Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas

Short Courses of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas

Knight Center offers online course in Spanish 'How to Write for the Web'Knight Center offers online course in Spanish 'How to Write for the Web'

The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas is offering the online course “How to Write for the Web,” from Nov. 16 – Dec 20., 2009. The course will be taught by Colombian journalist Guillermo Franco, based on his recent book How to write for the web. Applications were accepted online until November 1.

The free, five-week course has been designed specifically for the Knight Center. Using Franco’s text as a central reference, the book combines exercises and concepts that help journalists understand how to write for the digital platform in a variety of contexts.

Space in the course is limited to applicants from Latin America and the Carribean that work as full-time journalists for online news media as reporters or editors. Online journalism instructors can also apply. In addition, participants must

wish to improve their writing and have at least five examples of their own writing they can use in the course
commit to participating consistently in an intensive course that demands 10-15 hours a week
have read the book How to write for the web (http://knightcenter.utexas.edu/como_web.php) and/or be able to read it before the course begins
be able to read in English (medium level) because several course materials will be in English

The course exploares the following topics:

Learn how to write for the web
Know the elements of when to use and how to process written texts for the online medium from other media
Develop a critical vision of published texts on the Web
Know how to incorporate specific concepts into online content from different contexts and platforms

The class will be conducted entirely online. Students are able to work on the course according to their own schedule and at their own pace, but they are expected to meet weekly deadlines. Each week’s course consists of lectures from Franco’s book and corresponding writing activities. Students will participate in weekly online discussions, using forums and chat sessions. Homework includes written assignments based on the journalists’ own writing examples.

Applications were accepted online until Nov. 1, 2009 by 5 p.m. (Austin, Texas time) through the following link: http://knightcenter.utexas.edu/blog/?q=es/node/5486. Those who are selected will be notified the week of Nov. 12.

Franco has 23 years of journalism experience and has dedicated the last eight years to digital journalism and the internet. He worked throughout his career for Casa Editorial El Tiempo (CEET), owner of the El Tiempo daily newspaper and eltiempo.com, the website with the most visitors in Colombia. From 2000 to 2008, Franco worked as the New Media Content Manager at CEET and as the managing editor of eltiempo.com. He was responsible for the content strategy of all the websites that belong to the organization.

Franco's new book presents practical examples about writing for online publications, as well as research from other sources. He considers it to be more than just a manual, but rather a starting point for a more comprehensive guide about writing for the Web, with contributions from journalists throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas was created by Professor Rosental Calmon Alves at the University of Texas at Austin School of Journalism in August 2002 thanks to a generous donation from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

In 2007, the Knight Center received a new five-year grant from the Knight Foundation to refocus its work as a digital media training center for Latin American and Caribbean journalism, and to expand its efforts to serve as an incubator for new journalism organizations.

Added Nov 06, 12:03, 2009