Course Resources Archive

In this module students will develop an understanding of what makes news, and explore how editors in TV, radio, online and newspapers construct news agendas. Students will analyse on-the-day news, conduct editorial meetings and make story choices, developing an understanding of news values and worthiness from various viewpoints, the influence of key social and political issues and the often critical restraints of time, cost and logistics. They will be introduced to the role and responsibilities of the reporter and become familiar with current debates around news coverage, compliance, risk assessment, press freedom, ownership and ethics.

Seminars will focus on analysis of the day's news coverage on TV and radio, and in all the main daily papers. There will be whole-group discussions of leading stories, target audiences, broadsheet and tabloid preferences, and other salient factors. Student groups will draw up their own 'running orders'. Individuals will be called upon to make a 'pitch' for specific stories, arguing for greater or lesser prominence. Students will learn the principles and techniques of adversarial dialogue and writing and will be encouraged to explore the same set of facts and opinions from range of viewpoints and in different registers.

A student passing this module should be able to:

1.   Analyse and understand what makes one story more newsworthy than another for a given audience

2.   Critically analyse and understand the processes through which news editors achieve a 'balance' of stories and work to a largely pre-set structure

3.   Understand how to develop stories from different perspectives and take them forward in the light of changing circumstances

4.   Argue effectively in support of specific news coverage

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.