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JOUR9001 - News Writing and Editing

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Title:News Writing and Editing
Long Title:News Writing and Editing
Module Code:JOUR9001
  
Credits: 5
NFQ Level:Expert
Field of Study: Journalism
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2016/17 ( September 2016 )
Module Delivered in 1 programme(s)
Module Coordinator: ROSE MC GRATH
Module Author: FRANK O DONOVAN
Module Description: This module aims to give students a comprehensive knowledge of the principles of news. It will also enable students to learn the techniques and principles of Journalism. The module will develop students' news reporting skills and their ability to source news, develop stories and build good contacts.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
LO1 Construct, design and prepare clear and concise news stories
LO2 Describe, analyse and critically evaluate differing sources of news and develop appropriate copy based on identified requirements and for specific audiences
LO3 Assume a role within a journalistic team and manage the delivery of work to an industry standard and to specified deadlines
LO4 Classify, describe and critically evaluate the difference between diverse forms of media writing (ie broadsheet vs tabloid print, TV, radio and online)
LO5 Overcome common writing faults and have an expert knowledge of grammar and language structure
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named CIT module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
Co-requisites
No Co Requisites listed
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
General Writing Skills
The principles of good writing. How to achieve clarity in writing. Common writing faults. Punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure and word order, how the order can affect the meaning; common writing faults; grammar and punctuation – common faults identified, dos and don’ts; stylebooks and house styles; adapting the style to suit the market.
News Writing
The principles of news writing. The inverted pyramid style of writing. Structure and composition of the news story. Developing the story. Developing the news angle. Identifying house styles. Using quotes.
How to Source and File News
Sourcing and researching local, national and international stories with political, economic and social dimensions. Filing and documenting procedures in relation to these stories; Copy feedback sessions; Telephoning copy; Orderly notebook style.
Developing Stories
Finding new angles on running stories; Balance - getting the other side of a story to ensure balance and fairness; Comprehensiveness: presenting stories in a coherent, logical and readable manner. Cognitive: being able to evaluate information and using a weighting process, based on news values, to prioritise the placing of items of information in a story. Using the media, using the Internet; using the library.
Contacts and Sources of News
Establishing and maintaining an orderly and comprehensive contacts book; developing contacts as potential sources of news. Developing a professional awareness of news values. Resource material: press releases, company and financial reports. Interviewing. Internet research: critical evaluation of Internet-derived information.
Editing and Design
Usage Specification of Adobe Editorial Software applications. Import of appropriate graphic file formats into editorial software. Demonstrate ability to layout typography and images for print production. Preparation of layout including margins, bleed, columns, grid systems, measurement and dimensions, pagination, colour modes, proofreading, combining images and typography using appropriate layout techniques. Export of graphic editorial file in appropriate format for print reproduction.
Assessment Breakdown%
Course Work100.00%
Course Work
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Practical/Skills Evaluation Written coursework - series of news reporting assignments 1,2,4,5 35.0 Week 6
Practical/Skills Evaluation Written coursework- a series of news reports, including in-class tests of news writing skills 1,2,3,5 35.0 Week 9
Project News reporting project 1,2,5 30.0 Sem End
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The institute reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Workload Description Hours Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture Lectures on the essential skills of news reporting 1.5 Every Week 1.50
Tutorial One-on-one tutorials with learners 1.0 Every Week 1.00
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Learners practice of news reporting skills 4.5 Every Week 4.50
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 2.50
This module has no Part Time workload.
 

Module Resources

Recommended Book Resources
  • David Randall 2016, The universal journalist, Pluto Press London [ISBN: 0745336760]
  • Tony Harcup, 2015, Journalism, 3rd Edition Ed., Sage Publications London [ISBN: 1473930332]
  • Wynford Hicks 2013, English for Journalists, 4th Edition Ed., Routledge London [ISBN: 0415661722]
  • Stuart Allan 2006, Online News: Journalism and the Internet, Open University Press Maidenhead and New York [ISBN: 0335221211]
  • Andrew Marr 2016, My Trade, Pan London [ISBN: 978-15098225]
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Harold Evans 2000, Essential English, Pimlico London [ISBN: 0712664475]
  • Bob Franklin... [et al.] 2005, Key concepts in journalism studies, Sage London [ISBN: 0761944826]
  • Kim Fletcher 2012, The Journalist's Handbook [ISBN: 1405040882]
  • Dr Natalie Fenton (Editor) 2010, New Media, Old News, Sage [ISBN: 1847875742]
  • Richard Keeble 2014, The newspapers handbook, Routledge London [ISBN: 041566652X]
  • edited by Stuart Allan 2005, Journalism, Open University Press Maidenhead [ISBN: 0335214754]
  • Ian Hargreaves 2003, Journalism - Truth or Dare, Routledge London [ISBN: 0192802747]
  • Brian McNair 1999, Journalism and democracy, Routledge London [ISBN: 0415212790]
  • Tim Pat Coogan 2008, A memoir, Weidenfeld & Nicolson London [ISBN: 0297851101]
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
 

Module Delivered in

Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_HJWNM_9 Master of Arts in Journalism with New Media 1 Mandatory

Cork Institute of Technology
Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork

Tel: 021-4326100     Fax: 021-4545343
Email: help@cit.edu.ie