What is news? Which sources are trustworthy? Writing news reports and the inverted pyramid. Reporting court cases and council meetings. Working off-diary. Distinction between comment, conjecture and fact. Public interest.
Total Contact Hours: 156
Private Study Hours: 294
Total Study Hours: 450
BA (Hons) Journalism
Main assessment methods
Coursework - Timed Writing 1 –15%
Coursework - Timed Writing 2 –30%
Coursework - Portfolio – 30%
Examination –25%
Reassessment methods
Like-for-like
Harcup T (2009), Journalism Principles and Practice, Sage Publications
Harris G and Spark D (2010), Practical Newspaper Reporting, 3rd rev ed, Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd
Harrison J (2005), News, Routledge
Reeves, I, and Keeble R (2014), The Newspapers Handbook, Routledge
Hanna, M (2016), McNae's Essential Law for Journalists, 23rd edition, OUP
See the library reading list for this module (Medway)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Understand key processes, principles and skills involved in writing for publication in print and online
2. Understand what a news story is and why different news providers treat them in different ways
3. Apply news reporting skills within editorial deadlines
4. Understand the concepts of bias and spin and apply the skills required to produce fair, comprehensive and balanced news reporting
5. Read widely within the genre of news in recent and contemporary newspapers and online
6. Acquire writing, research and shorthand note-taking skills and experiment in deploying them in the coverage of news stories
7. Learn to make every word count in the writing of tight, accurate copy to deadline
8. Understand how to apply different research and writing techniques and how to evaluate their applicability
9. Understand the law concerning privilege and the importance of accurate, contemporaneous note taking
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Gather, organise and deploy information in order to formulate arguments coherently and communicate them fluently
2. Work to deadlines in flexible and innovative ways showing self-direction and self-discipline
3. Work productively in a group or team showing abilities to contribute or to lead
4. Consider and evaluate their work with reference to professional standards
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