Raising Awareness: Social Justice Journalism

One of the most effective ways to bring awareness to a social justice issue that deeply troubles you or compels you to raise awareness about it is to write and publish an article. This course will take students through the process of researching, reporting on and writing an article, starting with devising an engaging story within that topic. Next, we will work through how to identify and request interviews with key players in the field to support that story. Then, students will organize and begin writing an article. Finally, we will work on revising the article while identifying potential editors and publications where they can pitch the story and then draft their pitch letter. Students will come away with a good draft of their story and a plan to pitch it into the world as a nonfiction article.

Instructor:

Christopher Johnston has published more than 3,500 articles in publications including American Theatre, Christian Science Monitor, History Magazine, and Scientific American. His book, Shattering Silences: Strategies to Prevent Sexual Assault, Heal Survivors, and Bring Assailants to Justice (Skyhorse) was published in May 2018. Johnston wrote The Way I Saw It, the memoirs of the late Marc Wyse, co-founder of Wyse Advertising, which was published in 2013. He teaches playwriting and creative nonfiction workshop courses at Cleveland State University and writing workshops for Literary Cleveland and the William N. Skirball Writers Center at the Cuyahoga County Public Library South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch. He was recently named to the Board of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

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Details: Raising Awareness: Social Justice Journalism with Christopher Johnston takes place Thursdays 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 11/7, and 11/14 from 6:30-8:30pm in-person at Lakewood United Methodist Church, 15700 Detroit Avenue. Note there will be no class on October 24 or October 31.

Prerequisite: None

Genre: Nonfiction

Level: Emerging

Format: Generative Workshop

Location: This class takes place in-person at Lakewood United Methodist Church, 15700 Detroit Avenue.

Size: Limited to 12 participants (including scholarships).

Scholarships: Two scholarship spots are available for this class for writers in Northeast Ohio. Apply by August 19.

Cancellations & Refunds: Cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the first class meeting to receive a full refund. Email info@litcleveland.org.

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$180 - Non-Member Registration

$120 - Registration with Member Discount

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