Masterclasses

The John Schofield Trust offers online masterclasses on a variety of topics, some public and some offered exclusively to our Fellows.

These expert-led learning sessions include practical sessions on journalistic skills and subjects such as live presenting, science and sports journalism, podcasting, foreign correspondence and documentary making; and topical debates about current issues in the news industry.

Explore our past public masterclasses on our YouTube channel here and subscribe to stay updated as new videos become available.

We do not charge for attendance, and are greatly indebted to our speakers – all experienced journalists and experts in their respective fields – who offer their time for free. If you’d like to support this area of our work, please consider making a donation or contact info@johnschofieldtrust.org.uk to discuss further.

We have held the following masterclasses online since 2020:

Journalistic Skills and Techniques

• BBC Video Storytelling – Hannah Long-Higgins
• Podcasting – with Georgia Coan, Shehab Kahn and Jaja Muhammad
• Mobile journalism with the BBC’s Dougal Shaw
• Author of Trauma Reporting: a Journalist’s Guide Jo Healey on covering sensitive stories and trauma awareness
• Editing a News Programme with John Ryley (Sky), Debbie Ramsay (Radio 1), Laura Holgate (ITV) and Richard Frediani (BBC)
• The Anatomy of a Story: Fransoy Hewitt, Imogen Barrer, Sarah O’Connell and Daniel Hewitt discuss ITN’s coverage of the housing crisis 
• BBC Visual Journalist and TikTok creator Sophia Smith Galer on finding and promoting stories on social media
• ‘Prepping for Harry’ – how to plan and deliver great high-profile interviews: a masterclass with Ian Rumsey, executive producer of ITN Productions’ interview with Prince Harry
• First Draft’s Dr Claire Wardle on disinformation

Foreign and Specialised Reporting

• Mastering the fine art of sports journalism with Sally Nugent, Steve Scott, Nick Powell and Dharmesh Sheth
• How to be a Foreign Correspondent with Mayeni Jones, Lindsey Hilsum, Nina Elbagir, Jon Sparks and Renata Brito
• How to be a Sports Journalist featuring Carl Anka (the Athletic FC), Ellen Ellard (BBC Radio 5 Live Sport), Gary Taphouse (Sky Sports / Senior Fellow) and Nate Williams (Chair, The Ability Group in Sports)
• Introducing science journalism: the Guardian’s Hannah Devlin in conversation with Sky’s Thomas Moore, BBC News’ David Shukman and podcaster/TikTok presenter Shivani Dave 
• How to make great documentaries ‘Putin vs the West’ Series Producer Tim Stirzaker in conversation with ‘Ukrainecast’ host Vitaly Shevchenko
• Foreign producing in a COVID-19 world BBC Journalist and former mentee Mohamed Madi
• Working in campaigning journalism – in conversation with Martin Lewis 

Career Development and Industry Insights

• Next steps in business post-COVID with Matt Peacock
• How to pitch with Roohi Hasan and Peter Smith
• Social newsgathering and storytelling with Dhruti Shah 
• So you want to be a journalist? with Louise Hastings, Andrew Bailey, Hazel Baker and Gamal Fahnbulleh
• How to have a career outside London (streamed video of live event) with Hannah Al-Othman (Sunday Times), Sallie Leak (True North Productions), Judith Moritz (BBC), and JST Fellows Ciaran Jenkins (Channel 4 News) and Dino Sofos (News Agents podcast / Persephonica)
• BBC Journalist Helier Cheung on the first steps on the foreign reporting ladder
• How to create your own brand in news with Dougal Shaw, BBC journalist and creator of the CEO Secrets series, in conversation with journalist/Senior Fellow Dhruti Shah
• Writer and broadcaster Afua Hirsch on impartiality on stories you are close to
• Diving deeper into mental health journalism: Senior Fellow James Scurry, Tanya Frank and Rai Waddingham present best practice reporting on mental and emotional distress, with real-life experience and case studies.

Broadcasting and Presenting

• How to present live with the BBC’s Reeta Chakrabarti and Chris Mason
• How to present a news programme with Cathy Newman (C4), Julie Etchingham (ITV), Naga Munchetty (BBC) and Martha Kelner (Sky) 

In conversation with

• In conversation with Dorothy Byrne – Channel 4’s Editor at Large interviewed by trustee, Nick Pollard
• In conversation with Robert Moore, ITV News’ Washington Correspondent
• In conversation with Gary Younge, British journalist, author, broadcaster and academic

Many (but not all) our past masterclasses are on our YouTube. Follow and subscribe here

The Trust also hosts in-person masterclasses. These have previously featured Tom Bradby, David Dimbleby, Martin Lewis, Nick Eardley, Cathy Newman and others. Workshops have explored boarding interviews, radio reporting in disaster zones, managing finances as a journalist, new media, the importance of networking and much more.

In June 2022 we held an in-person masterclass day at BBC Broadcasting House. It was packed with sessions and discussions featuring experienced journalists and our Fellows and Trustees. The day culminated in three current Fellows conducting a candid interview with BBC Director General Tim Davie on his background, experience and career highlights, and how to improve diversity in journalism.

Read more about the day here.

We followed this up with a session on ‘how to have a career outside London’ at the Leeds Conservatoire in September 2022. The panel featured Hannah Al-Othman, News Reporter at the Sunday Times; Ciaran Jenkins, Scotland Correspondent at Channel 4 News (and JST Fellow); Sallie Leak, Talent Executive for True North Productions; and Dino Sofos, Executive Producer of the News Agents podcast / founder of Persephonica (and JST Fellow). It was chaired by Judith Moritz, the BBC’s North of England Correspondent.

Watch a video of the event here.