module specification

  This module develops skills in and critical understanding of writing and reporting on fashion across multiple platforms including magazines, blogs, social media and video content. It is suitable for anyone interested in developing skills for this fast-growing sector of the communications industry.
Looking at the latest trends and influence in the industry, and covering editorial and commercial case studies, students will develop working skills in fashion journalism, blogging, PR, broadcasting and photography. Taking advantage of our location, the module will feature site visits and participation in a fashion news week, with involvement in planning and running events.
Assessment will be through group presentation, a portfolio of work, a video and presentation, fashion blog project and tutor-moderated self reflection, using online journal.

  The module will develop students’ writing about fashion across multiple platforms, whilst taking a critical look at existing work through the following topics:
● Fashion blogging and vlogging; trends and influence in the contemporary industry LO1, LO3
● Starting a fashion blog: creating a brand, formulating a business plan, identifying and understanding your audience, making a blog a success, working with brands, monetising your blog (practical skills and experience: working on the blog within the classroom environment); reflecting on own work LO2
● Fashion photography – basic skills and practice; students’ use of/sensitivity to images will be important and celebrated
● Fashion video; the role of video and multimedia in the fashion media/retail environment LO1, LO4
● Finding everyday fashion stories LO1, LO4
● Working with PRs to find stories, build brand relationships, access samples and source up-to-the-minute information LO5, LO6
● Finding/recognising trends and reporting on them, and a critique of the process
● Catwalk reporting skills LO5, LO6
● Fashion opinion; the role of fashion columns vs blogs LO4, LO5, LO6
● The logistics of the fashion shoot (for bloggers and journalists)LO4, LO5, LO6
● Using social media as a fashion blogger and journalistLO4, LO6

  The module is taught in interactive workshops with a mix of teaching (with multimedia support), group work, individual learning and practical exercises
The VLE, including discussion forums, is used to share blog posts and peer-to-peer support, also to assess class contribution via journals. Blogging platforms (wordpress/blogger) will host and deliver individual blogs
Background reading, blogging/vlogging, fashion reporting and street style photography projects have to be undertaken in students’ own time.
One-to-one tutorials throughout the module will be mixed with small group-based shared learning/exchange of ideas/critique of texts.
Regular debate and presentations will develop confidence and social/audience skills.
Pdp and e-portfolio will be supported: all work will be suitable.

 If students attend every session and do the required work, they should be able to:
1. Demonstrate critical understanding of contemporary practice and communication in fashion media, including images;
2. Run an active fashion blog that can be used as a platform for future business and networking;
3. Display the ability to predict future trends and patterns within the industry;
4. Report confidently on fashion, editorially and commercially, across multi-platforms;
5. Be able critically to discuss trends, social media, multimedia and photography in academic terms, with potential employers and within the workplace;
6. Demonstrate ability to write in a range of styles for different clients/publications/platforms.

 To increase confidence, professionalism, teamwork and employability, students will engage in an assessed group video and presentation, individual coursework, a business-led fashion project and moderated self-reflection on participation and engagement across the module.
Students will receive individual tutorials on drafting, technical skills, drafting and presentation throughout the course, and group/peer-to-peer feedback during workshops, alongside detailed formative feedback on assignments via weblearn.
All summative assessment will receive feedback within two weeks on the VLE.
All work, even in groups, will be assessed individually.

  Bartlett, D, Cole, S and Rocamora, A (editors) (2013). Fashion Media: Past and Present. Bloomsbury Academic. London. [CORE]
Best, Kate Nelson. The History Of Fashion Journalism. (2017). London. Bloomsbury.
Blanks, T (2013). New Fashion Photography. Prestel. USA.
Bradford, J (2014). Fashion Journalism. Routledge. London.
Bubble, S and Oliver, W (2012). Style Feed: The World’s Top Fashion Blogs. Prestel. Munich.
DK (2012). Fashion. Dorling Kindersley. London.
Jade, L (2012). Fashion Photography 101: A Complete Course for the New Fashion Photographers. Ilex Press. London.
Kubler, A and Oakley Smith, M (2013). Art/Fashion in the 21st Century. Thames and Hudson Ltd. London.
Laverty, C (2016). Fashion in Film. Laurence King Publishing.
Schuman, S (2009). The Sartorialist. Penguin. New York.
Steele, V (2016). Fashion Designers A-Z. Taschen. Köln.
Ziv, Y (2011). Fashion 2.0: Blogging Your Way to the Front Row - The Insider's Guide to Turning Your Fashion Blog into a Profitable Business and Launching a New Career, Vol. 1. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. USA.

Bloglovin’: https://www.bloglovin.com/
Drapers: http://www.drapersonline.com/
     Vogue.co.uk: http://www.vogue.co.uk/