Course Resources Archive

The module will introduce students to newsgathering and to the role and responsibilities of a working journalist. It will also introduce them to the practicalities of researching, writing, interviewing, recording and sub-editing for newspapers, magazines, broadcast and online.

Workshops in the newsroom and studios will introduce students to the practical working environment of professional journalists. Sessions will outline the hierarchy and set of relationships within print, broadcast and online newsrooms. Students will be introduced to the requirements of making contacts and of gathering news for a variety of outlets. The module will focus on the roles and responsibilities of a journalist, with particular emphasis on jobs reporters would be expected to cover, such as producing copy etc from news feeds, press conferences, speeches, minutes, news releases and vox pops. Issues around compliance, and risk assessment will be covered. Workshops will focus on newsgathering techniques as well as interviewing skills. Students will practice these skills in the classroom before being sent out to find and write up their own stories. They will also be encouraged to develop their critical and evaluative skills in the production of their own and colleagues' copy. Students will use the copy they have written and collected audio clips in the module to produce radio news bulletins and newspaper and on-line pages.

A student passing this module should be able to:

1.    Appreciate the basic principles of newsgathering

2.    Appreciate the various roles and responsibilities of a working journalist

3.    Understand the basic principles news production

4.    Understand the requirements of a variety of news markets

5.    Apply theoretical concepts to establish a strategy for research, 'copy-taste' from a range of appropriate source material.

6.    Produce a range of news stories that are compliant, legally and ethically correct, for appropriate markets and to strict deadlines.

Show understanding of theoretical concepts that underpin newsgathering

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