This module examines the organisational and ideological contexts within which journalism is conducted. The module aims at extending and enhancing at postgraduate level the student's knowledge of some of the basic intellectual foundations of journalism. It also aims at giving students a proper understanding of these elements and the ability to apply them in practice. Students will explore the development of journalism in Britain, comparing it with journalistic practice in the United States and Europe. It examines issues arising from ownership, structures control and regulation. The implications of telecommunications technology and the information superhighway for the professional practice of journalism will also be assessed. The module examines the relationship of journalism to the political process. These issues are then contextualised in relation to such issues as news values, balance, sources and editorial pressures. Case studies of different styles of news and news values are analysed. Research methodologies will be explored.

There will be a combination of student-centred, tutor-led learning, including regular case study workshops and seminar presentations.
Students will give individual presentations (typed and pre-circulated).
There will also be a programme of directed reading and an analysis of relevant issues relative to current journalistic stories.

Newsroom
Video recorder and TV
Internet
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where appropriate) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Allan, Stuart News Culture (2004)
Allan, Stuart (ed.) Journalism: Critical Issues (2005)
Berkowitz, Dan (ed.) Social Meanings of News: A Text Reader (1997)
Conboy, Martin Tabloid Britain: Constructing a Community Through Language (2006)
Franklin, Bob (ed.) Local Journalism and Local Media: making the local news (2006)
Greenslade, Roy Press Gang: How newspapers make profits from propaganda (2003)
McNair, Brian News & Journalism in the UK (2006)
McNair, Brian Journalism and Democracy: An evaluation of the political public sphere (2000)
Manning, Paul News and News Sources: A Critical Introduction (2001)
Marr, Andrew My Trade: A short history of British journalism (2004)
Temple, Mick: Dumbing Down in Good For You, British Politics, Vol.1 (2) (2006)

An independent presentation (weighted 40%).
An essay length 2,500 words (weighted 60%).
The presentation will focus on aspects of journalism practice in the current environment (Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3).
The essay will allow students to demonstrate the relevance of the theoretical approaches to the practice of journalism (Learning Outcomes 4 and 5).