Overview

You should already have a basic grasp of the writing, broadcasting and newsgathering skills that every journalist needs. This module will teach you to use the digital tools available to you to gather information, produce a variety of text, video and sound content for digital platforms, and use websites, applications and social media feeds to disseminate your work to a wider audience. Lectures, virtual newsroom exercises and newsgathering assignments will develop the skills you will require in an industry where the journalist is the writer, cameraman, publisher, broadcaster and deliverer of his or her own news content.

The course will begin with an introduction to on-line journalism, the influence of new digital technology on journalism and its implications for traditional forms of media. We will also discuss the ethical and legal issues involved in producing on-line content. You will be taught a range of skills including how gather news on-line, write and produce visual and audio content for digital news platforms and how to ensure that content reaches a wide audience. You will be expected to put these skills into practice and create your own digital news platform, create content from that platform and distribute that content to the widest possible audience.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D An understanding of the essentials of law for journalists An appreciation of journalistic ethics and responsibilities An understanding of the practicalities of objective reporting

-good -(C) A good understanding of the essentials of law for journalists A sound appreciation of journalistic ethics and responsibilities A good understanding of the practicalities of objective reporting

-excellent -A An excellent understanding of the essentials of law for journalists An excellent appreciation of journalistic ethics and responsibilities An excellent understanding of the practicalities of objective reporting

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate techniques for digital news collection and dissemination.

• Develop media news platforms using apps, blogs and social media feeds

• Prepare original textual and media content for use in an online news platforms.

• Write and produce visual and audio content for digital news platforms