Editing Essentials: Commissioning, Briefing and Feedback 

How to improve your briefing skills as an editor and give constructive feedback

This half-day editing essentials course will give you tools to help step up into an editing role, covering topics such as what makes a successful ideas meeting, writing solid briefs and tips for editing writers’ work. 

What you’ll learn: The role of the editor

Even journalists with years of experience can struggle when making the leap from writing to an editing role. This course will give you a solid understanding of what it takes to be a good editor, starting with how to run brainstorming sessions and meetings that encourage genius ideas. 

You’ll take a close look at the briefing process and discuss why it matters, and through practical exercises, learn how to write concise guidelines that will steer writers through penning articles on even the most complex of topics.   

You’ll also take part in editing exercises and learn what to look out for when reviewing writers’ work, before covering one of the trickiest parts of an editor’s job – giving constructive feedback.  

How you’ll learn

This two-module editing essentials course will be led by an experienced editor, who will share their knowledge and expertise through presentations, discussion and practical exercises.  

Who the course is for  

This course is for anyone who is in – or aspires to be in – an editing role and wants to refine their skills.  

You might like to consider our full-day course, How to be a Brilliant Editor. Some of our other courses which are well-suited to editors are the Editorial Planning for Digital Teams Masterclass and How to be a Sub-editing Superhero.

We currently offer this course as bespoke training for teams and can deliver it remotely or in your offices. Get in touch using the button below to discuss times and dates, as well as how we can tailor it to your needs. 

If you are an individual looking for training, you can find all our scheduled courses here

Course Modules

Commissioning: Idea to Brief

  1. Generating ideas
  2. Running an ideas meeting
  3. Why briefing matters
  4. How to brief
  5. Editing to brief

Fundamentals of Storytelling

  1. The role of the editor 
  2. The speedy edit  
  3. Giving writer feedback  
  4. The longer edit  
  5. The final polish 

Editing Essentials: Commissioning, Briefing and Feedback 

How to improve your briefing skills as an editor and give constructive feedback

Get in touch

What our students say

View all testimonials

The methods and techniques you learn (and apply) on a daily basis through teaching, coursework and eventually exams crop up again and again in both job applications and jobs themselves – the course content is directly relevant to the realities of the industry. 

James Saunders
, Digital News Reporter
, GB News

I made amazing friends, amazing memories and now it has led me to an amazing job which I never would have gotten without my time at Press Association.  

Holly Bishop
, Digital Reporter
, GB News

The lifelike interview settings and tasks that PA Media Training deal in replicate perfectly the real-world feel of a tough media interview and help the delegates come out of the day feeling much more confident that they can play an active role in representing their organisation.

Transport for London
, Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs

The team is flexible, slick, well-resourced and overall simply first class. Their expertise and knowledge have been invaluable. I was delighted with our choice, so I’d have no hesitation in recommending them

Prostate Cancer UK
, Head of External Relations

I honestly thought that the whole day was fabulous!!! You really couldn’t have done anymore for us. The combination of practical exercises and feedback was particularly useful, it was a challenging day (in a very good way) in that we really had to think, learn and adapt quickly. I know the team are significantly better prepared for media interviews after this training.

Fragile X Society
, Managing Director

The staff truly go above and beyond, providing detailed feedback, a wealth of knowledge and many career opportunities. I’d recommend the course to any budding journalist. You’ll have fun, too!  

Erin Waks
, Trainee Sub-Editor
, Daily Mail

Contact us

Do you wish to train on one of our specialist courses? Start by filling in the application form – we’ll ask you for some important information such as your education and employment history.

Contact us

For more information , simply fill out the form and a member of our team will be in touch.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
By submitting this application form you confirm your acceptance that the information you have provided will be used during the recruitment procedure. Once the recruitment procedure is completed, the data will be stored for one year and then destroyed. If you are the successful candidate, relevant information may be taken from this form and used as part of your personnel record.
If you would like to receive regular updates from PA Media Academy, please tick here:

Contact us

For more information , simply fill out the form and a member of our team will be in touch.