week.
Three written assignments are set during each course which include a news report and a feature article.
Each student also receives two individual mentoring sessions, one after week four and another after week six. These can be used to review assignments in detail, recap course content and discuss ongoing involvement in content production. This could include researching and subediting as well as writing articles for publication.
Additional mentoring sessions are available on request to match course participant needs. The planned print launch will offer additional opportunities for involvement later in the year.
The twenty hour course provides a comprehensive introduction to public interest community journalism in the Exeter context. It covers everything required to enable students to produce publication quality content without any prior experience.
Find out more about joining the course, take a look at the course content or get in touch to express your interest in a place.
Feature / Strategy & governance
East Devon Independent Claire Wright set to unite Remain voters in close historic two-way contest
Claire Wright is poised to make history by beating the Tories in East Devon next week. If she does it will be without thanks to the LibDems and Greens, who insisted on standing candidates against her despite the preferences of local party members and the Unite to Remain campaign.
News / Education & skills
University of Exeter staff strike over pay, pensions and working conditions
The Exeter branch of the University & College Union (UCU) is taking part in a national eight day strike for fair pay and pensions, including equal pay for female and BAME staff, and against casualisation and increasing workloads.
Feature / Transport & mobility
An integrated public transport service for Devon remains a distant aspiration
A change to Exeter's G bus service operator has revealed the limits of Devon County Council's approach to transport system integration.
News / Economy & enterprise
Will a new South West industrial strategy deliver what it promises?
Our business-led Local Enterprise Partnership appears committed to a new approach to driving growth which its CEO describes as "game-changing".
News / Strategy & governance
Exeter Labour support collapses in Heavitree & Whipton Barton county by-election
Greg Sheldon wins Devon County Council division by just 40 votes after Labour loses nearly a fifth of its previous vote share.