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

This module is designed to introduce all Digital Content Creation students to the basics of reporting/writing in the current digital industry. Students will learn how to evaluate the story/content ideas, and how to employ both traditional and modern skills and techniques to gather information necessary to disseminate to a wider audience.

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

70% Portfolio of work (5 mins) LO1,2,3,4

This will include a series of self-generated packages (the number of which will be dependent on the nature of each article but will be a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 – see below) suitable for various specified platforms which demonstrate the student's ability to produce stories from a range of sources and interviews, and which demonstrates recognition of mixed media in the use of, where appropriate, still images, audio and video. Each piece submitted will follow a detailed brief provided.

30% Reflective evaluation of of the portfolio which will normally include a rationale, explanatory note (detailing evidence of the source, contact details), supporting documentation/evidence, and reflective evaluation of skills developed in relation to career aspirations. 1,500 words [LO1,2,4]

This module is designed to introduce all Journalism and Digital Media students to the basics of reporting/writing in the current digital industry. Students will learn how to evaluate the story/content ideas, and how to employ both traditional/modern skills and techniques to gather information necessary to disseminate to a wider audience. The module will provide knowledge and understanding to carry out and use interviews. It also teaches students how to adapt and enhance stories for a range of platforms - online, print and broadcast. They will also be taught the importance to a writer of accuracy and objectivity, as well as developing traditional content gathering techniques and using technology and social media effectively. Students 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 their roles.

6 x lecture (1 hour) = 6 hours
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.
10 x workshops (3 hours) = 30 hours
3 x academic mentoring tutorials (20 mins) = 1 hour
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 163 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
Learning Strategies can include:

Contact/Scheduled learning and Teaching Activities:

One-to-one tutorials
Risk Assessment, health and safety, ethics input
Academic workshops/presentations
Small group sessions (seminars, tutorials, debates)

NB: This module will be accompanied by a comprehensive handbook and VLE support.
You will be expected to take advantage of the extensive library facilities and on-line tutorials via Lynda.com and BoB.

Guided Independent Study Activities:
Independent practice
Research
Group meetings
Personal development planning
Teamwork
Networking events
Blackboard VLE, Lynda.com and BoB access
Independent Study in support of your project work.

The most recent additions of the following texts, which will be available through online study links. The following are the most recent editions:

Belair-Gagnon, V. (2015), Social Media at BBC News. Routledge,
Bradshaw, P & Rohumaa, L. (2011), The Online Journalism Handbook. Routledge
Cole, P., Harcup, T., . (2010) Newspaper Journalism. SAGE
Fleming, Hemmingway, Moore and Welford. (2005) An Introduction to Journalism. SAGE
Frost, C. (2015), Journalism: Ethics and Regulation. Routledge
Kelly, S., The Entrepreneurial Journalist’s Toolkit
Lieb, T., . (2015) Editing for the Digital Age. CQ Press
McBride & Rosentiel, . (2013) The New Ethics of Journalism. CQ Press
McKane, Anna. (2013), News writingWriting. SAGE