Portfolio 80% weighting
Portfolio will include a range of content produced during regular newsdays and in student’s own time. The portfolio will normally include examples of audio and/or video reporting suitable for online or broadcast, as well as a range of multi-media, publishable content for StaffsLive and other outlets. It will also include a reflective, analytical evaluation looking back at progress and performance on the module. Portfolio to be submitted at the end of Semester 2
(Total portfolio word count approx 5,000, 100% weighting, learning outcomes 1-5)


Examination 20% weighting
This will be a timed in-class test based on NCTJ's Reporting exam, taken at the end of Semester 2
(Total in-class test word count approx 1,000, 20% weighting, learning outcomes 1-5)



Key Information Sets:
Assessment hours
80% coursework
20% practical exam

This module is designed to develop and enhance students’ multi-media journalism skills. It will hone and develop interviewing skills, technical skills, news and feature writing, and audio and video skills so they can tackle more complex areas of journalism, and develop a multi-skilled approach so they can use different media to present content to different audiences. They will progress from the basic news story structure to learn different styles of writing, including feature writing, reviews and opinion pieces, and how these are appropriate in different situations. Students will also need to understand the need for depth and analysis in journalism and develop an awareness of when subjective or opinion-based writing is appropriate.
By the end of the module students should be able to originate, research and produce a feature and opinion piece (for publication or broadcast, online and in print) which reflects a diversity of views.
Students should also acquire a wider understanding of ethical issues and managerial and commercial context of the media and the way these impact on the journalist in practice.
By the end of the module students should be able to report, write, edit and submit publishable content using text, images, audio and video for print, broadcast and public relations media, including multi-media web packages for an online audience. The module will prepare students to sit the NCTJ Reporting qualification.

The module begins with a series of TI and editorial sessions on video and audio recording and editing. These sessions will enable students to apply those skills to the fundamental journalistic news gathering and production skills learned in Journalism in Practice in level 4. They will produce small audio/video packages for their portfolio. Students are encouraged to embark on independent learning with audio and video equipment after TI and editorial sessions are completed.
They will also attend a series of workshops in semester 1 developing more varied writing techniques, and on producing appropriate content for a digital audience.
In semester 2, they will normally participate in newsdays each week, which will include timetabled group feedback sessions. Content produced and performance during newsdays will form the bulk of assessed portfolio, alongside a timed writing exercise. They will also be prepared to sit the NCTJ diploma examination in Reporting (Semester 2)

Key Information Set:
Learning & Teaching hours
60% Guided Independent Study
40% Scheduled Learning and Teaching

Newsroom facilities
Media stores equipment (via Siso)
StaffsLive
National and regional newspapers and magazines
Internet - 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
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Allan, Stuart (2006) Online News, Open University Press.
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
Frost, Chris (2002) Reporting for Journalists, London, Routledge
Frost, C (2011) Journalism: Ethics and Regulation, Pearson
Harcup, Tony (2007) The Ethical Journalist, London, Sage.
Harcup, Tony (2015) Journalism: Principles and Practice, third edition, Sage
Hennessy, Brendan (2006) Writing Feature Articles, 4th edition, Oxford, Focal Press
Hudson, Gary and Rowlands, Sarah (2007) The Broadcast Journalism Handbook, London, 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
Sissons, Helen, (2007) Practical Journalism: How to Write News, London, Sage

1. WRITE AND PACKAGE A RANGE OF STORY TYPES TO SUIT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT MARKETS FOR PRINT, ONLINE AND BROADCAST PLATFORMS [Knowledge and Understanding]

2. RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION IN JOURNALISM AND UNDERSTAND WHEN OPINION IS APPROPRIATE [Analysis]

3. DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MAIN METHODS OF JOURNALISTIC INQUIRY [Enquiry]

4. UNDERSTAND THE ETHICAL, COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT OF THE PRINT, ONLINE AND BROADCASTING INDUSTRY AND ITS IMPACT ON STYLE AND PRESENTATION IN PRACTICE [Application]

5. DEMONSTRATE QUALITIES AND SKILLS NECESSARY FOR JOURNALISTIC EMPLOYMENT AND KNOW HOW TO WRITE, PRESENT AND PROMOTE WORK FOR PUBLICATION AND BROADCAST. HAVE THE SKILLS NEEDED TO SIT THE RELEVANT NCTJ EXAMS [Reflection]