JOU7173 - News Skills

Objectives:

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

1 - Demonstrate competency in researching and gathering information as well as critically evaluating news values, agendas and sources
2 - Demonstrate proficiency in the journalistic and technical skills required for producing and disseminating output on multiple platforms, including mobile journalism
3 - Demonstrate proficiency in accessing and processing information from social media and emerging platforms as well as in producing content for them
4 - Utilise a range of techniques to target specific audiences on different platforms and use analytical techniques to evaluate impact
5 - Demonstrate competency in accurate and comprehensive note-taking.

Content:

This module uses interactive workshops and formative exercises to introduce students to the full suite of reporting skills across a range of platforms including the following:

spotting a news story or angle; constructing the news agenda and sourcing original stories; researching; cultivating news sources; interviewing skills; analysing complex information including for datajournalism; utilising social media for publication and for newsgathering including verification; telling a story with words, pictures, video and audio to deadline; house styles; targeting audiences and evaluating impact (analytics); shorthand.

The module also prepares students for parts of the NCTJ Diploma (Essential Journalism, Shorthand.)

Learning and Teaching Information:

A series of practical workshops across Term 1 offering instruction and formative exercises to develop skills and knowledge in producing journalism across a range of platforms. Students also undertake a number of newsday-style workshops for assessment where they produce original content to deadline at the end of Term 1.

Shorthand classes take place across Terms 1 & 2.

Workshops
Contact Hours: 70
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Shorthand Classes
Hours: 180
Intended Group Size: Cohort plus BA students

Guided independent study
Hours: 50

Further details relating to assessment

The portfolio will consist of a number of multimedia news stories (including text, images and video) and social media outputs which may be sourced at Journalism & Media Week and during Mojo week. Students will undertake formative exercises in class and receive feedback to help them improve. Tutor feedforward from Journalism & Media Week will also enable students to put points of improvement into practice during their Mojo week assessment.

The shorthand 60wpm test is assessed on a Pass / Fail basis.

Please see Module Handbook for full details.

Assessment:

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

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Andrew Glover
Level - 7
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 7PGYL

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