A Report (40%):
An interim learning report, reviewing research, skills and practical requirements needed to develop a documentary programme. (In negotiated small groups, equivalent to 1000 words each.) [Learning Outcomes 5 & 6]

A Portfolio (60%):
A radio documentary programme, produced in a small group, which answers the brief negotiated at the start of the module and shows your ability to plan, record, script and post-produce a radio programme appropriate to its subject.
Production notes for the programme
An individual written evaluation of the effectiveness of the production and post-production processes in relation to the created product - 1000 words
[Learning Outcomes 1 - 4]

Key Information Set Data:
100% coursework

Semester 1 - Working in small teams (number by negotiation) you will carry out preliminary research into a subject for a documentary and then review what will be needed to develop it to a professional standard of production: research on matters of fact, study of examples on which you could model aspects of style and structure, how to target style and content to the identified audience, scouting locations and potential contributors, sourcing archive material, and what permissions you may need to obtain.

Semester 2 - You will take the project you have developed up to the completion of the pre-production stage and put it into production, post-production and evaluation. You will have the opportunity, in response to feedback received at the conclusion of semester 1, to negotiate with the supervisor minor modifications to the brief devised.
Your experience in this module depends on the nature of the project you have devised in the last semester.

In the first half of the module a series of illustrated lectures will introduce the theory and practice of documentary making. Working in small groups (numbers by negotiation and as appropriate to this preproduction phase) you will negotiate a practicable brief for a specific documentary project and then write an interim report thoroughly reviewing what you need to know in order to translate the brief into production.
You will mainly learn through the experience of producing your programme, via group tutorials with the project supervisor. Throughout the project you are encouraged to keep an individual production diary in which you systematically record your production meetings and your individual learning. This process of reflection on the production process informs the project evaluation with which you conclude the module.

Key Information Set Data:
16% scheduled activities
84% independent guided study

Chater, K. (2002) Research for Media Production Oxford: Focal
Emm, A (2001) Researching for Television & Radio London: Routledge
McLeish, R (1999) Radio Production 4th Edn. Oxford: Focal
Beaman, J. (2000) Interviewing for Radio London: Routledge
Boyd. A. (2001) Broadcast journalism: techniques of radio and television news Oxford: Focal
Gage, L. (1999) A guide to commercial radio journalism, revised by Lawrie Douglas and Marie Kinsey Oxford: Focal
MacLoughlin, S. (1998) Writing for Radio Oxford: How To Books
O'Donnell, L. et al (2003) Modern Radio Production: production, programming and performance Belmont, Ca:Wadsworth
Shingler, M. & Wieringa, C. (1998) On Air: methods & meanings of radio London: Arnold
Wilby, P. & Conroy, A. (1994) The Radio Handbook London: Routledge

Media centre
Marantz recorders and flashmics
Radio studios
Audio editing workstations
Audio playback equipment
Archive sources where applicable to the project
Library resources
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.