JOU7063 - Live Production

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to fulfil the key roles and team co-ordination integral to the efficient operation of a multimedia newsroom.
Deploy core journalism and technical skills in the creation and transmission of audio, audio-visual and text-based materials.
Demonstrate an understanding of publishing content to various platforms and in harnessing social media.
Utilise all the skills and knowledge acquired in the News Skills, Public Affairs and Law, Ethics and Regulation modules.

Content:

A mixture of online, radio and TV multimedia newsdays, where the students produce material to a professional standard in a live environment that mirrors a professional newsroom. Newsdays include live radio output, live TV and production on a live website. Students are expected to produce content for multimedia and/or social media on all newsdays.

Some newsdays may be used as production days to prepare, for example, a TV programme for the following day.

Students will cover:
Establishing news values and audience profiles; generating story leads; news recognition; news prioritising; establishment of treatment of stories and potential stories; recognising ethical issues and other aspects of professional conduct; creating a running order and constructing news bulletins; working to deadlines; briefings; conventions of construction and presentation of news material specific to audio, video and text; team working and team leadership; use of content management systems; headline writing and search engine optimisation skills.

They will also consolidate their skills in: News writing for multiple platforms; writing to pictures; interviewing; producing news packages; editing, wrapping and cueing of audio and video material; news reading and live presentation; sound recording and sound effects; driving a radio desk; working to deadlines; timings; voice work; handling photographs and writing picture captions; video journalism and video editing, including mobile journalism.

In preparation for news days, students will receive formative feedback.

Students are required to fulfil a number of roles over the course of the newsdays including radio & TV production, website editing, presentation and reporting.

Each student will also be given voice coaching in a mixture of group and individual sessions.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Series of instructional and practical workshops where students undertake formative exercises for broadcast newsgathering, reporting, editing and studio presenting. The module culminates in a series of newsdays (minimum of 15 to meet accreditation requirements) where students run their own newsroom under tutor supervision producing TV and radio bulletins to deadline and publishing to online and social media platforms.

Workshops
Contact hours: 98
Intended Group size: 15

Newdays
Contact hours: 175
Intended Group size: 15

Voice coaching
Contact hours: 2
Intended Group size: Cohort plus individual

Guided Independent Study
Contact hours: 25

Further details relating to assessment
The portfolio may consist of six production artefacts, each of 1,000-word equivalent. These should include at least one radio package, one TV package, one social short and one online piece that demonstrates multi-faceted online story treatments. The other artefacts could include other packages/online pieces or alternative treatments – for example, a live report, a studio discussion, a podcast. Artefacts already submitted for the News Skills module must not be included. Students undertake formative exercises in class to help prepare for their assessment.

Newsday performance is assessed by lecturers, who give each student a grade based on their general contribution to newsdays including teamwork, commitment and their performance in the various newsroom roles.

Please see Module Handbook for full details.

Assessment:

001 Portfolio; 6,000 words; throughout semester 1 & 2 70%
002 Newsday performance; assessed during 300 hours of newsdays; throughout semester 1 & 2 30%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Katherine Blair
Level - 7
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 7PGS2

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