BA (Hons) Broadcast Journalism and BA (Hons) Journalism 2016 These degree courses share all modules except for the practical modules that follow either the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) pathway, or the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) Diploma route. There are no options until year three when an alternative pathway is available to a select group of students. Year One: all modules are year-long Digital Journalism Skills (40 credit module) This module will provide you with an introduction to core journalism skills. It provides training in the practical and professional techniques required to produce news stories and features on a digital platform. This includes sourcing stories, research, interview techniques and writing for online. You will also be given basic training in filming and editing on mobile devices, using mobile journalism, and creating content for online news and features. This module is taken by both Journalism and Broadcast Journalism students, although in separate groups. Democracy in Action (20 credit module) This module introduces you to the key concepts, structure and operation of local government and central government in this country, including Britain s membership of international organisations such as the European Union. This will give you the opportunity to develop a sound understanding of the basic features and operation of both central and local government. You will learn about where to find information and interviewees on political stories as you continue to develop journalistic skills and gain an understanding of dealing with press officers and spin doctors. You should gain an insight into the concepts and values involved in political decision making and of the difficulties in resolving conflicts, especially in allocating resources. To do this you need to develop an appreciation of how central and local government interact, of the arising conflicts of interests and how different interests are promoted and reconciled. You need to recognise current newsworthy issues relating to local and central government. Covering the Courts (20 credit module) This module introduces you to the key concepts, structure and operation of the English Legal System and court reporting. It aims to help you develop an understanding of some of the legal rules which control broadcast media coverage of news stories as they break and the reporting of subsequent court cases. As part of the module you will visit different courts to produce news reports from the proceedings. You will be encouraged to critically evaluate the effectiveness of current laws and legal decisions. Media Matters (20 credit module) This module introduces you to the media industry in the UK. It aims to develop a theoretical and critical understanding of the practices and process of newspapers, magazines, radio, television and online journalism. It critically analyses the relationship between society and media industries, and explores how each influences the other. Through this module you will understand each medium in its own right, as well as the way they work together, and how technology changes the media and the way it is consumed by audiences. As the module progresses, you will examine the way the media promote and challenge established norms in society.
Media, Power and Politics (20 credit module) This module seeks to introduce you to the complex relationship between the media of mass communication and the world of politics. It seeks to sensitise you to the significance of the way in which political communication is structured especially in contemporary liberal democracies like the UK, and the sometimes complementary, sometimes conflicting ways in which political, governmental and media professionals contribute to the creation and dissemination of political agendas through the production and reporting of political values, news and current affairs. The module also considers the impact of the various change factors which are affecting the media industry s approach to the reporting of politics and the accommodations political actors have made to attempt to manage this process. The module makes considerable use of illustrative video material to encourage you to relate theory and practice. Year Two: Semester One Broadcast News Skills (20 credit module) This module is taken only by BA Broadcast Journalism students. It builds on the journalism skills attained in Digital Journalism Skills with more focus on broadcasting. You will expand your knowledge and experience of the working journalist, increasing your contacts and range of sources. Your technical skills will be improved alongside a better understanding of the components of broadcast and online news, and you will be given professional voice training to improve your presentation skills. Throughout the module you will be working in teams to replicate industry practice in radio, television and online news, and produce work of a high journalistic standard. This will help students to prepare for a work placement which is taken during the Easter or summer vacation period. Print News Skills (20 credit module) This module is taken only by BA Journalism students. This module builds on the journalism skills attained in Digital Journalism Skills. It covers finding and researching stories and features, reporting, interviewing and production. You will expand your knowledge and experience of the working journalist, increasing your contacts and range of sources. You will increasingly work under professional conditions in a simulated newsroom with deadlines and will undertake a number of newsdays, where students will produce a newspaper to a set deadline. You will be given sessions to prepare you for work placement to be taken during the Easter or Summer vacation. Students will also prepare for the NCTJ Reporting exam, which will be taken towards the end of the module. This tests students ability at a practical level. Keeping out of Court (20 credit module) This module introduces you to a number of important areas of law of particular relevance to those involved in the media. It builds on the areas covered in the first year law module to prepare you to work across the media with a confident understanding of media law. Over the course of the module you will develop an awareness of a number of legal provisions which impact upon the day-to-day activities of a working journalist. These include defamation, contempt, copyright, elections, sexual offences. The module examines how these areas of the law impact on the work of journalists.
The Social and Ethical Aspects of Media Regulation (20 credit module) This module examines the framework of journalistic regulation in the UK. You will discuss in depth the ethical issues that may face a working journalist and decide how best to develop a personal ethical framework for use in sensitive reporting situations. You will be encouraged to promote a high level of theoretical reflection and the application of this to academic assignments, as well as demonstrate good writing skills. The module will allow you to discuss the key content and conduct regulatory issues facing the media industry, and discuss and analyse ethical and regulatory dilemmas. Year Two: Semester two Broadcast News Production (20 credit module) This module is taken only by BA Broadcast Journalism students. It builds on the broadcast journalism skills attained in the first semester, moving the production of news into a setting that mirrors the industry with the same constraints faced by professional journalists. You will be producing radio, television and online news over the period of a day to strict deadlines. Training will be given to operate all technical aspects of producing and delivering radio and TV news programmes, and online news including editing bulletins, directing studios, operating cameras and driving sound and vision desks. You will increasingly work under professional conditions in a simulated newsroom with deadlines. Print News Production Skills (20 credit module) This module is taken only by BA Journalism students. It builds upon the skills attained in the first semester, honing writing and research skills and building upon team work to produce material to deadlines. The module covers design and writing for magazines, and magazine production, both online and in print format. You will take part in a number of magazine newsdays where you will produce a magazine on a two-week production cycle. Editorial roles will be rotated to give you a full range of skills and develop team working in line with industry practices. Sports Journalism (20 credit module) This module develops a theoretical and critical understanding of the role of sport in contemporary society and how it is covered by the media. It will examine the link between national, regional and local identity and sport, and how the media reflect or shape that identity. It will critically analyse the relationship between the media and sport to explore how certain sports are favoured over others for coverage. The module includes guest speakers who are experts in their field of sports journalism to explain the logistics of reporting on sport and provide a better understanding of the practical aspects of sports reporting. The module encourages an appreciation of the role of sport in society and in journalism.
Global Journalism (20 credit module) This module explores the journalism industry from an international and global perspective in terms of both contemporary realities and theoretical concepts. It will develop your understanding and knowledge of journalism and its impact worldwide, and introduce you to relevant ideas and debates from the fields of politics, economics, international relations, ethics and globalization. The module features a range of visiting speakers including practising journalists with experience of working across the world in different cultures and political regimes. As well as lectures and workshops you will explore the work and practice of journalists across the world through discussions and special screenings. Year Three: standard pathway all modules are year-long Converged Journalism (BJ) (40 credit module) This module is taken only by BA Broadcast Journalism students. This module builds on the work in levels 1 and 2 and is based around a series of converged news days during which you will produce online, radio and television work that will be assessed at the end of the year. The work produced on news days is necessarily constrained by news day conditions and deadlines, but you will learn how to negotiate these constraints and produce work to deadlines. To complement the news days, training days will improve your skills in areas like digital newsgathering, news reading, writing, and advanced individual package making. The work produced on these days will not be constrained by news day conditions and so will be more polished and have better production values. Overall the work produced on this module will prepare you for working in a multiplatform newsroom. The best examples of your work can also be used as a portfolio for prospective employers. Converged Journalism (40 credit module) This module is taken only by BA Journalism students. This module builds on the work in levels 1 and 2 and is based around a series of newsdays during which you will produce news stories and features for a newspaper/magazine and online. The work produced on newsdays is necessarily constrained by news day conditions and deadlines, but you will learn how to negotiate these constraints and produce work to deadlines. To complement the newsdays, feedback sessions will give students guidance on their performance in a professional environment. Students will also complete their NCTJ Production Journalism exam during this module as well as their NCTJ E-portfolio. Overall, the material produced on this module will prepare you for working in a professional multiplatform environment. The best examples of your work can also be used as a portfolio for prospective employers. Shorthand (non-credit bearing) This module is taken by BA Journalism students as part of their NCTJ Diploma, and is available as an option for BA Broadcast Journalism students. It will provide you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to write and transcribe Teeline shorthand. You will be given special outlines which are short forms of words and you will learn how to write certain phrases as word groups and recognise these for accurate transcription. You will practice the skill to be able to do this to NCTJ 100 words-per-minute standard.
Celebrity Journalism (20 credit module) This module explores the relationship between celebrity, media and society, including the social influences upon news production and the social impact of news conventions. As the module progresses you will develop a theoretical and critical understanding of the practices and processes which inform the media in contemporary society, with specific regard to the ubiquitous phenomenon of celebrity journalism. Through it you will develop an informed and a responsible awareness of the role of the journalist within society, as well as the opportunity to critically engage with contemporary media debates. The Limits of Liberty (20 credit module) This module builds on the law modules taken in the previous two years, and provides you with an opportunity to consolidate and refresh your legal knowledge as you prepare for the world of work. Media law is a dynamic subject and it is important that you are aware of the latest legal developments. The module also enables you to explore more diverse areas of law which are of relevance to the work of broadcast journalists including the Freedom of Information Act, the protection of journalists sources and the regulation and use of the Internet. The module includes a range of visiting speakers and it allows you to conduct research in specified areas of law so that you will have developed and enhanced your working and critical understanding of a number of key legal principles of relevance to journalists. The Multiplatform Project (40 credits) This module is a piece of independent work which builds upon the practical, intellectual and research skills of your degree over the previous two years. It is an opportunity for you to follow your own interests, show creativity, demonstrate your strengths and produce a rigorously researched piece of original print, radio or television journalism (feature), an online version of that feature, and a research essay on your chosen topic. This is a great opportunity to show what you are capable of, and many students have gone on to use their features to impress prospective employers and also to win prestigious national awards. Year Three: alternative pathway This pathway is open to a select group of students who meet academic and journalistic standards in their second year work. These students will take the 40 credit Multiplatform Project module, and the 80 credit Journalism at Work module. Journalism at Work (80 credit module) This module will provide you with the experience of working in a functioning news organisation alongside completing your degree. It is open to a limited number of top students on the BA (Hons) Broadcast Journalism and the BA (Hons) Journalism, to allow them to expand their journalism skills and knowledge while gaining real-life experience. On this module you will work for two days a week with professional journalists on the output of Notts TV, either producing or helping to produce material for the nightly news programmes or the station s web pages. A third day will be dedicated to researching, and ultimately producing, a strand of factual programming. Through this module you will get a unique opportunity to gain work experience, learn from professional journalists, and understand the working practices of a news organisation, within an educational framework. It combines direct experience with professional mentoring to allow you to develop your understanding of multiplatform journalism, working to deadlines,
programme planning and development and tailoring material for a specific audience. By the end of the module you will understand the production of news for television and online, have experience of working to deadlines, and have improve your journalism skills across the board.