module specification

Creating Packages is core for most journalism-related courses and works in tandem with  the Magazine Branding module. You will learn to write for the Web, identifying how online journalism differs from print journalism, and what type of multimedia to use to accompany web-based stories.

The module also develops the advanced professional skills taught at level 5: identifying subject matter and potential readerships, research, interviewing and editing techniques, on-the-spot reportage, and finding original angles and relevant sources for stories. This module also builds on multimedia skills students have learned in other modules, as it requires students to take their own photographs and make podcasts, short videos, infographics, pie charts, graphs and other multimedia, to be posted on an online magazine that they devise in a group.

Students will choose the magazine, which can follow on from Magazine Branding or be a completely new one - based on a subject area of their own choice, rather than as directed by tutors. This is an exciting chance to create your own magazine online.

You will make a short group presentation in Week 8 about your magazine, including information about how it interacts with social media, what widgets

You will devise a portfolio of five articles, totalling roughly 2,500 words, and reflect the multimedia nature of such products in contemporary journalism. News features will reinforce a professional sense of urgency and the need to meet deadlines.

The module allows students to enhance their skills in writing news features arising from topical issues, using data for feature articles, developing more in-depth interviews and/or feature stories based on interviews and research. Students will be directed towards identifying subject matter and potential readerships, on-the-spot reportage skills, and finding original angles and relevant sources for their stories. Students also learn web design, lay-out and multimedia skills.

Assessment will consist of a group presentation to class about the magazine with accompanying moodboard; one portfolio of work consisting of five articles, written for an online audience with a minimum of three interviews and at least four accompanying multimedia elements per article; and a production journal where students will self-assess their own work, their editorial roles and their participation in group contributions to class including other group presentations where they will receive formative feedback from the class and the tutor. . This will be moderated by the tutor.

Students in this module will learn to hone their advanced professional writing skills, and also to put together magazine content, predominantly online. They will learn to further develop journalistic content within magazine formats and to fully pitch a magazine of their choice to an industry audience. This will also be of help in future if they choose to freelance. LO1

Working in groups will form an important part of this module, as well as developing social skills and learning to work together with people who may have very different ideas from their own. They will be allowed to choose a topic of their choice within the group to explore a subject-specific project in depth and put it online. LO2

This subject, to be agreed with tutors, must allow the students to conduct and write in-depth interviews, on-the-spot reportage, and data-based features, which they learn to order and re-order for the different requirements of printed text and online. A variety of articles will teach them the different types of reporting, and they will have an assessed group pitch complete with the production of a moodboard, editorial pillars and more. LO2, LO3

All students will write five very different types of features and news stories, and they will be encouraged to explore how unique voices are created. They will continue to develop and create multimedia content using images, audio, video and more.  LO2, LO3, LO4

As individuals, they will learn how different styles are used or adapted online as in the written word. Emphasis will also be put on data journalism, google analytics, making pools, online quizzes, infographics. LO3, LO4

Students will develop skills in identifying subject matter and potential readerships, research, the use of different datasets, interviewing and editing techniques, on-the-spot reportage, and finding original angles and relevant sources for stories. LO3, LO4,

They will source and develop the printing of their magazines, as well as advertisements. LO1, LO2 They will sharpen writing and presentation skills through reflecting on feedback from staff and other students. News days will be used to focus on team work and deadlines. LO2

Such written work will help demonstrate employability for the PDP/e-portfolio

If students read all the required texts, participate in all the class activities, and complete the required assessments and assignments, they will develop professional skills and should be able to:

1. Learn how to make a professional website on WordPress, Wix, Canva or another platform of their choice to produce web-based news and feature stories, written in an online style, with accompanying multimedia in the form of podcasts, videos, graphics, infographics, moving graphics and more. [LO1]

2. Work in groups to originate and source a self-directed journalism project from beginning to end, including the use of varied other technical skills; (LO2)

3. Successfully adapt professional skills, including writing news reportage and features arising from topical issues to different formats, platforms and iterations; (LO3)

4. Identify and interview appropriate sources within relevant organisations, to write in-depth interviews and feature stories (LO4)

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