Premier Graphics
& Animation
Work with us
Menu
Studio
OverviewServicesCapabilitiesThe Collection
Institute
OverviewProgrammesCourse libraryHow we teachCareersGuidesFor universities
Journal About Contact Work with us
Journalism · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Online Editorial Writing & Editing

Writing for the web requires a different skillset than print journalism. This course trains students to write punchy, SEO-friendly content that captures the attention of digital readers who scan rather than read. The curriculum covers the digital editorial workflow, from pitching ideas and writing viral headlines to mastering Content Management Systems (CMS) and navigating the ethics of clickbait.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Master the principles of writing for the web (F-shaped reading pattern)
  2. Apply Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies to editorial content
  3. Write compelling headlines, meta-descriptions, and social copy
  4. Edit for clarity, tone, and accuracy (Fact-checking in the age of misinformation)
  5. Utilize Content Management Systems (WordPress/Substack) effectively
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01Print vs. Web: How We Read Online
  2. 02Finding the Angle: Pitching to Editors
  3. 03SEO Basics: Keywords & Search Intent
  4. 04Headline Science: Curiosity vs. Clickbait
  5. 05Structuring the Article: Subheads & Bullets
  6. 06Writing Feature Stories & Longform
  7. 07Opinion Pieces & Personal Essays
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09The Art of the Interview (Remote & Email)
  10. 10Editing I: Structural & Developmental
  11. 11Editing II: Line Editing & Copyediting
  12. 12Fact-Checking & Verification Tools
  13. 13Multimedia Journalism: Embedding Video/Audio
  14. 14Publishing Platforms: WordPress & Medium
  15. 15Newsletters: The Rise of Substack
  16. 16Final Project: The Digital Feature Story

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Digital Feature Story

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. The Yahoo! Style Guide: The Ultimate Sourcebook for Writing, Editing, and Creating Content for the Digital World
  2. Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
  3. Writing for the Web by Crawford Kilian
  4. The Subversive Copy editor by Carol Fisher Saller
  5. Storycraft: The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction by Jack Hart
More in Journalism
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in JournalismAlgorithms are the new assignment editors. This course explores the integration of AI into the newsroom, from "Automated Journalism" (robot reporters writing sports/finance recaps) to machine learning for investigative data crunching.
Broadcast Journalism"30 seconds to air." This high-pressure course simulates a working TV newsroom. Students will learn to write for the ear (simple, conversational scripts), shoot news sequences (B-Roll and SOTs), and edit fast-paced packages.
Creator Economy & Independent JournalismJournalism is unbundling from institutions. This course is a business accelerator for the independent journalist.
Data Journalism & Visualization"In God we trust; all others must bring data." This technical course merges statistics, coding, and design to uncover stories hidden in spreadsheets.
Digital Journalism & Online MediaThe newspaper is dead; long live the feed. This course explores the transformation of news from static print to dynamic digital interactivity.
Disinformation and Media LiteracyIn an era of "Alternative Facts" and Deepfakes, this critical thinking course equips students with the tools to verify truth.