Music Journalism
Tuesday 27 April : 4 weeks
6.30- 9pm : £75.00 : 16+
Neil Mason is a music journalist whose CV includes being Melody Maker Reviews Editor and the inagural Features Editor on the multi-award winning NME.com. He launched the groundbreaking music download site, warchildmusic.com, a project that raised over £500k for the War Child charity and culminated in the record breaking online release of the ‘Help: A Day In The Life’ album in 2006. His work has also appeared in Rolling Stone, Muzik, Mixmag and Zoo. These days, he writes about music on his own sites, mynewfavouriteband.com and rippingvinyl.co.uk
Neil believes when it comes to pushing boundaries online, little offers itself more readily than music, yet the current music press – both online and offline – has become less about discovery and more about selection. Gone are the days when journalists scoured venues in search of the next big thing. Creatively, the music press needs freshening up and this course is aimed at those who are interested in learning not only how to be an effective music journalist, but also discovering how the role has changed in the 21st century.
What level is the course?
This is a first step for those who are interested in being a music journalist. It will introduce you to the full range of skills required to be an engaging, entertaining and knowledgable music critic.
What will the course cover?
Feature writing
Interview technique
Reviewing live shows
Reviewing albums and singles
Seeing and thinking like a journalist
Developing critcial opinions
Discovering new bands
Effective research
Online publishing
A rough guide to the music industry
A brief history of popular music
What can I expect to achive?
By the end of the course you will have a good understanding of what it takes to be a music journalist operating in the 21st century. There will also be an opportunity to see your work published on mynewfavouriteband.com
How will I be taught?
The course will be based on a combination of discussion, practical examples and written exercises and will include attending parts of live shows at Norwich Arts Centre.
What should I bring?
Please bring with you a love of music, an open mind and a notebook and pen.
