This module aims to enhance and develop students writing abilities while integrating core skills into more specialist areas of journalism.
Students will examine and analyse the theory and practice of specific journalistic skills such as photography, subbing, news editing, and how these skills combine in a convergent newsroom.
The module will offer some practical guidance and training in areas such as packaging for the web, photography and photoshop, and subbing, utilising software such as QuarkXpress and other facilities available in the newsroom.
The module will also develop student's knowledge of areas such as court reporting, with specific court visits built into the timetable so students can demonstrate and practice the art of reporting the courts and prepare themselves for NCTJ media law part 1 qualification.
Students will develop writing and interviewing skills into other areas such as features, profiles, crime, health and politics.
Each week, students will be producing and loading material onto the StaffsLive website.

One 4-hour session a week, for 10 weeks, with a 3 to 4 week work placement in the middle of the module.
Each session will include a short tutor-led presentation to be followed by group discussion and practical, interactive workshops.
Exercises will be practice-based in which students will gather and write authentic specialist news stories and feature articles from the day's regional and national news agenda, before producing and packaging their work for publication online.
These sessions will be student-led, with analysis and feedback given both on a group and individual basis, encouraging students to reflect on their work.
Students will also engage in specialist areas such as court reporting by visiting local courts and inquests and reporting back on these hearings.
Students will enhance their knowledge and skills in order to put them into practice in a work environment during the work placement period, to run from the beginning of March to mid April.
It is the student's responsibility to contact employers and arrange their own work placement during the specified period.

Frost, Chris (2002) Reporting for Journalists, London, Routledge.
Hadwin, Sara and Bloy, Duncan (2007) Law and the Media, London, Sweet and Maxwell.
Harcup, Tony (2003) Journalism: Principles and Practice, London, Sage.
Hennessy, Brendan (2006) Writing feature Articles, fourth edition, Oxford, Focal Press.
Hicks, Wynford (1999) Writing for Journalists, London, Routledge.
Hicks, Wynford (1998) English for Journalists, London, Routledge.
Hudson, Gary and Rowlands, Sarah (2007) The Broadcast Journalism Handbook, London, Pearson.
Journalism Dept (2007) Journalism Style Guide, Staffordshire University.
Keeble, Richard, (2001) The Newspapers Handbook, London, Routledge.
Pape, Susan and Featherstone, Sue (2005) Newspaper Journalism: A Practical introduction, London, Sage.
Quinn, Stephen (2001) Digital Sub Editing and Design, Oxford, Focal Press.
Quinn, Stephen and Filak, Vincent (2005) Convergent Journalism: An Introduction, Oxford, Focal Press.
Reding, Elizabeth (2004) QuarkExpress 6: Design Professional, London, Cambridge.
Ward, Mike (2002) Journalism Online, Oxford, Focal Press.
Welsh, Tom and Greenwood, Walter (2005) McNae's Essential Law for Journalists, OUP.

Media Centre/Newsroom + printers
StaffsLive/internet
PA Mediapoint
Library
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Coursework portfolio. Work produced during workshops and on their work placement, demonstrating an ability to source and write news and features across a range of topics. Elements of the portfolio will also include an NCTJ approved form completed by news editor/editor and a diary report reflecting on the student's experience (75% weighting, learning outcomes 1-8)

Specialist features x 2. Students will complete two specialist journalistic features on topics or issues of their choice. These should be in-depth articles exploring particular issues, or interview-based profiles of an interesting personality. They should be original, include a standfirst, and have a definitive peg/angle.

Both pieces should be suitable for a specific target/audience which will be identified in a short (250 word) rationale. The features will also need to meet the requirements of the NCTJ e-portfolio qualifications.

Based on the skills gained in Production Journalism, students will present the features in a professional lay-out of full colour page(s).

Word count: 2,000 (25% weighting, learning outcomes 1,4,5,7)

1. DEMONSTRATE ENHANCED KNOWLEDGE OF SKILLS IN WRITING AND GATHERING, ADAPTING TO MORE SPECIALIST AREAS OF JOURNALISM
Application
Knowledge & Understanding

2. UNDERSTAND THE MARKET AND AUDIENCE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF FEATURE ARTICLES AND TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH IDEAS FOR SUCH FEATURES
Knowledge & Understanding

3. WRITE FEATURE ARTICLES WITH CLARITY AND ACCURACY TO SPECIFIC DEADLINES
Application

4. REPORT IN SPECIALIST FIELDS SUCH AS COURT REPORTING, CRIME, HEALTH AND POLITICS Application

5. WORK IN OTHER SPECIALIST AREAS SUCH AS NEWS EDITING/EVALUATION, SUBBING, PHOTOGRAPHY WHILE OVERCOMING OBSTACLES AND PROBLEMS INHERENT IN SUCH AREAS
Application
Problem Solving

6. DEMONSTRATE AWARENESS, FOCUS AND UNDERSTANDING OF 'CONVERGENT JOURNALISM' AND ITS IMPORTANCE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY
Analysis
Knowledge & Understanding

7. PACKAGE STORIES FOR NEWS WEBSITES, IN PRODUCING, EDITING, AND UPLOADING TEXT, STILL IMAGES, AUDIO AND VIDEO, WHILE OVERCOMING OBSTACLES AND PROBLEMS INHERENT IN SUCH PROCESSES
Application
Problem Solving

8. SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE A MINIMUM 4-WEEK WORK PLACEMENT IN A NEWSROOM, PRODUCING A PORTFOLIO OF WORK ACROSS CONVERGENT PLATFORM
Application
Communication