Front cover -- Half title page -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Contents -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- 1 So you want to be a journalist? -- The essential qualities -- How journalists work -- ASK DAN -- 2 Who are you going to write for? -- Readers matter -- Getting to know them better -- Which publications are you going to write for? -- Exercise: Magazine analysis -- ASK DAN -- 3 What are you going to write about? -- 10 ways to find your story -- Exercise: Finding feature stories from news items -- How to place your story with the right publication -- Exercise: Placing story ideas -- Pitching your story -- 10 ways to write a successful story outline -- ASK DAN -- 4 Writing it up -- Article types -- How to research your article -- Exercise: Research methods -- Feature writing - the essentials -- Exercise: Getting the right quotes -- 10 points to consider before fi ling your copy -- ASK DAN -- 5 Profiles and celebrity stories -- Setting up the interview -- The interview process -- Writing it up -- ASK DAN -- 6 Reporting the news -- Where news comes from -- How to write a basic news story -- Writing a story intro -- Structuring your story -- Style types -- How to use quotes properly -- Code of Conduct -- ASK DAN -- 7 Specializing to survive -- Opinion columns -- Checklist: Opinion writing -- Travel writing -- Checklist: Travel writing -- Reviewing -- Checklist: Reviewing -- Gossip and celebrity news -- Sub-editing -- Advertorials -- 8 Online and beyond -- Writing for online publications -- Using the web to your advantage -- Contract publishing -- Trade publishing -- Finding that first job -- 9 Going it alone -- Freelancing: it's no holiday -- Getting started -- Expenses: what you can and can't claim -- ASK DAN -- 10 Going it alone II -- The brief -- Fees -- Expenses -- Invoices -- Copyright matters.

5 things you should know about copyright -- ASK DAN -- Useful contacts -- Glossary of terms -- Recommended reading -- Back cover.