Students will learn to identify what makes a story, develop newsgathering techniques to draw information from a range of sources and hone their writing skills to produce clean, accurate copy to a deadline. Students will consider how journalists should conduct themselves in public with reference to the Independent Press Standards Organisation code and other professional standards. Students will learn the difference between hard news, comment and features and be able to produce work for a range of outlets and audiences. This module will also prepare students to pass the National Council for the Training of Journalists' professional exams in reporting and journalism ethics.
Total contact hours: 144
Private Study Hours: 306
Total Study Hours: 450
Year in Journalism – compulsory module
Main assessment methods
1 x Timed newswriting test (45 mins) 25%
1 x Journalism portfolio (2,500 words) 75% - PASS COMPULSORY
Reassessment methods
Like for like
Harcup T (2011), Journalism Principles and Practice, Sage Publications
Hicks W et al (2008), Writing for Journalists, Routledge
Marr A (2005), My Trade, Pan
Randall D (2011), The Universal Journalist, Pluto Books
Reeves I (2014), The Newspapers Handbook, 5th ed, Routledge
Smith J (2010), Essential Reporting, Sage Publications
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) Show a thorough understanding of different forms of journalism and a critical awareness of how they are practiced professionally alongside the principles of accuracy and fairness
2) Produce publishable news reports and features for publication in print and online with reference to professional ethics and standards
3) Understand the principles of investigative reporting including thorough research, following leads to a conclusion and treating statements by vested interests with due scepticism
4) Be able to evaluate current newsgathering and reporting techniques used in professional newsrooms and develop critiques of them
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1) Exercise initiative and personal responsibility in gathering, organising and deploying information
2) Make informed decisions and demonstrate self-direction in coping with complex and unpredictable situations
3) Consider and evaluate their work with reference to professional standards and develop critiques accordingly
4) Use information technology to complete a range of tasks to a set brief and deadline
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