CE4789: Introduction to Modern Media

School	Continuing and Professional Education
Department Code	LEARN
Module Code	CE4789
External Subject Code	P500
Number of Credits	10
Level	L4
Language of Delivery	English
Module Leader	Mr Richard Thomas
Semester	Autumn Semester
Academic Year	2013/4

Outline Description of Module

This course will examine the development of, and compelling themes within of modern journalism. It examines the sourcing and delivery of news, the political economy of news production, how events like politics and conflict are presented, and the ways that language and imagery fix meanings and interpretation. It will examine and evaluate the academic debate surrounding the positioning of the internet within news and journalism. Finally, having established a principled framework of the key concepts, the journalistic practices are considered. Topics covered will include the structure and execution of news and feature writing and the central issues of citizen journalism and social media use, as well as examining possibilities to self-publish on easy-to-establish web platforms

On completion of the module a student should be able to

Knowledge and Understanding:

By the end of the period of learning, the typical student will be able to:

Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the defining concepts of printed news production.
Demonstrate an understanding of the practices and techniques needed for writing news and feature articles.

Intellectual Skills:

By the end of the period of learning, the typical student will be able to:

Application and recognition of course material in printed news.
Further development of analytical skills
Development of writing, social media and online skills
Selection and justification of news clippings exemplifying main theories

Discipline Specific (including practical) Skills:

By the end of the period of learning, the typical student will be able to:

Understanding of procedures and preferred practices for news production
Development of appropriate writing styles for a range of media

How the module will be delivered

This course is taught in 10, two-hour sessions, delivered on a weekly basis.

The course will be delivered by slideshow presentations which will provide the basis for group discussions and practical tasks which include identifying examples of the discussed themes within real newspapers. The final section of the course will involve online practical workshops.

Skills that will be practised and developed

Academic Skills:

By the end of the period of learning, the typical student will have:

Found relevant resources in the library and online;
Assessed the reliability of different sources of information;
Demonstrated a critical approach to academic texts.

Transferable/employability Skills:

Development of written communication skills;
Initiation and organisation of learning;
Selection, management and presentation of portfolio;
Discussion and presentation skills.

How the module will be assessed

Type of assessment

Contribution

Title

Duration
(if applicable)

Approx. date of Assessment

Coursework portfolio

100

A collection of news clippings and justifying explanations totalling 1500 words.

Shortly after end of course

Assessment Breakdown

Type	%	Title	Duration(hrs)
Written Assessment	100	Introduction To Modern Media	N/A

Syllabus content

Weeks 1 to 4 cover HOW IT WORKS

Week 1

Introduction and Administration housekeeping
Establishing normative concepts of journalism, what it could be and how it’s viewed.

Week 2

Examination of how news is filtered, and what makes news and what doesn’t.
Examination of political economy and the commercial imperative of news.
Examination of background and use of PR and news sources

Week 3

Examination of how broadsheet concept is threatened
Examination of how elections and conflict is presented.
Examination of how health, science and risk is presented

Week 4

Examination of how images are used in news - anchoring meaning
Examination of how language is used – lexical choices

Week 5

Examination of how audiences receive news- ranging from models of media power to models of audience power.

Week 6

The concept of the public sphere
Examination of journalism and activism, and e-democracy
Examination of professionalization of political communication

Weeks 6 to 9 cover HOW TO DO IT

Week 7

Examination of citizen journalism and social media
Examination of the structures that turn information into news.
Discussion about locally sourced news stories.

Week 8

Examination of techniques and formats of features and how to pitch ideas
Practical writing session/ sub-editing and critique.

Week 9 - (need access to IT)

Establishing of web platform.
Population of web platform

Week 10 - (need access to IT)

Continue populating web platform.
Show and tell of portfolios before they are submitted ( optional)
Reminder of principles of responsible journalism.

Essential Reading and Resource List

Essential reading

Allen, S. 2004. News Culture. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Franklin, B et al. 2005. Keyconceptsinjournalismstudies. London: Sage.

Hartley, J. 2002. Communication,culturaland mediastudies: the key concepts. London : Routledge, 2002

Kovach, B and Rosentiel, T. 2001. The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect. New York: Three Rivers Press.