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Practical Journalism 2

  • Module code: JO5001
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 5
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: Successful completion of level 4 Journalism requirements or equivalent
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

This is a core module taken by both all second year journalism students. It aims to expand, develop and hone the print and online skills acquired in Practical Journalism 1. The module will also explore how journalism is shaped by the legal and regulatory context in which it is practised. Students will focus on story development, writing and editing in print and online, layout and page design, and video story-telling. They will also learn Teeline shorthand, aiming to reach a speed of 60-100 wpm. They will acquire a working knowledge of libel, contempt and privacy law as well as court reporting skills. 

Aims

  • To develop and expand students' print and online journalism skills
  • To place journalism practice within a legal and regulatory context
  • To give students a working knowledge of laws relating to reporting such as defamation and contempt of court
  • To enable students to take reliable verbatim shorthand notes for use in written journalism.

Learning outcomes

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

  • Originate, research and develop news stories and write succinctly, captivatingly and accurately to a deadline
  • Edit in print and online and design and layout attractive pages
  • Produce a video news story
  • Make an accurate Teeline shorthand note at 70-100 words per minute and transcribe it reliably
  • Engage with key debates about the regulatory and legal landscape in which journalism is practised
  • Use their understanding of the law to produce safe and accurate court reports

Curriculum content

  • No more half-baked news stories: researching and developing your stories properly
  • Editing your own and others' copy
  • Introduction to InDesign and page design principles
  • Live blogging the budget
  • How to use video to tell your story
  • The development of media law: the balance between protection of individuals and press freedom
  • Applying libel, contempt and privacy laws to a journalist's work
  • The impact of the internet and social media on traditional medial law
  • Writing interesting, accurate and legally safe court reports
  • An introduction to Teeline outlines

Teaching and learning strategy

The module will be delivered though weekly lectures, workshops and seminars. Lectures are designed to introduce students to the key features of particular topics while seminars allow ideas to be explored in more depth. Workshops will allow students to develop journalistic skills such as news writing, video making and shorthand note taking supported by formative feedback from workshop leaders.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching TB1 - one-hour lecture and two-hour workshop (news writing) 3x11 Two- hour workshop (Teeline) 2x11 (55 hours TOTAL FOR TB1) TB2 - one-hour lecture, one-hour seminar (law) - first seven weeks 2x7 = 14 One hour lecture and two hour workshop (court reporting) - final four weeks 3x4 = 12 4.5-hour workshop (Teeline) 4.5x11 = 49.5 Plus 5x2hours for video story telling = 10 TOTAL for TB1 - 55 TOTAL for TB2 - 85.5 140.5
Guided independent study 159.5
Total (number of credits x 10) 300

Assessment strategy

Summative assessment is through 1. a portfolio of news writing  2. Law exam 3. In-class shorthand tests 

Formative assessment will be delivered in the weekly writing, skills and Teeline workshops and in law seminars. The portfolio of news is put together across the two semesters with plenty of opportunity for feedback from one piece of journalism to improve later pieces.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
Originate, research and develop news reports and features and write succinctly, captivatingly and accurately to a deadline Formative assessment in workshops, summative assessment in portfolio of journalism
Edit in print and online and design and layout attractive pages Formative assessment in workshops, summative assessment in portfolio of journalism
Produce a video news story Formative assessment in workshops, summative assessment in portfolio of journalism
Make an accurate Teeline shorthand note at 70-100 words per minute and transcribe it reliably. Formative assessment in workshops, summative assessment in exams
Engage with key debates about the regulatory and legal landscape in which journalism is practised Formative assessment in seminars and summative assessment in exam
Use their understanding of the law to produce safe and accurate court reports Formative assessment in workshops and summative assessment in portfolio of journalism

Elements of Assessment

Description of Assessment Definitive UNISTATS Categories Percentage
Written exam Written examination 30
PRC In-class short-hand test 20
Coursework Coursework 50
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 core texts

Dix, A (1990) Teeline Fast (Heinemann Educational)

Hanna, M and Dodd, M (eds) (2014) McNae's Essential Law for Journalists (Oxford University Press)

Hicks, W. et al (2013), Writing for Journalists (London: Routledge)

Bibliography recommended reading

Adams, S. & Hicks, W. (2009) Interviewing for Journalists (London: Routledge)

Bradshaw, P & Rohumaa, L (2011)  The Online Journalism Handbook: Skills to Survive and Thrive in the Digital Age (Longman Practical Journalism Series)

Frost, C (2010) Reporting for journalists (London: Routledge)

Hill, S and Lashmar, P (2014) Online Journalism: The Essential Guide (London:Sage)

Johnston, D (2006) Teeline for Journalists Heinemann Educational

Randall, D. (2011) The Universal Journalist (London: Pluto Press)

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