JOU4026 - Essential Journalism 2

Objectives:

Assessment tasks are designed to enable students to demonstrate the Learning and Employability outcomes for the relevant level of study. Level Learning Outcomes are embedded in the assessment task(s) at that level. This enables a more integrated view of overall student performance at each level.

Content:

This module draws together the essential skills required by journalists and provides practical and theoretical opportunities for learning and application. There is an increasing focus on multimedia production in this module. The module includes the following:

Practical journalism strand: news and factual content writing, online presentation, SEO, social media, visual communication, radio, television mobile journalism, photography, interviewing, news sourcing and story development, audience analytics. There is also focus on live newsroom production. This strand includes delivery of required skills as determined by industry and accrediting bodies such as the NCTJ and BJTC. Sports Journalism students will be taught separately to the rest of the cohort for the majority of this strand, with specific sport-focus on their content production. Class numbers for the practical strand will be capped at 30, with broadcast elements capped at 15.

Theoretical journalism strand: this will include academic skills, including literature searching, citation and referencing, academic writing. This strand also introduces theoretical concepts and the role of journalism in society and aligns these perspectives with practical work, current media practice and journalistic role.

Professional strand: Students will be prepared for accessing and working within professional environments.

Assessment on this module will reflect the above elements within Portfolio 1.

Portfolio 2 will be an integrated assessment which assimilates strands to encourage a holistic approach to skills, theory and practice.

During the Professional Development Block at the end of Semester 2, students will complete a Professional Challenge Project or work placement.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Workshops
Hours: 60
Intended Group Size: Studio/technical sessions 15 students max or 30 with second tutor/technician to meet accreditation requirements.

Seminars
Hours: 15
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Professional Challenge project or work placement
Hours: 20 hours (minimum – Professional Challenge); 50 hours (minimum – Work Placement)
Intended Group Size: 1

Guided independent study: 505 (Professional Challenge)/475 (Work Placement)

Further details relating to assessment
Assessment portfolios will include components of all areas of teaching delivered.

MULTIMEDIA PORTFOLIO 1:
This may include but is not restricted to: Group and individual production tasks, multimedia and academic portfolio production and professional skills tasks. Further details will be included in the module handbook and can be viewed in the supplementary documents.

MULTIMEDIA PORTFOLIO 2:
The integrated assessment may include but is not restricted to: Live production project and professional presentation. Further details will be included in the module handbook and can be viewed in the supplementary documents.

PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE PROJECT / WORK PLACEMENT:
This module will culminate in a two-week Professional Challenge Project or a two-week work placement. Students will have the chance to opt which path they want to take during the course of the module. Guidance regarding the options will be included in the Module Handbook and supported by briefings at the beginning of Semester 2.

A pass in the Professional Challenge Project will be achieved through participation in key tasks throughout the project. A pass in the work placement will include input from the employer.

REFLECTIVE STATEMENT:
During the Professional Challenge Project or Placement, students will complete a Reflective Statement outlining their learning from the project /placement.

Students will have opportunities for formative assessment across the year, with feed-forward in class and, where appropriate, in writing. There will be opportunities for negotiated assessment during Multimedia Portfolio 1. For example, students will have a choice of project submission in the academic portfolio assessment.

Professional Challenge Project / Work Placement must be passed in line with University regulations.

Assessment:

001 Multimedia Portfolio 1; Equivalent to 4,000 words, Mid Sem 2 70%
002 Multimedia Portfolio 2, Equivalent to 2,000 words, End of Sem 2 20%
003 Professional challenge project (20hrs min) OR work placement (50hrs min); end of sem 2 prof development block; pass/fail %
004 Reflective statement; 1,500 words; end of semester 2 prof development block 10%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Beth Argent
Level - 4
Credit Value - 60
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4S2

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