Professional Writing & Journalism Certificate

Total Apex University’s flagship program: a complete, from-scratch path from basic grammar to professional, paid journalism and SEO writing. Thirteen levels, 201 lessons, quizzes throughout, a capstone project, and a shot at a real byline on a Total Apex Network site.

Course Information

Course Instructor

Total Apex Media Total Apex Media Author

Total Apex Media is a team of writers with more than 50 years of combined experience. This program was designed by Dusty, founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, to teach people how to write professionally and build a real career path without the high cost of traditional journalism programs.

Level 1: Writing Foundations

Noun & Pronoun Correlation
Understanding Adjectives
Understanding Adverbs
Understanding Conjuctions
Understanding Determiners
Understanding Interjections
Understanding Nouns
Understanding Prepositions
Understanding Pronouns
Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement
Understanding Verbs
Verb Types
Why Articles Matter
Why Pronoun‑Antecedent Agreement Matters
Understanding Clauses in Sentences
Understanding Modifiers
Understanding Nonessential Clauses
Understanding Objects in a Sentence
Understanding Phrases in Sentences
Understanding Sentence Subjects
Understanding the Predicate of a Sentence
Understanding Complex Sentences
Understanding Complex-Compound Sentences
Understanding Compound Sentences
Understanding Run-Ons and Fragments
Understanding Short Sentences
Understanding Simple Sentences
Understanding Apostrophes
Understanding Capitalization
Understanding Colons
Understanding Commas
Understanding Dashes
Understanding Hyphens
Understanding Numbers in Writing
Understanding Punctuation
Understanding Quotation Marks
Understanding Semicolons
Understanding the Introductory Comma
Understanding the Serial/Oxford Comma
Understanding Possessives
Understanding Tense Consistency
Why Mood & Tone Matter
Why Parallel Structure is Important
Level 1 Final Test

Level 2: The Craft of Writing

Active vs. Passive Writing
Avoiding Clichés
Avoiding Jargon
Avoiding Redundancy
Avoiding Wordiness
Outlining & Structuring Articles
Readability Techniques
Storytelling Basics
Thesis & Angle Development
Transitions & Flow
Understanding Hooks
Understanding Paragraph Structure and Flow
Understanding Paraphrasing
Understanding the Writing Process
Understanding Word Choices
Understanding Your Audience
Using an Active Voice
Why Active Voice Matters
Why Sentence Variety & Rhythm Matter
Why Sentence Variety & Rhythm Matter
Why Word Choice Matters For Structure
Writing Strong Conclusions
Level 2 Final Test

Level 3: Journalism Fundamentals

AP Style for Acronyms & Abbreviations
AP Style for Dates, Times, Months, and Years
AP Style for Geographic Names
AP Style for Headlines
AP Style for Measurements & Units
AP Style for Money and Numbers
AP Style for Sports
AP Style for Subheadings
AP Style for Technology
AP Style for Titles
AP Style for Titles of Works
AP Style of Quotes & Attribution
AP Style Tips
Citing Sources
Understanding Research, Attribution and Ethics
Writing Feature Articles
Writing Guides
Writing How-To Guides
Writing Listicles
Writing News Articles
Writing Opinion Articles
Writing Review Articles
Level 3 Final Test

Level 4: Digital Publishing & SEO Mastery

Google Trends & Newsjacking: Writing Timely Content
Responsible AI Use in Journalism & Disclosure Standards
Avoiding Broken Links in WordPress
Avoiding Formatting Errors in WordPress
Avoiding Keyword Stuffing
Categories & Tags in WordPress
Featured Images in WordPress
Formatting Posts in WordPress
Revisions & Version Control in WordPress
Scheduling & Publishing in WordPress
SEO Featured Snippets Basics
SEO Keyword Research Basics
SEO Search Intent Basics
SEO SERP Basics
Slugs & Permalinks in WordPress
Understanding Anchor Texts
Understanding Audience for SEO
Understanding Header Structures
Understanding Image Alt Text
Understanding Internal Linking
Understanding Keyword Placement Strategy
Understanding Meta Descriptions
Understanding Semantic SEO
Understanding SEO
Understanding SEO for News vs. Evergreen Content
Understanding Social Media Sharing
Understanding Title Tags
Understanding URL Structures
Understanding Your Audience for SEO Purposes
Using the Internal Linking Tool in WordPress
Using WordPress Editor
Why E-E-A-T Matters
Level 4 Final Test

Level 5: Getting Paid – The Business of Freelance Journalism

How Writers Actually Get Paid: Pay-Per-View vs. Flat Rate
Building a Portfolio That Gets You Hired
Pitching Editors: How to Write a Pitch That Gets a Yes
Freelance Rates: What to Charge and How to Negotiate
Contracts & Rights: Understanding What You’re Signing
Invoicing & Getting Paid On Time
Finding Publications That Pay (and Avoiding Content Mills)
Building Recurring Income: Bylines, Bonuses, and Staff Positions
Taxes & Freelance Finances 101
Building Your Personal Brand as a Writer
Level 5 Final Test

Level 6: Capstone – Real Publication

The Capstone Project: From Course to Byline
Assembling Your Submission-Ready Portfolio
Executing Your Pitch and Handling Real Feedback
Your First Byline: What Comes Next
Level 6 Final Test

Level 7: Journalism Fundamentals & Professional Writing

Intro to Journalism
History of Journalism & Mass Media
Reporting & News Gathering
Journalism Ethics & Professional Standards
Fact-Checking & Source Verification
Media Law, Copyright & the First Amendment
Advanced News Writing
Investigative Journalism
Interviewing Techniques
Headlines, Leads & Story Structure
Long-Form Journalism
Copyediting & Proofreading

Level 8: Digital, Visual & Broadcast Journalism

Intro to Digital Journalism
Writing for Online Publications
Multimedia Journalism
Mobile Journalism
Digital Storytelling
Social Media Journalism
Breaking News & Live Coverage
Digital Audience Engagement
Photojournalism
Video Journalism & Production
Podcasting & Audio Journalism
Visual Storytelling & Graphic Design

Level 9: Advanced SEO & WordPress Publishing

On-Page SEO for Journalists
Writing SEO-Optimized Articles
Google Search, News & Discover
Technical SEO Fundamentals
Google Search Console & Analytics
Advanced Content Optimization
Intro to WordPress
Gutenberg Block Editor Training
Publishing Workflows & Editorial Calendars

Level 10: Specialized Journalism Beats

Sports Journalism
Entertainment Journalism
Political Journalism
Business & Financial Journalism
Science & Technology Journalism
Lifestyle & Culture Journalism
Health & Medical Journalism
Education Journalism

Level 11: Journalism Technology, AI & Data

AI Tools for Journalists
AI Research & Fact Verification
Data Journalism & Visualization
Digital Research Tools & Techniques
Automation in Digital Publishing

Level 12: Media Business & Editorial Leadership

How the Digital Publishing Industry Works
Online Advertising & Publisher Revenue
Understanding CPM, RPM & EPMV
Audience Development & Traffic Growth
Content Syndication & Distribution
Digital Publishing Business Models
Intro to Editorial Management
Managing Writers & Contributors
Editorial Quality Control
Newsroom Operations & Deadlines
Content Planning & Editorial Strategy

Level 13: Careers & Newsroom Practicum

Becoming a Professional Journalist
Freelance Journalism & Writing Careers
Journalism Resumes & Job Applications
Reporting & Writing Practicum
Digital Newsroom Internship