module specification

Continuing on from the second year (Level 5) Radio News and Podcasting module,  students in Advanced Broadcast Journalism: Audio will develop and acquire further skills and techniques necessary to succeed in more advanced forms of radio and podcasting, including vox pops, taking clips, producing voicers, editing interviews, delivering in-studio 2-ways, news reading, package/podcast writing and production.

For students studying on this module, you will learn to identify subject matter and potential readerships; master interviewing and editing techniques in audio; learn how to find original angles; undertake focused, widely sourced research on individuals and issues; and conduct on-the-spot reportage, delivering original news story content. This will be taught through a combination of workshops, masterclasses and studio activities, including voice coaching.

This module aims to develop students’ skills in multi-platform journalism. Via practical workshops and news days, which closely copy the latest UK industry working practices in modern multimedia newsrooms thus transforming understandings into practice, you will learn the basics of radio journalism, as well as radio reporting/production skills, including microphone and editing skills, using cutting-edge software and equipment. This will reinforce your understanding of the need for 360-degree journalism in contemporary society.

You will work on projects within class with a view to publishing them online via the course website, www.hollowayexpress.co.uk Holloway Express, thereby providing an outward-facing portal for future employability.

Successful completion of this module will involve the preparation of journalism products to be developed for presentation to prospective employers.

Assessment will involve two portfolios of journalism plus engagement with weekly Journal.

Contribution to news days will be both self-assessed and moderated by tutors.

The module will be assessed as follows:

An as live location interview

An audio package, comprising of at least two original interviews, which must show evidence of professional writing, newsgathering and production skills learnt in this module.
 
Contributions to an online journal will assess Newsday contribution, moderated by tutors at the end of the term. Newsdays will involve students working collaboratively to create radio news programming reflecting the day’s news agenda and events local to Holloway and the broader north London area.

Teaching sessions will take place in the multimedia newsroom and radio studio where students will be required to produce clear, vigorous and balanced reports in a form that will attract and interest the listener. 

Coaching in class will focus on recognising, substantiating, verifying and telling a good story, and then compiling these stories into an edited media product. [LOs  1, 2,3]

Students will be taught how to recognise, obtain and select important, relevant and newsworthy content using appropriate skills and techniques. [2, 3]

Students will need to use social media, reader polls, message boards, forums and reader comments to develop stories and a dialogue with listeners.  They will write, subedit and re-version copy for different platforms and purposes. [1,2, 3]

Through tutor coaching they will improve technical skills such as audio-recording and editing, writing and editing copy, scripts, and headlines.  Social media will form a constant backdrop, resource and outlet.  Live tweeting and streaming will accompany news days. [1, 2]

Students will learn basic budgetary and costing techniques. [3]

In teams, they will unify words, audio and social media to construct distinctive journalistic products for online, social and broadcast. Newsdays and news weeks will consolidate this learning. Products will be streamed on the course website, Holloway Express. [3]

Tutors will help students produce work that is legally and ethically  safe and adherent to industry codes of practice and/or guidelines. [4, ]

It will form part of their e-portfolios, which they can use in seeking employment.

Learning and teaching strategy will be based on an interactive model using a combination of supervised three-hour workshop sessions over twelve weeks and self-directed writing and research, with summative newsdays.

Students will work on a self-directed basis in the multimedia newsroom and radio facilities, supervised and coached by professional journalists.

Tutors will coach students in formulating and developing story ideas, researching and gathering material and writing and presenting work to colleagues. They will develop technical skills in audio. By examining their own work, they will be encouraged to develop reflective practice.

Newsdays will allow a virtual professional environment to foster team-building and employability, whilst working on programmes to tight schedules.

Electronic resources, including the university’s Virtual Learning Environment, will be used by students and staff. Work will be published on Holloway Express.co.uk. It will support pdpd/e-portfolio

If students read all the required texts, participate in all the class activities and complete the required assessments and assignments, you should be able to:

1. Research, write and present news items and features to industry standard that will include implementation of basic technical skills in audio;

2. Work in teams producing journalism which fits ethical and market criteria and is substantiated;

3. Appreciate and apply legal, professional and professional guidelines and regulation to their journalistic work;

4. Display competencies in developing, commissioning, editing, writing, producing and publicising multi-platform stories which will make them employable in a professional publishing environment.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/2213751D-CE60-E37F-BFCE-2B47A0AF609E.html?lang=en-GB&login=1

Weblinks
Ofcom Broadcasting Code
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code
NUJ Code of Conduct:
https://www.nuj.org.uk/about-us/rules-and-guidance/code-of-conduct.html