Recommended Prerequisite:

This course was designed for writers with a minimum basic understanding of journalism principles and techniques, so it’s recommended that registrants have some experience in journalism or nonfiction writing (including blogs, podcasts, radio, and newsletters). Of course, we also welcome writers of all levels of skill/imposter syndrome, and promise to do our best to meet your needs. If you’re unsure whether it’s a good fit, just ask us and we’ll be honest.

Tuition: $399 🇨🇦 (~$275 🇺🇸)

COURSE SCHEDULE:

July 15 – August 19, 2025 
Tuesdays, 5:30pm–7:30pm Mountain

• Class 1 (July 15): Introduction to Freelance Journalism; Understanding the 
• Marketplace 
• Class 2 (July 22): Mastering the Pitch; Thinking Outside the Margins of Traditional Articles
• Class 3 (July 29): Generating Original Ideas for Established Publications (group exercise: mock story meeting) 
• Class 4 (August 5): Anatomy of a Feature Article
• Class 5 (August 12: Contracts, Copyright, and Conflict Resolution 
• Class 6 (August 19): 10 Habits of a Competent Freelancer

Assignments for Review: Each student is entitled to receiving feedback and editing on 2 “Front-of-book” (short) story pitches and 1 feature story pitch, due at the end of the course on August 19. Please allow 30 days to receive all edits and feedback.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Omar Mouallem is an author, journalist, filmmaker, magazine editor and educator. He’s freelanced for over 100 outlets, including The Guardian, WIRED, and NewYorker.com; appeared on Al Jazeera, WNYC, and other networks; and received three National Magazine Awards and other honours. Several of his articles have been adapted into books and movies, including How Muslims Shaped the Americas, which was named one of the Globe and Mail’s 100 best books of 2021. He lives in Edmonton where he’s editor-in-chief of Edify, the city’s premier art and culture magazine.

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ACCESSIBILITY & STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

Pandemic University is committed to offering a fulfilling and inclusive education. Classes are held via Zoom with Closed Captioning features enabled through auto-transcription technology. The course includes group exercises and class discussions, thus students are required to participate through audio; accommodations can be made for people with speaking or other disabilities if they inform us ahead of schedule. Video is encouraged of all students in order to optimize everyone’s virtual classroom experience.

The course is intended for live participation, however, if you can’t be present for a class, or must leave early, a recording will be provided in the student folder the morning after.

You’re expected to be present and intellectually curious during class time. In addition to attending each class, you are expected to be available across all dates to complete your writing assignments. If your work is more than 48 hours late, however, you may or may not get feedback. If you’re going to blow a deadline, simply tell us and group mates.

REGISTRATION

After checkout, you’ll receive a receipt with a link to download your syllabus, which will include Zoom passcodes and additional course information. You will also receive an emailed reminder a few days before your first class.

REFUNDS & CAPACITY

Space is limited to 16 students. Anyone wishing to cancel their registration has until July 6, 2025 to receive a guaranteed refund. If you cancel between July 7 and July 14, 2025, we will only offer a refund if and after the vacated spot is filled. No refunds whatsoever will be offered after the course begins on July 15, 2025. Violations of the Code of Conduct may also result in your removal from the course without compensation.

Although PanU is technically a fake university, we’re committed to high standards of artistic integrity, quality education, and maintaining a safe virtual environment for students. Abusive behavior toward classmates or instructors will not be tolerated at any point during the course, including in private messages, and will result in expulsion without refund.

Other violations that could have you expelled from this course include: refusing to participate in group exercises; plagiarism and misrepresentation of others’ ideas as your own; sharing recordings of classes; sharing classmates’ work without their consent; and racism, sexism, homophobia, or other bigotry either in your notes feedback to classmates or in your written work.

The final say on whether or not you continue in class belongs to the instructor alone. If you have any questions, email info@pandemicuniversity.com.