Journalism: How it works and How to do it in your Community
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
For people who want to understand what they are being told by the media and why they are being told it, this course offers the opportunity to explore how news is chosen, shaped and presented. Students will then be shown how to structure news and features, how to write them and finally how to establish a simple web platform to create their own blogs and newsletters. This is a chance to find a voice, and to use it.
Sessions 1 to 4 cover HOW IT WORKS
Session 1
- Introduction and Administration housekeeping
- Establishing concepts of journalism, what it could be and how it’s viewed.
Session 2
- Examination of how news is filtered, and what makes news and what doesn’t.
- Examination of political economy and the commercial imperative of news.
- Discussion of first portfolio entries.
Session 3
- Examination of background and use of PR and news sources
- Examination of citizen journalism
- Discussion of next portfolio entries.
Session 4
- Examination of how images are used in news – anchoring meaning
- Examination of how language is used – lexical choices
- Discussion of next portfolio entries.
Sessions 5 to 9 cover HOW TO DO IT
Session 5
- Discussion about constructing our own model of journalism.
- Examination of the structures that turn information into news.
- Discussion of next portfolio entries.
Session 6
- Discussion about locally sourced news stories.
- Practical writing session/ sub-editing and critique
Session 7
- Examination of techniques and formats of features and how to pitch ideas
- Practical writing session/ sub-editing and critique.
- Discussion of next portfolio entries.
Session 8
- Establishing of web platform.
- Population of web platform
Session 9
- Continue populating web platform.
- Show and tell of portfolios before they are submitted ( optional)
- Reminder of principles of responsible journalism.
- Questions and wrap up
Who is this course for?
Anyone with an interest in the topic. This course will examine compelling themes within modern journalism and will suggest a model for local news and feature writing. Within this principled framework as a guide, students will learn how to structure, write and offer their work for publication, as well as examining possibilities to self-publish on easy-to-establish web platforms.
Learning and Teaching
Learning and teaching are undertaken by means of small group work. The course will be delivered by slideshow presentations which will provide the basis for group discussions and practical tasks which include identifying examples of the discussed themes within real newspapers. The final section of the course will involve online practical workshops.
Coursework and Assessment
To award credits we need to have evidence of the knowledge and skills you have gained or improved. Some of this has to be in a form that can be shown to external examiners so that we can be absolutely sure that standards are met across all courses and subjects.
There will be no formal examinations. The basis of assessment is flexible, but will usually take the form of a portfolio of coursework (totalling approx. 1000 words), which typically consists of a collection of news clippings and justifying explanations.
Your work will be assessed by your tutor, who will offer you written feedback which we hope you will find constructive. The most important element of assessment is that it should enhance your learning. Our methods are flexible and are designed to increase your confidence and we try very hard to devise ways of assessing you that are enjoyable and suitable for adults with busy lives.
Reading suggestions
The tutor will recommend books, articles and web sources.
Library and Computing Facilities
As a student on this course you are entitled to join and use the University library and computing facilities. You can find out more about these facilities on our website www.cf.ac.uk/learn under Student Information, or by ringing the Centre on
(029) 2087 0000.
Accessibility of Courses
Our aim is access for all. We aim to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long term medical condition, disability or specific learning difficulty. We are able to offer one-to-one advice about disability, pre-enrolment visits, liaison with tutors and co-ordinating lecturers, material in alternative formats, arrangements for accessible courses, assessment arrangements, loan equipment and Dyslexia screening. Please contact the Centre on (029) 2087 0000 for an information leaflet.
Further Information
A range of further information can be found on our web site www.cf.ac.uk/learn or in Choices. This includes the times and dates of courses and an explanation of accreditation and credit levels.