module specification

SJ3051 - Journalism and Professional Writing (2023/24)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2023/24
Module title Journalism and Professional Writing
Module level Foundation (03)
Credit rating for module 15
School School of Computing and Digital Media
Total study hours 150
 
114 hours Guided independent study
36 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
In-Course Test 30%   In-class writing test. Students to write a short news story for a online outlet based on information provided in class.
Coursework 50%   1,000 word Portfolio of news story with 1 original interview, a feature story with 1 original interview and reflection
Coursework 20%   Weekly journal recording contribution in class
Running in 2023/24

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
Period Campus Day Time Module Leader
Spring semester North Tuesday Morning

Module summary

Studying on this module will provide you with the practical skills to create journalistic copy across a range of media platforms. Practical skills will be taught by examining best practice across print, broadcast and online, including social media. Interview skills will be taught through reporting tasks. These will be set within the context of current affairs and ongoing media debates. This module aims to:

  • Equip students with the ability to write copy to a publishable standard with no factual or grammatical errors;
  • Aid students in writing headlines for print as well as crafting web headlines and tweets suitable for online and social media;
  • Develop research skills across printed, electronic and primary sources.
  • Develop social skills needed for interviews and vox pops.

Prior learning requirements

None. Available for Study Abroad? NO

Syllabus

This module will focus on training students to research and write stories to a publishable standard. Topics include:

  • Intro writing and news story structure – the inverted triangle, the five Ws; [LO1,LO3]
  • Headline writing – considerations of SEO for online and filling a given space for print [LO1, LO3]
  • Writing for social media – crafting tweets, Instagram messages, Facebook posts etc; LO1,LO4]
  • Writing news articles– nibs, short reports. [LO1,LO4]
  • Following up a press release; [LO2,LO3]
  • Identifying what is news-worthy in relation to specified readership;
  • Chasing down a news agenda; [LO2,LO3]
  • Creating and using contacts to gain information and quotes, honing contacts and Twitter/Instagram messaging; [LO3]
  • Using vox pops; [LO2]
  • Building case studies and interview techniques to obtain information and facts;[LO2,LO3]
  • News vs features and when to use each style.[LO1,LO2]

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

One three hour session per week of blended learning comprising of instruction, student-centred individual and group tasks, and formative assessments.  There will be a combination of lectures, guest speakers, reviews of out-of-class work/reading, practical writing and design exercises and student presentations.  Students will work individually to complete tasks with the support of a tutor as well as work in groups/pairs to feedback on each other’s work and to research presentations. To encourage reflective learning, students will complete a learning journal at the end of each session, which will be graded.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

 

  1. Create accurate, clear, vigorous and balanced news stories, headlines and tweets in a form that will attract and interest the reader, viewer or listener for print, online and social media;
  2. Demonstrate how to interview subjects and gain newsworthy information.
  3. Recognise and select important, relevant and newsworthy facts from written and verbal sources, using appropriate skills or techniques;
  4. Report these to a publishable standard free from grammar and factual errors;

Assessment strategy

A combination of coursework, in-class tests, presentations and journal entries.

All assessments meet all learning outcomes.

Formative assessment:  200 word story written in a suitable style for the Journalism Dept’s Holloway Express website

Summative assessments:

In class writing test - students to write a short news story based on material provided in class. 

Writing coursework – writing portfolio 1,000 words

Comprising of a news story with one original interview(350 words), a feature story using one original interview (350 words) and a reflection essay (300 words)

 

Weekly Journal recording contribution in class, carrying out formative assessments and demonstrating reflective practice.

Bibliography

https://londonmet.rl.talis.com/modules/sj3002.html

 

The most important reading will be online and current journalism

 

Core:

Randal, D.The Universal Journalist (Revised edition 2016) London. Pluto Press

Evans, H. (Revised edition, 2000) Essential English for Journalists, Editors and Writers. London. Random House Ltd

 

Additional:

 

Davies, N. (2008) Flat Earth News. London. Random House Ltd

Harcup, T. (2015) Journalism Principles and Practice: London.  Sage

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/journalism 

https://en.support.wordpress.com

http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/

https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk

http://impress.press

https://www.ipso.co.uk/IPSO/index.html

https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk

https://www.journalism.co.uk