Go from Advocate to Journalist in Sentient Media’s New Course

Whether you’re a seasoned advocate looking to amplify your message, or new to the writing process in general, Sentient Media’s Advocate to Journalist course will take you through the ins and outs of writing and journalism. Bringing together experts on a range of topics, this course will empower you to take your skills to the next level regardless of your area of interest. 

Developing journalism chops involves more than simply putting pen to paper or fingers to keys: there is diligence to be done before you begin drafting. Understanding the media landscape, thoughtfully selecting your story idea, and research and fact-checking are all critical steps towards an accurate, impactful story. These are all skills the Advocate to Journalist course is designed to help you build. We’ll also show you how to work with editors, how to craft the perfect pitch, and what to do after you’ve been published in order to establish and grow your audience. 

Our experts come from a diverse range of professional backgrounds. Editors at major publications will share what stands out when it comes to floating to the top of the slush pile. Seasoned undercover investigators will guide you through the dos and don’ts of reporting on investigations. You’ll be guided through ways to present yourself to the media and in interviews, conferences. And social media stars will give you the tools to help you get the most mileage out of your writing. 

The Advocate to Journalist course will guide you through a valuable and information-rich curriculum involving videos, further reading, and exercises where you will be given the opportunity to put into practice the skills you have learned. These exercises will also provide you with the chance to connect with your fellow students in the Writers’ Collective, an online community where you can provide and receive feedback on your work and network with like-minded individuals. 

Animal issues, and particularly animal agriculture, are all too often left out of the story of our world, despite the fact that animals play integral roles in our daily lives, whether it’s as food or performing ecosystem services. Sentient Media’s mission is to bring animals to the front page and with them the social and environmental issues that are so often intertwined with their exploitation. Overcoming media bias and breaking into mainstream media outlets with stories that are informed and impactful is the work of journalists everywhere. With Sentient Media’s Advocate to Journalist course, you will have the opportunity to hone skills that can take you far as a journalist or an advocate, all in service of a more informed public and a better world. 

Course Offering

• The Current Media Landscape, featuring Ana Bradley and Francine Jordan
• Story Development, featuring Jessica Scott-Reid 
• Audience Discovery
• Research: Where to Find the Data
• Reporting on Investigations, featuring Pete Paxton, Lex Rigby, and Ian Urbina
• Fact-Checking, featuring Sophie Kevany and Christopher Sebastian
• The Art of Editing (and Being Edited), featuring Jasmin Singer
• Pitching, featuring Rachel Krantz, Kenny Torrella, and Matt Zampa
• Published: Content Distribution for Articles, featuring Christopher “Soul” Eubanks, John Oberg, and Neil Patel 
• Presenting to the Public and Media & Self-Growth, featuring Kimberly Carroll and Jasmine Leyva

How to Sign Up

To sign up for the Advocate to Journalist course, please apply to join our community space here. Once you’ve been admitted, you can enroll in the course.

Plus, we know it’s not just the course that matters, so we built the Writers’ Collective, an online community of like-minded advocates and mentors to help you grow as a writer. When you join the community, you’ll also get access to pitching events, mixers, 1-1 mentoring sessions, and an exclusive newsletter packed with new writing opportunities. Whether it’s your first time writing an article or your 100th, join us.