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Practical Journalism 3

  • Module code: JO6001
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 6
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: Successful completion of level 5 modules or equivalent
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

The module incorporates involvement in the production of the campus newspaper, The River, and its web-based version, River Online as well as undertaking a period of at least two weeks work experience within a media organisation working in a professional environment producing and practising journalism.
Each student will take on an editorial role on The River as well as contributing news and feature articles. Roles may vary, but will allow students to observe and participate in essential activities which contribute to producing real journalism. Teaching takes place in our dedicated newsroom, equipped with live news feeds, online content management system, and industry-standard software packages including Adobe InDesign and Photoshop.
The placement will typically be for two weeks, although students who show initiative in negotiating more substantial work experience may be allowed to extend this period.

Aims

  • To allow students to put into practice and develop further the range of skills and knowledge acquired in the course of their studies in the production of a campus newspaper or magazine or online newspaper and, through first hand experience of the realities of work in the field of professional journalism via a short period of work-based learning in a media organisation
  • To provide an opportunity for students to carry out work within a journalistic environment and reflect critically on that experience with a view to making informed decisions about future careers.
  • To offer students the opening to begin to build a portfolio of work, make professional contacts in preparation for employment and enable professional development and build up a range of transferable skills
  • To strengthen cohort identity and facilitate student contacts across all three levels of the degree course

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module students will be able to demonstrate:

  • A critical awareness of the constraints and pressures involved in producing journalism
  • The skills, discipline and attention to detail necessary to produce journalism in a real setting;
  • A critical understanding of the interaction of different editorial roles and functions needed to produce journalism;
  • The ability to use initiative in developing contacts and pursuing stories;
  • The ability to reflect critically on their own experience of practical journalism;
  • A range of transferable skills (including autonomous working, negotiating skills, teamwork, responsiveness to deadlines and time management)

Curriculum content

The module incorporates involvement in the production of a campus newspaper or website or magazine as well as a short period of work-based learning within a media organisation working in a professional environment producing and practising journalism.

For The River/RiverOnline, each student will take on an editorial role as well as contribute news and feature articles. Roles may vary, but will allow students to observe and participate in essential activities which contribute to producing real journalism.
The focus of the publications will be the university and its affairs but it will also reflect the neighbouring community and the general preoccupations of students. The publications will carry news, sport, cultural reporting, listings, lifestyle, features and advertising - all initiated, reported, written, edited and laid out by students using appropriate software. The publications will also provide an outlet for the best pieces of journalism produced by fellow students at Levels 4 and 5.

Some specific issues covered in the module will emerge from the day to day running of the newspaper or website or magazine. Core areas to be covered will include:

  • recognising news values and news hierarchies;
  • editorial management (rotas and production planning);
  • logistics (printing and distribution);
  • editorial freedom and its limitations;
  • use of design software and content management systems;
  • building communities and using social networks
  • search engine optimisation (SEO)

The placement will typically be for two weeks, although students who show initiative in negotiating more substantial work experience may be allowed to extend this period.

Roles and tasks undertaken during each placement may vary, but will allow students to observe and participate in essential activities which contribute to producing real journalism. Some of the key areas include:

  • the profile of the host organisation and its position within a wider context
  • the links between the placement and the course
  • the development of journalism related skills
  • the development of personal and transferable skills
  • the contribution of the placement to career development

Teaching and learning strategy

The module leader will act as editor-in-chief for the campus newspaper, website or magazine. She or he will appoint editorial and management teams (to serve in 4/5 week stints) and will provide guidance through weekly editorial meetings and workshops. Students will work with some supervision in the newsroom during their independent study time to produce the print and online publications.

Students will participate in briefing sessions before starting their period of work based learning. On return from the placement they will give a short presentation during the semester describing the experience and explaining what they have learned from it. Weekly seminars will explore reflective writing, work-based learning issues and career development.

Students will be supervised by a work placement tutor who, if possible, will visit during the placement. With the student's collaboration the placement tutor will draw up a work placement report which can be used to develop the work placement portfolio that forms the assessment. The placement provider will also be given the opportunity to appraise the student's work and this feedback will be made available.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching Seminars, workshops and news conference 55
Guided independent study Work experience, originating and producing publications, independent study for assessment 235
Total (number of credits x 10) 300

Assessment strategy

The assessment is designed to test students' ability to: reflect on their practical experience of journalism and operate within a multimedia environment; to make links between theory and practice and apply the skills necessary for journalism in a real setting by building a portfolio of real journalistic work.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
A critical awareness of the constraints and pressures involved in producing newspapers Formative assessment in the production of campus newspaper and work placement report; summative assessment in elements of the portfolios including critical self-appraisal of contribution, cuttings from The River or Riveronline; end-of-semester practical test; work-based learning presentation and reflective essay.
The skills, discipline and attention to detail necessary to produce journalism in a real setting Formative assessment in the production of campus newspaper and work placement report; summative assessment in elements of the portfolios including critical self-appraisal of contribution, cuttings from The River or Riveronline; end-of-semester practical test; work-based learning presentation and reflective essay.
A critical understanding of the interaction of different editorial roles and functions needed to produce journalism Summative assessment: Appraisal of contribution on The River and Riveronline. Reflective review and work placement presentation as part of portfolio
The ability to use initiative in developing contacts and pursuing stories Formative assessment in bringing ideas to editorial conferences. Summative assessment: Cuttings from The River or Riveronline. Work placement report and evidence of achievement in portfolio
The ability to reflect critically on their own experience of practical journalism; Summative assessment: appraisal of contribution on The River or Riveronline and of work experience. Reflective review and work placement presentation as part of portfolio
A range of transferable skills (including autonomous working, negotiating skills, teamwork, responsiveness to deadlines and time management) Formative assessment in working in the newsroom to produce campus newspaper. Summative assessment: Appraisal of contribution on The River or Riveronline; end-of-semester practical test; Work placement portfolio

Elements of Assessment

Description of Assessment Definitive UNISTATS Categories Percentage
Coursework Portfolio 70
Coursework Work placement portfolio 30
Total (to equal 100%) 100%

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography recommended reading

  • Frost, Chris, Reporting for Journalists, Routledge, 2010
  • Randall, David, The Universal Journalist, Pluto, 2011
  • Frost, Chris, Designing for Newspapers and Magazines, Routledge, 2011
  • Evans, Harold, Essential English: For Journalists, Editors and Writers, Pimlico, 2000
  • Bradshaw, Paul and Rohumaa, Liisa, The Online Journalism Handbook: Skills to Survive and Thrive in the Digital Age, Longman Practical Journalism Series, 2011
  • Banks, David and Hanna, Mark, McNae's Essential Law for Journalists, Oxford. 21st Edition, 2012
  • On reflection and reflective writing: Moon, J. (2000) Reflection in learning & professional development: theory and practice. (Routledge)
    Bolton, G. (2005) Reflective practice: writing and professional development. (Sage Publications)
    On work placement: Fanthome, Christine (2005) Work Placements – A Survival Guide for Students (Palgrave Macmillan)
    McKane, Anna (2004) Journalism: A Career Handbook (A & C Black)

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