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2021/22 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

COMM2420 Live Journalism Practice

20 creditsClass Size: 45

Module manager: Anna Crossley
Email: A.Crossley@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

Pre-requisites

COMM2410Journalism Practice

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module prepares students for the challenges of live news production in a professional environment. Participants will see their journalism through from the initial idea, to research and development, production and then on screen, on the airwaves or uploaded to a digital platform. In keeping with industry practice, TV, radio and digital production skills are taught side-by-side. They are then put into practice during news days; simulations of a professional journalism environment based in a newsroom, studio and gallery.

Objectives

This module builds on students’ previous experiences by asking them to apply their journalism and production skills to live news. They are required to work together on collaborative media outputs such as TV programmes, radio bulletins, websites and mobile apps.
The module aims to:
1. provide students with comprehensive practical instruction on how to research, develop and produce news stories for daily deadlines;

2. enable students to use the tools of news production such as filming, editing, writing and presentation skills to provide content for a range of joint journalistic ventures;

3. familiarise students with a professional working environment and the organisational structures that underpin a newsroom;

4. add studio and gallery skills to the students portfolio of abilities

5. ensure students stay within legal, regulatory and ethical guidelines whilst working in the pressured environment of a professional newsroom simulation;

6. In association with the module Multimedia News Production Two, to meet the requirements of industry accreditation at Level Two.

Learning outcomes
At the end of the module students should be able to:

1. find, research and develop news stories for inclusion in collaborative news output;
2. produce news items for radio, TV and digital to a daily deadline applying appropriate recording, editing and storytelling techniques;
3. demonstrate team working, editorship and presentation skills in the production of live news;
4. Critically reflect on journalism practice drawing upon scholarship and considering the ethical, legal, political and social context for the activity.

Skills outcomes

Professionalism, confidence and team working.


Syllabus

This module sees students take a large step in the direction of professional practice in journalism by working as part of a team to make live news programmes and digital news platforms. This is achieved through a series of news days, where students participate in a simulation of an industry working environment, based in the newsroom, studios and gallery. The module is designed so that the practical workshops track the news days. Skills required to produce programmes and stories are taught in the classroom, then practiced in the newsroom during the following news day.
- Small group practical workshops support students in the learning of technical and journalistic skills required in the production of live news. Topics covered include storytelling, programme production software to create running orders and scripts, cue writing, web production, live blogging, mobile journalism and voice training. Workshop time will also be given to preparing students for the Project Report assignment;
- The skills and understanding gained through the workshops are practiced in a series of multimedia live news days. Students will also learn through experience how to take an active role within a team, editorship skills through prioritising and positioning stories and leadership.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Workshop92.0018.00
Practical119.0099.00
Private study hours83.00
Total Contact hours117.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

Private study should be dedicated to:
- Practicing technical skills: 33 hours
- Newsday preparation: 22 hours
- Research and prepare project report: 28 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Monitoring will be carried out by means of informal on-going evaluation and summative assessment. News days are grouped together by medium and progress will be monitored and fed back on throughout the series. Skillsets will be honed during practical workshops in preparation for news days. Students will carry out exercises within the workshops that allow them to demonstrate their progress.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
PortfolioMultimedia Portfolio: Compilation of TV, radio and digital work with associated scripts, based on news day production100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Resit information – the portfolio is based on the news day exercises within the teaching period.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 21/03/2022

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