New AI prompting course for writers and editors launches
The College of Media and Publishing has launched a new AI prompting course for writers and editors, designed to help people use leading artificial intelligence tools with greater confidence, control and professional judgement.
AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity can support research, planning, writing and editing. However, their usefulness depends heavily on the instructions they receive. Unclear or incomplete prompts can produce inaccurate, generic or unsuitable results.
Our new short course teaches you how to write stronger prompts, evaluate AI-generated content and use AI responsibly within professional writing, editing and publishing workflows.
View the AI prompting for writers and editors course
What is AI prompting?
AI prompting is the process of giving an artificial intelligence tool clear instructions about what you want it to do.
An effective prompt normally explains the task, provides relevant context and sets appropriate constraints. It may also specify the intended audience, tone, format, length or purpose of the response.
For example, asking an AI tool to “write an article about proofreading” gives it very little direction. A stronger prompt would explain who the article is for, what it should achieve, which points it should cover and how the final content should be structured.
Better prompts can help you receive more focused and useful responses. However, prompting is not simply about finding a perfect sequence of words. It also involves reviewing the output, checking facts, identifying weaknesses and applying your own knowledge and professional judgement.
Why have we launched an AI prompting course?
AI is changing how people approach research, writing, editing and content production.
Writers can use AI to explore ideas, create outlines and adapt content for different audiences. Editors and proofreaders can use it to examine structure, clarity and consistency. Marketing and communications professionals can use it to support planning and content development.
Despite these opportunities, AI also presents risks. It can invent information, misrepresent sources, introduce bias and produce confident responses that are factually incorrect. Uploading sensitive information can also create confidentiality and data-protection concerns.
Our course therefore focuses on both effective prompting and responsible professional use. It is designed to help you work more efficiently without handing over your judgement, expertise or individual voice to an AI tool.
What does the AI prompting course include?
The course contains six concise video lessons, supported by practical activities and examples.
It takes approximately three to five hours to complete, depending on the time you spend working through the activities and experimenting with the techniques.
You can study entirely at your own pace and return to the material whenever you need a refresher.
Lesson 1: Understanding AI prompting
The first lesson introduces generative AI and explains how AI tools respond to prompts.
You will learn:
- How generative AI tools work.
- What makes a prompt effective.
- Why the quality of an instruction affects the quality of the response.
- Why AI output must still be reviewed critically.
This lesson provides the foundation for the practical prompting techniques covered throughout the course.
Lesson 2: Writing effective prompts
The second lesson explores the essential ingredients of a strong prompt.
You will learn how to:
- Give an AI tool clear instructions.
- Provide relevant context.
- Set useful constraints.
- Specify an audience, purpose, format and tone.
- Identify and improve weak prompts.
You will also see how relatively small changes can make an AI-generated response more focused and useful.
Lesson 3: AI for research and ideas
AI can be useful during the early stages of a writing project, but it should not be treated as an unquestionable source of information.
This lesson shows you how to:
- Research topics and explore ideas.
- Generate potential angles and questions.
- Organise early research.
- Check sources, claims and AI-generated information.
- Recognise when further independent research is required.
The emphasis is on using AI as a starting point while retaining responsibility for accuracy.
Lesson 4: AI for writers
The fourth lesson focuses on practical ways writers can incorporate AI into their workflows.
You will learn how to use AI to:
- Develop outlines and content structures.
- Generate and compare headline ideas.
- Produce material for a first draft.
- Adapt content for different audiences.
- Change the format or tone of existing material.
The lesson also explains why writers should remain closely involved in the process rather than relying on unedited AI-generated copy.
Lesson 5: AI for editors and proofreaders
AI can help editors and proofreaders review content, but its suggestions are not always correct or appropriate.
This lesson shows you how to:
- Review and improve written content.
- Identify potential errors and inconsistencies.
- Examine clarity, structure and readability.
- Preserve the writer’s intended meaning.
- Avoid replacing an individual voice with generic AI-generated language.
You will learn to treat AI suggestions as material to evaluate rather than changes that should automatically be accepted.
Lesson 6: Responsible professional use
The final lesson examines the risks and responsibilities involved in using AI professionally.
It covers:
- Protecting confidential and sensitive information.
- Checking accuracy and factual claims.
- Recognising potential bias.
- Understanding copyright considerations.
- Retaining human oversight and professional judgement.
These principles are particularly important for anyone using AI with client, employer or commercially sensitive material.
A practical downloadable prompt guide
Everyone who enrols will also receive an in-depth downloadable prompt guide.
The guide contains practical templates and examples that you can adapt when using AI for research, planning, writing and editing. It is designed to remain useful after you have completed the videos, giving you a reference document to consult whenever you need to structure a prompt.
Rather than memorising individual prompts, you will be able to use the guide to understand what information an effective instruction should contain.
Receive a personalised CMP Diploma
At the end of the course, you will complete a short online quiz.
After successfully completing it, you can download your personalised CMP Diploma in AI Prompting for Writers and Editors.
The diploma provides evidence that you have completed the training and developed practical skills in using AI tools for research, writing and editing. You can add it to your CV, professional portfolio or social media profiles.
CMP is registered on the UK Register of Learning Providers under UKRLP number 10008168, and the course is accredited by the European Association for Distance Learning.
Who is the course for?
The course is suitable for:
- Writers who want to use AI more effectively.
- Editors and proofreaders looking to improve their workflows.
- Publishing and communications professionals.
- Content creators and marketing professionals.
- Businesses introducing AI into their content processes.
- Anyone who wants to develop practical AI prompting skills.
You do not need previous experience of all four AI tools. The techniques taught can be applied across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity, as well as other generative AI platforms.
Take it independently or add it to another course
The AI prompting course can be taken as a standalone short course.
It can also be used as a practical bolt-on to one of our tutor-supported writing, editing or marketing courses.
For example, a copywriting student could use the prompting techniques to support research, planning and content development. A proofreading student could explore how AI assists with reviewing text while learning why human judgement remains essential. Marketing students could use the techniques to develop ideas and adapt messages for different platforms and audiences.
Unlike our longer tutor-supported courses, this short course is fully self-directed. It does not include assignments or tutor support.
Flexible, self-paced online study
There are no fixed lesson times or deadlines. You can work through the six videos whenever it suits you and revisit the material when required.
To take part, you will need:
- A computer, tablet or similar device.
- Internet access.
- An email account.
- An account with at least one AI tool.
- Microsoft Word or an equivalent program, such as OpenOffice or Apple Pages.
The course is suitable for people who are completely new to AI as well as those who already use it but want a clearer and more reliable approach.
AI training for businesses and teams
The course can also provide accessible introductory AI training for writers, editors, communications teams and other employees involved in producing content.
Organisations including BT, John Lewis, the Ministry of Defence, local councils and charities have previously chosen CMP to train individual staff members and teams.
Businesses interested in enrolling several employees can contact CMP to discuss their requirements.
Launch offer: save 20%
The usual course price is £99.95.
As part of the launch offer, you can enrol for £79.96 using discount code LAUNCH20 at checkout.
The launch offer ends at 11pm on 1 October 2026.
View the course and enrol online
The course is covered by CMP’s 14-day money-back guarantee. For this self-study course, the guarantee applies provided that no more than 25% of the course content has been accessed and a CMP diploma has not been issued.
Frequently asked questions
What is the AI prompting for writers and editors course?
It is a short online video course that teaches you how to write effective prompts and use AI for research, planning, writing and editing. It also covers accuracy, confidentiality, copyright, bias and responsible professional use.
Which AI tools does the course cover?
The course refers to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity. However, many of the prompting principles can also be applied to other generative AI tools.
How many lessons are included?
The course contains six concise video lessons with practical activities and examples.
How long does the course take?
Most learners should allow approximately three to five hours. The exact time will depend on how long you spend completing the activities and experimenting with the prompts.
Do I need previous experience of AI?
No. The course is suitable for beginners as well as people who already use AI and want to improve their prompting skills.
Is the course tutor-supported?
No. This is a self-directed course with no tutor support or tutor-marked assignments.
Can I study at my own pace?
Yes. There are no fixed lesson times, and you can return to the material whenever you need to refresh your knowledge.
Does the course include practical resources?
Yes. You will receive a downloadable prompt guide containing practical templates and examples to use during and after the course.
Will I receive a diploma?
Yes. After completing the course and passing the short online quiz, you can download your personalised CMP Diploma in AI Prompting for Writers and Editors.
Can I add the course to another CMP programme?
Yes. You can take it independently or use it as a practical bolt-on to one of CMP’s tutor-supported writing, editing or marketing courses.
How much does the course cost?
The usual price is £99.95. Until 11pm on 1 October 2026, you can enrol for £79.96 using code LAUNCH20.
Start developing practical AI skills
Effective AI use is not about letting technology make professional decisions for you. It is about giving tools clearer instructions, assessing their responses critically and applying your own knowledge to the final result.
Our new AI prompting course for writers and editors will help you build practical workflows that support your work while protecting accuracy, confidentiality and individual judgement.
