JOU7013 - News Skills (Magazine and Online)

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of and critically evaluate news values and news agendas
Identify and critically evaluate news and sources
Develop working relationships with sources
Demonstrate competences in researching, evaluating and gathering information
Demonstrate proficiency in news delivery on multimedia platforms
Demonstrate proficiency in accessing and processing information via online, social media and content management platforms
Demonstrate 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; 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.

Learning and Teaching Information:

A summary statement of learning and teaching methods used and the time allocated to each Interactive workshops, group and individual exercises either at university or at workstations outside of the university; group and individual feedback sessions.

Workshops,br> Contact hours: 50
Intended group size: Cohort

Tutorials
Contact hours: 5
Intended group size: 1

Shorthand
Contact hours: 180
Intended group size: Cohort

Guided independent learning
Hours: 65

Further details relating to assessment
The portfolio consists of a multimedia news story and series of related tweets sourced at Journalism Week (50 per cent) and a self-directed multimedia news story and series of related tweets sourced during MOJO week (50 per cent).
The shorthand exam is assessed on a Pass / Fail basis but students must achieve a minimum of 50wpm in order to achieve a pass. Trainees must achieve a pass in both elements of assessment 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: