JOU7173 - News Skills (Print and Digital)

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

Demonstrate competences in researching, evaluating and gathering information as well as critically evaluating news values, agendas and sources.
Demonstrate proficiency in the journalistic and technical skills required for delivery on multiple platforms.
Demonstrate proficiency in accessing and processing information from social media and emerging platforms as well as in producing content for them.
Demonstrate awareness of the importance of utilising their voices for broadcast.
Demonstrate awareness proficiency in accurate and comprehensive note-taking.

Content:

This module uses interactive workshops and news exercises to cover the following: Spotting a news story or angle; prioritising news items and constructing the news agenda; researching; cultivating news sources; analysing complex information; utilising social media; teamwork and organisation of the news production process; telling a story with words, pictures, video and audio by deadline; critically evaluating and being able to construct alternative narrative structures; story genre; house styles; delivering to target audiences; interviewing skills; accurate and comprehensive note-taking; video and audio skills. It also includes shorthand.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Interactive workshops, group and individual exercises either at university or at workstations outside of the university; group and individual feedback sessions.

Workshops
Contact Hours: 70
Intended Group Size: full cohort

Tutorials (individual)
Contact Hours: 5
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Shorthand tuition
Hours: 180
Intended Group Size: full cohort plus BA students

Guided independent study
Hours: 45

Further details relating to assessment
The portfolio consists of a multimedia news story and series of related tweets sourced at Journalism Week (50%) and a self-directed multimedia news story and series of related tweets sourced during MOJO week (50%.) Students are expected to produce a written element to their multimedia story plus a piece of audio or video.

The shorthand exam is assessed on a Pass / Fail basis, with students reaching a minimum of 60wpm, in an in-house test, in order to achieve a pass and the same word count in the NCTJ test to qualify for NCTJ Diploma.

Students must achieve a pass in both the portfolio and shorthand in order to pass the module overall.

Other relevant matters
The substance and assessment of this module is influenced by the requirements of the industry accreditation bodies, the National Council for the Training of Journalists and the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.

Assessment:

001 Portfolio; artefacts & related activity; end of semester 1 100%
002 Shorthand; 60wpm min; pass/fail; end of semester 2 0%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Jennifer Kean
Level - 7
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 7PGS1S7PGYL

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