Company Name: Institute for the Advancement of Journalism Telephone: Fax: Cell Phone: Email: infoiaj.org.za Website:
Course Title: Reviewing Food, Restaurants and General Lifestyle Writing
So you fancy yourself as a great food and lifestyle writer, right?
Swanning off to fine restaurants several times a week, having your name in print above pithy critiques of the latest eateries in town, drizzled with wit and garnished with effortless dismissals of what the chef has to offer?
Or flitting here and there, travelling first class and only staying in 5 star accommodation?
Well, while it’s true that true that there can be some glamour in the job, there’s also lots of hard work involved.
Lifestyle journalism is not just about getting a freebie and being a hedonist for the weekend at somebody else's expense, then rattling off a quick thousand words and collecting the cheque.
This 2-day course is aimed at teaching you the skills to ensure that you’re one of the lifestyle and foodie writers who are on top of the heap.
The course will include:
Why we write reviews, and why newspapers and magazines publish them;
Generating great foodie and lifestyle feature ideas;
What you need to know to be a good restaurant critic to have your
Opinion taken seriously;
The ethics and realities of food and lifestyle writing in South
Africa today;
The art of the celebrity or personality interview: what to ask and
How to research and frame questions;
How to ensure you get an interesting interview out of your subject;
Structuring your story and bringing in colour and context.
NB: On the first night of the two-day course, students will be expected to visit a restaurant of their choice, at their own expense (it need not be fancy or expensive) to write about the following day. Alternatively, you can go to a show or film, to review the next day.
About the facilitator
Tony Jackman has written extensively about restaurants, food, wine, lifestyle and travel and has conducted many interviews with celebrities from Chris de Burgh and John Lithgow, to film director Bruce Beresford, movie 'Dracula' Christopher Lee and Sir Peter Ustinov.
He founded etc, an award-winning lifestyle magazine in the UK and is a former editor of the Cape Times weekly lifestyle supplement, Top of the Times.
He has published books about food and restaurants, restaurant guides, been SA correspondent for The Hollywood Reporter,
Home 
Email Course to friend
iaj.org.za