Master the Science of Clear Writing

Interested in becoming a journalist? Or want to arm yourself with some of the tools of the trade? Sign up for this masterclass conducted by Bertha Henson, Tembusu College’s Journalist-in-residence, a 26-year veteran of the profession.

You will pick up writing skills, including how to organise your information logically in an easy-to-read fashion. You will learn to write deliberately, weighing each word to reflect exactly what you wish to express. You will learn the difference between writing news reports and writing a column – and the different techniques for each. More importantly, you will appreciate how having good language skills is such a wonderful tool in life.

This is not just a classroom exercise dispensing tips and tricks, although there will be plenty! Workshops will include a critique of media products, such as examining whether articles published have a logical flow, language standards and types of writing styles. Participants will also hear from an experienced journalist who has made a name for himself because of his writing skills.

This masterclass follows an earlier session on The Art of the Interview. They are part of a series on journalism and critical thinking that is open to residents of Tembusu, Angsana and Cinnamon colleges as well as students in the Communications and New Media department of the Faculty of Arts and Social Science.

To get the most out of the masterclass, participants must be prepared to attend all three session of two hours each. Preparation time for each class is about 45 minutes.

Dates & times:

• Tuesday 16 October, 7.30-9.30pm
• Tuesday 23 October, 7-9pm
• Tuesday 30 October, 7-9pm

Venue: Seminar Room 5, Learn Lobe, Tembusu College

Deadline for registration: Monday 8 October, noon. Please register here!

*You will receive notification whether or not you have secured a place in the class on Wednesday 10 October. There are only 16 places available for this masterclass, but we are planning more such classes in the near future.

About Bertha

She started reporting in 1986, after graduating from the NUS FASS with a bachelor’s degree. She has handled several beats and editing portfolios since then, both in The Straits Times and The New Paper. For the past 10 years, she was also in charge of the training arm of the Singapore Press Holdings’ English and Malay language stable of newspapers, helming a twice-yearly course for senior journalists on advanced reporting. Her blog, Bertha Harian, which gives her take on the news of the day, can be found at berthahenson.wordpress.com