Programme of Study Catalogue

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Identify appropriate sources and relevant angles for timely features for print magazines, online, TV, radio and digital media;
Demonstrate an ability to identify relevant sources and interview effectively, also identifying relevant information and direct quotes;
Produce the appropriate writing style, content and structure for magazine articles, online, TV & radio;
Work effectively in a team;
Demonstrate a basic competence in radio and television editorial production, location sound recording and editing.

Content:

Students will learn how to find, research and write magazine features in an appropriate style for different platforms. They will learn and practise interviewing skills. The sessions will be partly classroom-based in workshops but will include a lot of live reporting, and students will build a portfolio covering key skills. This module includes teamwork in the TV studio, video journalism, radio and digital skills. It culminates in a challenging news production project after Easter. There will be an ethos of preparing for the real-life world of work.

Learning and Teaching Information:

This module is taught via a series of interactive workshops which use innovative and creative teaching methods in order to foster student engagement and develop practical skills. We will use some formal taught material, discussion, real-life scenarios in class, practising writing from prepared and real-life material and using online and social media platforms. The focus is on student-centred practice, using a broad range of simulated and live news exercises which allow the cohort to use their practical skills in safe environment where they benefit from tutor feedback and mentoring on an on-going basis. Formative feedback will be a high priority throughout semesters 1 and 2.

News workshops / supervision
Hours: 80
Intended Group size: 25

Guided independent study
Hours: 220

Further details relating to assessment
Both portfolios will typically include a range of assessed classroom and live production tasks set throughout semester 1. Portfolio 1 will also include assessments set during Journalism Week.

Directed activities: these consist of weekly tasks that must be completed and submitted for inspection at timetabled sessions each week. The assessment will be assessed on a pass/fail basis with a pass requiring at least 75% of all weekly tasks to be completed successfully. A pass will lead to the full award of 10% towards the final module mark. A fail in directed activities will contribute 0% to the final mark.

Assessment:

001 Portfolio 1 equivalent to 4000 words during semester 1 & 2 45%
002 Directed Activities throughout semester 1 10%
003 Portfolio 2 equivalent to 4000 words during/end of semester 2 45%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - PRS_CODE=
Level - 4
Credit Value - 40
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL