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2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

COMM1305 Introduction to Journalism

20 creditsClass Size: 45

Module manager: Ms Kate Watkins
Email: k.watkins@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

Module replaces

COMM1300 Basic Journalism.

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module provides a practical introduction to journalism. It aims to foster regular and critical habits of news engagement and to make students aware of the main characteristics of different kinds of news output. By the end of the module students will be able to explain key journalistic concepts and engage critically with them and produce their own news content.

Objectives

The module introduces students to some key journalistic concepts, conventions and practices. In addition the module seeks to expose students to a wide range of news media and to build a familiarity with news content. Students will also develop practical skills in recording audio and news writing.

Learning outcomes
At the end of the module students should:
1. Explain key journalistic concepts including ethics with reference to examples from the news media.
2. Apply knowledge of journalistic concepts and values to produce news content that is news worthy, factual and accurate.
3. Write and produce an online news story
4. Record and edit audio, including a demonstration of your own voice skills

Skills outcomes
News writing, audio recording and editing, online news production.


Syllabus

The module will cover news values, journalistic objectivity, news language and storytelling, and journalistic sources, as well as how to write and produce an online news story.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Presentation12.002.00
Lecture81.008.00
Practical112.0022.00
Seminar81.008.00
Private study hours160.00
Total Contact hours40.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

Students are required to engage with the news media regularly. This will form the basis of much of the seminar activity (3 hours per week = total of 33 hours). Students will be set one reading per week and associated seminar activities (some online) totalling 20 hours (2 hours per week). The news viewing log will require a weekly time commitment of 2 hours (20 hours) with research and preparation of the news story (70 hours).

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The news viewing log will be completed over the first 8 weeks of the semester with students receiving frequent formative feedback in seminars and via online discussion. The news story will build on exercises conducted in practical classes in which students will receive formative feedback.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
PracticalOnline News story (200-300 words + image and audio recording)60.00
ProjectNews viewing log 2,000-2,500 words40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Resit information: Students needing to resit components of the module are able to submit a new version of the same assignment

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 10/08/2020 08:34:32

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