80% Portfolio of content. This would normally include, dependent on which award the students are enrolled, some in-class assessments and articles produced as coursework.
20% Shorthand. Internal examinations to be taken at end of semester one or in semester two. Pass mark: 60 words per minute.

[Learning Outcomes 1-6]

This module is designed to work alongside Journalism in Practice in order to develop students’ writing skills. Writing for Sport will be award-specific - tailored in each award towards the learning outcomes of the course. Generally, students will learn about the practical and commercial restraints of producing content and the pressures placed on journalists in terms of accuracy, clarity and writing to deadline. By the end of the module, students should be able to write stories applicable to their award. They will be able to produce content under pressure in timed exercises, replicating industry practice

Industry practice is also reflected in the gaining of shorthand skills, where a basic 60wpm exam is required as of the 20% element of the overall mark.

There will be workshops for 12 weeks in which the focus will be on writing. Students will focus on the essentials of story structure, intros, using quotes effectively, use of language and story content. They will learn the differences and similarities in writing for online, print and broadcast developing their style for different audiences.
They will produce assessed coursework to illustrate their ability to produce content from start to finish, as well as completing timed exercises to demonstrate their ability to write copy to a required standard and within a deadline.
This module will also prepare students to sit the National Council for the Training of Journalist's News Writing qualification, which they will be expected to take on completion of the module.

There will be four one-hour shorthand classes per week and students are then expected to practice in their own time in order to reach 60wpm – and beyond for higher marks.

Newsroom facilities
Blackboard

Bradshaw, Paul and Rohumaa, Liisa (2011) The Online Journalism Handbook, Pearson
Evans, H. (2000) Essential English for Journalists, Pimlico.
Harcup, T. (2004) Journalism Principles and Practice, Sage.
Hennessy, B. (2006) Writing Feature Articles (4th edition), Focal Press.
Hicks, W. (1999) Writing for Journalists, Routledge.
Hicks, W. (1998) English for Journalists, Routledge.
Pape, Susan, Featherstone, Sue (2006) Feature Writing: A Practical Introduction London, Sage.
Phillips, A. (2007) Good Writing for Journalists, Sage.
Rudin, R. and Ibbotson, T. (2002) An Introduction to Journalism, Focal Press.
Sissons, Helen, (2007) Practical Journalism: How to Write News, London, Sage.
McKane, Anna (2007) Newswriting, London, Sage.
Sanders, Karen (2003) Ethics and Journalism, London, Sage.
Starkey, Guy (2007) Balance and Bias in Journalism, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.
Staffordshire University Journalism Dept (2007), Journalism Style Guide, Staffs University.
Truss, Lynne (2003) Eats, Shoots and Leaves, London, Profile Books.

1. UNDERSTAND HOW TO STRUCTURE ACCURATELY JOURNALISTIC COPY FOR ONLINE, PRINT AND BROADCAST
[Knowledge and Understanding]

2. ADAPT WRITING STYLE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF TARGET PUBLICATION
[Problem Solving]

3. PRODUCE ACCURATE AND STYLISH CONTENT TO DEADLINES
[Learning]

4. WRITE AND RESEARCH ACCURATE AND BALANCED CONTENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AWARD THIS MODULE IS LINKED TO
[Application]

5. OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND SEEK SOLUTIONS DURING NORMAL NEWS GATHERING AND NEWS PRODUCTION PROCESS
[Application; Learning; Problem Solving]

6. PRODUCE ACCURATE, CLEAR AND CONCISE NEWS COPY DURING TIMED ASSESSMENT WORKSHOPS, MIRRORING INDUSTRY DEADLINE REQUIREMENTS
[Application; Communication]