History's first draft: the art of reportage

About this course

The course traces reportage from early twentieth-century journalism to contemporary literary nonfiction, considering factual accounts of war, politics, crime, class, race and everyday life. Selected writing by authors including George Orwell, Martha Gellhorn, Ryszard Kapuscinski, Joan Didion, Ian Jack, Tom Wolfe, Katherine Boo and Gay Talese provides the basis for study. Sessions combine a short introduction with focused group discussion of the chosen work. Learners will also consider style, ethics, objectivity and narrative, with background reading, videos and other illustrations used where relevant.

What you'll learn

• Identify selected trends and issues in modern journalism and literary nonfiction
• Analyse how reportage uses factual narrative, style and structure
• Discuss key points in literary nonfiction with reference to the texts studied

Is this course right for you?

This introductory course is intended for learners who enjoy reading and are willing to take part in discussion and listen to differing viewpoints. No particular specialist skills are identified, and the teaching centres on shared consideration of selected written works.

• Suitable for learners approaching reportage and literary nonfiction at an introductory level
• Requires participation in focused discussion of set or selected reading
• Includes background reading alongside the class sessions

Before you go

• Students should buy or borrow The Granta Book of Reportage (2006), edited by Ian Jack.