Event

Hosted by Stephen Fried and the Nora Magid Mentorship Prize

Registration is required to attend. ***Deadline extended! Apply by 5pm on Sunday, September 15***

Announcing a special session for journalism students! Bring YOUR story idea to a panel of expert journalists, all Penn graduates who now work at premier journalism outlets. Students can expect insightful, direct, and constructive feedback on their own original story ideas, including but not limited to:

• how and where to pitch a story
• whether a story is best suited to print, audio, or video
• how to make a story more timely
• how to find and interview experts on a topic
• whether your topic is too big - or too small
• how to get an editor's attention
• how to deal with rejection
• approaches to reporting, logistics, and ethical issues

Requirements:

Students should have taken at least one (1) creative writing workshop in journalism or creative nonfiction.

To register:

Interested students should fill out a registration which will include your name, graduation year, a short description of your journalism experience (curricular and non-curricular), and a description of your story idea. Registrations are due by 5pm on September 15. Apply here.

Frequently asked questions:

I’m afraid my idea isn’t interesting/relevant/ambitious enough, or is too specialized/narrow/quirky, for this clinic.
Join us! All story ideas are welcome.

What if I want to attend but don’t have a story idea?
Please join a future clinic when you have a story idea ready to submit - we'd love to have you.

I have no journalism or nonfiction experience. Can I still submit an idea?
Please join a future clinic after getting some experience - we'd love to have you.

Do I need to have all my reporting and research done before coming to the clinic?
No! But: you should have done some preliminary research on your idea - such as what other journalism has been done on the subject (both recently and anything huge and significant in the past), and what the enterprise might be for the story you want to do.

How far along does my idea need to be in order to attend the clinic?
You can be at square one, or well into reporting and research.

Will this clinic guarantee placement of my story somewhere?
Alas, no. But we promise good advice.

Questions about the clinic? Contact Julia Bloch at blochj@writing.upenn.edu.