At a two-part masterclass in December, Westminster and Harris Westminster Sixth Form pupils learned key aspects of journalism from Darius Sanai (OW1986), with the aim of putting what they learned into practice, by taking part in a collaborative project of continued masterclasses to produce a professional magazine.

Darius, Editor in Chief at Condé Nast International, the home of Vogue, owner of both LUX magazine and Oxford Review of Books, and former foreign correspondent, gave the keen young writers and editors a detailed look at today’s publishing world, covering everything from ‘What constitutes journalism, and what forms does it take’, to ‘How does the media make money?’, and ‘What is the role of media today?’. He spoke of his career journey from launching his first magazine while at Oxford University (after starting his writing career on Westminster’s own pupil magazine ‘The Elizabethan’!); being a foreign correspondent during Nelson Mandela’s transition to power in South Africa; his responsibility for launching more than 40 magazines around the world for the pre-eminent glossy magazine publisher, including Vogue Hong Kong; becoming a media proprietor himself; and of the key lessons he has learned along the way.

Drawing on his earliest experiences as a journalist, he spoke of his time reporting on Apartheid in South Africa, where he witnessed a mass murder. A more experienced reporter on the scene repeatedly asked bystanders the same ‘what happened?’ question over and over, a repetition he would later come to understand when he read the official story and that the version of events offered by various witnesses was actually incorrect. It was at this time that he grasped the main responsibility of a journalist, to probe, and not to assume, to avoid spreading fake news. Talking in more detail about objectivity in news writing, Darius explained the need for views that may be at odds to what the reporter may hold in order to get the full picture – while this can be challenging for an individual, it is entirely necessary for a good journalist.

Responding to questions from their speaker, the session addressed the shift from print to digital, and the difficulties this has caused. Brainstorming the range of publications available today, from old-school broadsheets to glossy lifestyle magazines, discussion led to how publications stay afloat in a competitive market: by introducing entirely new revenue streams alongside the traditional commercial model, creating mixed-media and retail models, in response to user preferences.

Moving from creating new and engaging content, Darius then delved into the art of journalism. As well as speaking about individual tricks of the trade such as writing ‘digestible chunks’ of text and using enticing visuals, he also reflected on the key differences in writing for news and writing for lifestyle and luxury brand magazines: while the former is primarily about reporting facts, the latter is about setting trends and inspiring. The group was asked to consider the interesting reality that with these two streams of journalism come two entirely opposite relationships with public relations teams: with investigative journalism, PR teams are often there as a preventative measure, to stop or to manage the publication of a story; in contrast PR teams actively want to work with fashion or lifestyle journalists, to promote the brand and people they represent.

After an in-depth look at the world of journalism, Darius introduced Harris pupil, Mia, who had taken part in the same project in 2022, helping to produce The Young Metropolitan, and who wanted to encourage the group to enrol for this year’s venture. Adhering to deadlines set by Darius and attending a series of workshops to help hone their skills, all those involved would be expected to produce their own content for the publication and to work together to finalise and edit the product as a whole. Several of last year’s participants have since been offered internships; this opportunity is undoubtedly a fantastic one for inspiring young journalists.

Westminster pupil, Anjola (Sixth Form, RR) said: “In a rapidly developing, technologically advanced world, media still remains one of the most influential tools in general public’s perception and understanding of the world. However, we rarely consider what goes on behind the scenes to take something from the newsroom to the front pages of popular newspapers and magazines. Being able to attend Darius Sanai’s masterclasses was an illuminating experience on how to get into the journalism industry, what is considered as media and how traditional forms of media have had to adapt and cope with the increasing use of social media. Being able to attend these masterclasses with Harris Westminster pupils was a great opportunity to discuss the topics and issues raised with other pupils.”

Darius Sanai has launched more than 40 magazines internationally for Condé Nast, the owner of Vogue, Vanity Fair and GQ, most recently Vogue Hong Kong in 2019. He is owner of LUX magazine and media, the Oxford Review of Books, and advisory firm Quartet Consulting, and a former foreign correspondent for national newspapers and the BBC. Born in Iran, he wrote his first online article while a pupil at Westminster School and launched his first magazine while studying PPE at Oxford.