Nautical News Writing Course
This course gives you the tools to report on the maritime and nautical world accurately and engagingly. You will learn to judge what is newsworthy, master nautical terminology, find and verify sources, read press releases critically, write informative headlines and effective leads, structure stories with the inverted pyramid, cover operations, safety and incidents responsibly, and work within an editorial workflow that respects style standards, media law, transparency and correction protocols.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Nautical News Writing Course?
This short course prepares you to write professional news about ports, shipping, marinas, shipyards, charter, fishing, offshore activity and recreational boating. You will study maritime audiences and stakeholders, newsworthiness criteria, journalistic genres from the brief to the analysis piece, nautical terminology and units, framing and angle, primary and secondary sources, the nautical news interview, sector fact-checking, handling press releases and PR, building timelines and context, headline and lead writing, clear yet technical language, quotation and attribution, coverage of maritime operations and incidents, human factors and safety culture, sensitive data, institutional crisis communication, and editorial governance.
What sets this course apart: writing exercises based on real cases and news simulations; a specialist glossary and examples of correct nautical terminology; a firm stance on accuracy, with fact-checking, independent rewriting of press releases and protection against misinformation; responsible coverage of incidents and emergencies that respects those affected and avoids speculation; and a final project in which you build a nautical newsroom system with professional standards, from workflow to corrections policy.
Program highlights
- Newsworthiness in the nautical sector: impact, timeliness, technical novelty and public service.
- Sources and verification: authorities, companies, crews, experts and public records.
- Professional news writing: headlines, leads, inverted pyramid and attribution.
- Responsible incident coverage: precision, no speculation and respect for those affected.
- Editorial governance: style guide, media law, transparency and corrections.
- Final project: a nautical news writing system with professional standards.
Syllabus of the Nautical News Writing Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
The nautical news ecosystem, newsworthiness criteria and a sector-specific editorial approach
- 1.1. Map of maritime audiences and stakeholders: ports, shipping companies, marinas, shipyards, charter, fishing, offshore and recreational boating
- 1.2. Newsworthiness criteria in the nautical sector: impact, timeliness, proximity, technical novelty, public service and economic relevance
- 1.3. Applied journalistic genres: news story, brief, chronicle, analysis, interview and incident coverage with clear limits
- 1.4. Terminological specialization: nautical vocabulary, technical precision, units, acronyms and error-free operational translation
- 1.5. Focus and news angle: framing, editorial premise, minimum context and differentiation from competitors
Finding sources, verification and writing routines: from the lead to a publishable story
- 2.1. Primary and secondary sources: port authorities, harbor masters, companies, crews, experts and public records
- 2.2. The nautical news interview: technical questions, obtaining useful quotes, controlling bias and handling off-the-record information
- 2.3. Sector fact-checking: triangulation, documentary cross-checking, verification of technical data and preventing misinformation
- 2.4. Handling press releases and PR: critical reading, spotting inflated claims, independent rewriting and seeking the other side
- 2.5. Building timeline and context: chronology, actors, decisions, figures and accessible explanation for the general public
Professional news writing: headlines, leads, style and technical clarity without losing pace
- 3.1. Headlines that inform: accuracy, hierarchy of facts, semantic SEO, avoiding clickbait and editorial consistency
- 3.2. Effective leads: what, who, where, when, why and how, with a focus on impact and essential context
- 3.3. Inverted pyramid and structure: logical order, functional paragraphs, clean transitions and a closing with outlook or next steps
- 3.4. Language that is clear and technical at once: responsible simplification, useful analogies, units and definitions without over-explaining
- 3.5. Quotes, attribution and reported speech: quotation marks, attribution verbs, balance of voices and bias control
Covering operations, safety and incidents: responsible narrative and crisis communication
- 4.1. Covering maritime operations: port calls, berthing, towage, pilotage, loading and unloading and maintenance from a news angle
- 4.2. Incidents and emergencies: ethical limits, respect for those affected, accuracy, no speculation and coordination with official sources
- 4.3. Safety and human factors: fatigue, procedures, safety culture and reporting without blame
- 4.4. Sensitive data and reputation: privacy, images, identification of people and control of informational harm
- 4.5. Institutional communication in a crisis: reading statements, key questions, follow-up by milestones and updating versions
Editorial governance, legal framework and final project: a nautical newsroom system with professional standards
- 5.1. Editorial workflow: news agenda, assignment, editing, approval, corrections and version control
- 5.2. House style standards: terminology guide, templates, consistent tone and recurrent quality control
- 5.3. Applied media law: right to information, right to honor and image, right of reply, licenses and use of third-party material
- 5.4. Transparency and conflicts of interest: sponsorship, advertorials, editorial and commercial separation and disclosure notes
- 5.5. Correction and update protocols: errata, version changes, timestamping and communication with readers
Duration and format of the Nautical News Writing Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Nautical News Writing Course
Career opportunities after the Nautical News Writing Course
Questions about the Nautical News Writing Course
A headline, a lead that answers the key questions, a body organized by importance and a closing with context, outlook or next steps.
Boat owners, seafarers, fishers, water sports enthusiasts and professionals across the maritime industry, from ports and shipping to shipyards and marinas.
It helps, but the course includes a terminology module and a specialist glossary so that you can write about the sector with precision.
A full module covers ethical limits, respect for those affected, accuracy without speculation, privacy and coordination with official sources.
Yes. Headline writing includes semantic SEO and avoiding clickbait, so your stories are both visible and trustworthy.
Through writing exercises based on real cases with personalized feedback and a final project in which you design a nautical newsroom system with professional standards.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded, practical exercises and personalized tutorials.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at journalists and communicators who want to specialize in maritime news, professionals from shipowners, shipyards and ports who need to communicate with the press, journalism and communication students, corporate communication managers in the sector, and nautical enthusiasts with writing skills; a background in journalism or communication, or proven media experience, is recommended, and knowledge of the nautical sector is an advantage.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and familiarity with content management systems and social media.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.