How a feature differs from a news story and where feature ideas come from. Structuring lengthy pieces so they read coherently and hold the reader's interest. Writing reviews and opinion columns. Investigative reporting: following leads, 'standing up’ a difficult story; handling ‘off the record’ and ‘non’ attributable’ material; protecting sources. Taking a news story and re-writing it for another medium, adding sound, pictures, links and interactive comments. Following a crime story/court trial through the press/TV/online. Turning the contents of official reports into news and feature articles. Textual analysis of the writing styles of groundbreaking journalists. Study of common journalism transgressions.
Total Contact Hours: 88
Private Study Hours: 212
Total Study Hours: 300
BA (Hons) Journalism – compulsory module
Main assessment methods
Data journalism story – 25%
Essay (3,000 words) – 25%
Feature (2,000 words) - 25%
Timed newswriting test (45 minutes) – 25%
Reassessment methods
Like-for-like
Bernstein, C and Woodward, B (2005), All The President's Men. London: Bloomsbury
Brooke, H (2006), Your Right to Know, London: Pluto
Randall, D (2021), The Universal Journalist, London: Pluto, 6th ed
Cameron, J (1967), Point of Departure. London: Panther Books
PIlger, J (2005), Tell Me No Lies. London: Vintage Books
Thompson, H S. (1967), Hell's Angels. New York, NY: Ballantine Books
Wolfe, T (1975), The New Journalism, London: Picador
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. Continually reinforce and apply advanced reporting and writing with specific focus on the requirements of the industry and professional
training bodies
2. Understand the differences between news stories, features, opinion columns and reviews and be able to write any of these whilst applying
principles of accuracy and fairness.
3. Understand the basic principles of investigative reporting, including thorough research, following leads to a conclusion and treating
statements by vested interests with due scepticism.
4. Use a single reporting foray to supply more than one outlet, such as text, radio, TV or internet.
5. Apply media law and ethics theory in their reporting.
6. Show awareness of major milestones in recent reporting history and critically engage with the skills employed and the impact achieved.
7. Apply shorthand skills to real news situations.
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. Consider and evaluate their work with reference to professional standards
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