Overview

The course will teach students media law and how to report on the workings of government. They will gain practical experience in reporting from courts, inquests and council meetings. They will also be taught how to write and research news and feature articles, interviewing techniques, and how to cover running stories and elections.

This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of media law and reporting on the workings of government. The course will give students practical experience in reporting on real world situations, including courts, inquests, and council meetings. They will also learn how to write and research news and feature articles, interviewing techniques, and how to cover running stories and elections.

During the first section of the course, students will be introduced to media law. They will learn about the legal system and how it applies to journalism, the Freedom of Information Act, defamation, libel, and slander, as well as privacy and confidentiality. Through case studies and practical exercises, they will gain an understanding of how to report on sensitive issues while adhering to legal guidelines.

The module will then move on to look at the practicalities of reporting from courts and inquests. Students will learn about court structures and proceedings, legal reporting guidelines and restrictions, courtroom etiquette and behavior, and reporting on sensitive or high-profile cases. Through mock court reporting exercises, they will develop their skills in reporting from a court.

Students will also be introduced to local government structures and processes. They will learn about research agendas and reports, how to interview councillors and officials, and identify and report on important issues affecting the community.

Students will also learn about on news and feature writing, and will learn how to write for different audiences and platforms, identify and pitch news and feature ideas, conduct effective interviews, research techniques and fact-checking, and write news and feature articles to a professional standard.

The final section of the module will focus on covering running stories and elections. Students will learn about the importance of breaking news and developing stories, ethics and accuracy in reporting ongoing events, writing updates and follow-up articles, and covering election campaigns and results.

The module will be assessed using a combination of creative portfolio and critical essay. The portfolio will be a collection of journalistic work that the students have produced during the module. The essay will involve a critical examination of media law and its relationship with government and democracy.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D- to D+Submitted work is adequate and shows an acceptable level of competence as follows:1.Generally accurate but with omissions and errors.2.Assertions are made without clear supporting evidence or reasoning.3.Has structure but is lacking in clarity and therefore relies on the reader to make links and assumptions.4.Draws on a relatively narrow range of material.

-good -C- to B+Submitted work is competent throughout and may be distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It:1.Demonstrates good or very good structure and logically developed arguments.2.Draws at least in parts on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student.3.Assertions are backed by evidence and sound reasoning.4.Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.

-excellent -A- to A*Submitted work is of an outstanding quality and excellent in one or more of the following ways:1.Has originality of exposition with the student’s own thinking being readily apparent.2.Provides clear evidence of extensive and relevant independent study.3.Arguments are laid down with clarity and provide the reader with successive stages of consideration to reach conclusions.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify and apply personal communication strategies in a variety of journalistic situations

• Identify and document relevant aspects of court proceedings and reporting

• Identify and document relevant aspects of government structures and processes

• Recognize and apply appriate journalistic investigative methods such as interviewing and documentary research or archives and record offices.

• Show a practical understanding of media law and the workings of local and national government, etc.