Sub Editing

The course will train you in the fundamental techniques of editing raw copy text, or even your own writing, into attention-grabbing and highly readable stories, as demanded by content publishers worldwide. It is aimed at a broad range of participants, from self-starter bloggers to experienced journalists who require formalised refresher training.

You will learn how to approach written copy critically and reshape it into compelling editorial content that people will want to read. Focusing on practical exercises and using real-world examples, the course also focuses on the different sub-editing approaches required for various types of material, and explains the distinctive subbing methods demanded by print and online media.

Requirements: Participants will need to bring their own laptop or tablet computer, with word processing software such as Word or Pages, to each class and have Internet access throughout the course to help with homework assignments, downloading copies of course material and tutor support between classes.

• What is sub-editing?
• Editorial copy workflows
• Tips for checking your own writing
• Fundamentals of English grammar

• Tips on punctuation and spelling
• Aspects of writing style
• Using a style guide

• How to write and edit news stories
• Sub-editing feature copy
• Writing good headlines, intros, captions and more

• Defamation and libel
• Copyright and intellectual property
• Social media and reader engagement

• Understanding how people read
• Fitting copy to a fixed space
• Fundamentals of typography

Delegates will tackle hands-on exercises at the end of each section to cement their learning, and personal achievement will be assessed throughout the course. 

Certificates will be issued upon completion of the course.

Alistair Dabbs is an editorial production specialist and freelance writer with 25 years' professional experience in commercial journalism. After training as a sub-editor at the beginning of the desktop publishing revolution of the late 1980s, he became a production editor in 1989 and turned freelance in 1994.

Over the years he has worked for consumer, business and customer magazines in a range of contract roles, from production editor to editor-in-chief. His freelance writing credits can be found across a huge variety of magazines, newspapers and websites, while his book co-authoring credits include the best-selling 'Digital Designer's Bible', 'InDesign Production Cookbook' and 'The Print Manager's Handbook'.

Most recently, Alistair has been heavily involved in the burgeoning field of tablet publishing, heading the editorial production of tablet editions of several consumer magazines and working on the iPad launches of two national newspapers. 

In addition to his freelance work and business interests, Alistair teaches a selected range of editorial, print production and digital publishing courses. He is an Adobe Certified Instructor and CompTIA CTT+ certified technical trainer, and a member of the National Union of Journalists, the London Press Club and the IEEE.

Alistair’s training courses focus on practical technique and make use of real-world examples throughout. “There is no theory to sub-editing,” he says. “It is all about practice.”

DISCOUNT OFFERS*:

• SPRING OFFER - 10% off the course fee - Use discount code: SpringSale10%

• GROUP BOOKING - 20% off group booking for 3 or more people from the same organisation - Use discount code: Group20%

• ALUMNI LOYALTY SCHEME - 20% off any course fee - Used discount code: Alumni20%

• 2 FOR 1 - bring a colleague, friend or family member for free on the same course - Use discount code: 2for1

• FREELANCERS AND CHARITIES - 15% off any course fee - Use discount code: FCH15%

* All offers are subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Digital publishing courses are excluded.Terms and conditions apply.