WHEN 4 weeks, November 18 - December 16 Chats Tuesdays, 9-10 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for more information. LEVEL Intro PRICE $350 ($325 for ) more info

Course Details

It seems impossible to open a newspaper or turn on the tv without hearing about the economic crisis. From foreclosures to bailouts to massive layoffs, finances are on everyone's mind. Financial writing isn't just limited to The Wall Street Journal and The Economist anymore, as mainstream newspapers and magazines shift their focus to the economic crisis as well.

In today's chaotic times, editors at nearly every type of publication are scrambling to figure out how to keep stories fresh and relevant. There's an increasing demand for savvy financial writers as editors look to freelancers for expertise they don't have in-house.

No matter what you cover -- travel, fashion, art, or sports -- there's a business angle that you can explore. Develop your reporting skills on business and finance and open new markets for your writing.

In this class, you will learn:

• The basics of financial journalism
• The difference between writing about business, personal finance, and the economy
• The tools you need to give your stories more depth and sophistication
• How to tailor an idea to a variety of different magazines, newspapers, and websites
• The basics you need to understand the most common topics sought by general interest magazines
• How to approach investing stories, including the basics of stock-picking, mutual fund assessment, and asset allocation
• How to craft stories on debt management
• Ways of weaving today's economic news into stories to make them more timely and fresh
• Where get the financial information you need and how to evaluate sources

By the end of this class you will have:
An complete article and pitch letter, a more sophisticated understanding of today's economic crisis, and the basics you'll need to begin selling financial freelance stories

Admission Requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history) and a writing sample (less than 2,000 words).

The online classroom has several interactive components:

• Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
• Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
• Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend.
• Technical support is available from mediabistro.com staff.

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Instructor Bio

Beverly Goodman's Courses

Beverly Goodman is a senior editor at Smart Money, the Wall Street Journal's monthly magazine. She manages the Street Smart section, which focuses on investing and the economy, as well as the Smart Consumer section, incorporates a variety of personal finance and spending topics.

She's worked in various areas of financial journalism for more than 15 years, including stints at Money Magazine, Red Herring, and TheStreet.com. She's also written many freelance pieces for Real Simple, Latina, Martha Stewart Weddings and Better Homes and Gardens. From European economic policy to budgeting for your wedding, you'd be hard-pressed to find an area of finance she hasn't covered.