This module is designed to introduce all journalism students to the basics of reporting in the current digitally-driven industry. Students will learn how to evaluate newsworthiness of story and content ideas, and how to employ both traditional and modern skills and techniques to gather information and content necessary to publish to a wider audience. It will provide them with knowledge to understand what makes something publishable and the basic skills to carry out and use interviews. It also teaches students how to adapt and enhance stories across a range of platforms - online, print and broadcast. They will also be taught the importance to a reporter of developing credible contacts and of accuracy and objectivity, as well as developing traditional content gathering techniques and using technology and social media effectively as a journalist, including the importance and emergence of mobile journalism. They will also learn fundamental digital skills such as effective blogging, basic html, Wordpress, SEO, Social Media, and content embedding. They will also enhance and develop their knowledge of practical ethical issues which impact on journalists and their role.

6 x lecture (1 hour) = 6 hours (semester 1)
Lectures will outline in basic terms the key principles of the role of a journalist, and outline the fundamental skills and knowledge required, which will be discussed and developed in more detail in following workshops.
22 x workshops (2 hours) = 44 hours (semester 1 and 2)
Practice-based workshops in which students learn through trying the basic techniques of content evaluation, gathering techniques, research etc. Workshops will cover a range of aspects, including sources and contacts; interviewing skills; content newsworthiness to particular audiences; using social media as a multi-function tool, editing and using still images; Wordpress skills; recording/editing audio and video; mobile journalism; organisational skills; ethical awareness, research etc.
A minimum of 250 hours will be spent identifying and researching original story ideas, interviewing and collating information, editing and writing content, preparing content for online publication on StaffsLive and/or other suitable publishing/broadcasting outlets, and developing/using professional social media channels

Key Information Set:
Learning &Teaching hours
20% scheduled learning and teaching
80% guided independent study

Newsroom facilities – macs + relevant Adobe and other software programmes
Media store equipment
StaffsLive
National and regional newspapers and magazines
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook

Websites
www.news.bbc.co.uk/news
www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk
www.ofcom.org.uk
www.nctj.com
www.newspapersoc.org.uk
www.guardian.co.uk/media

Belair-Gagnon, V (2015) Social Media at BBC News, Routledge
Bradshaw, P & Rohumaa, L (2011), The Online Journalism Handbook, Pearson
Cole, P & Harcup,T (2010) Newspaper Journalism, Sage
Fleming, Hemmingway, Moore and Welford (2006) An Introduction to Journalism, Sage
Frost, C (2011) Journalism: Ethics and Regulation, Pearson
Kelly, S (2015) The Entrepreneurial Journalist’s Toolkit, Focal Press
Lieb, T (2015) Editing for the Digital Age, Sage
McBride & Rosentiel (2013), The New Ethics of Journalism, Sage
McKane, Anna (2014) Newswriting, 2nd Edition, Sage

1. UNDERSTAND HOW TO CONDUCT A SIMPLE INTERVIEW FOR PRINT/ONLINE/BROADCAST AND ACCURATELY EDIT THAT MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION.
[Knowledge & Understanding]

2. ASSESS WHAT MAKES SOMETHING NEWSWORTHY AND KNOW HOW TO USE THAT AWARENESS TO PRODUCE CONTENT THAT IS INTERESTING, ENTERTAINING AND INFORMATIVE.
[Problem Solving]

3. APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO A SIMPLE BRIEF FROM A NEWS DESK.
[Application]

4. ANALYSE THE VALUE OF A STORY AND THE SOURCES AND TECHNIQUES USED TO CONVERT RAW COPY INTO CONSUMER-ADDICTIVE CONTENT.
[Analysis]

5. DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF INCORPORATING RELEVANT SOURCES FROM THE SELECTION AVAILABLE TO THE MODERN REPORTER.
[Learning]

A Programme of continuous assessment:

1. Analyse a story/submit a story plan 800wds (20%)
2. In-class interview 600wds (20%)
3. Produce news story/photo story of 350wds, with 250wds reflection, 200wds rationale (20%)
4. Produce 60-90 second radio package (20%)
5. Content creation project - 30sec (20%)

(Learning Outcomes 1-5)

Key Information Set:
100% Coursework

In this module you will learn the fundamentals of sports journalism techniques but also newer concepts, such as mobile journalism using your phone, and also the growing importance of data analytics. You will receive guidance from top practitioners in the world of sport and sports PR.