
Module UXS-3033:
Practical Digital Journalism
Module Facts
Run by School of Languages, Literatures, Linguistics and Media
20 Credits or 10 ECTS Credits
Semester 1
Organiser: Dr Ifan Jones
Overall aims and purpose
This module will require students to adapt the writing, broadcasting and newsgathering skills acquired in the Introduction to Journalism. As well as producing a variety of text, video and sound content for digital platforms they will learn how to produce websites, app, and social media feeds that will disseminate their work to a wider audience. Virtual newsrooms and fieldwork will develop the skills that are required in an industry where the journalist is the writer, cameraman, publisher, broadcaster, printer and deliverer of his own news content.
Course 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 Criteria
threshold
(D) An understanding of the essentials of news website creation An appreciation of journalistic law, ethics and responsibilities An understanding of the practicalities of on-line news gathering
good
A good understanding of the essentials of news website creation A good appreciation of journalistic law, ethics and responsibilities A good understanding of the practicalities of on-line news gathering
excellent
An excellent understanding of the essentials of news website creation An excellent appreciation of journalistic law, ethics and responsibilities An excellent understanding of the practicalities of on-line news gathering
Learning outcomes
-
Acquire, practice and hone advanced on-line research and newsgathering techniques, drawing analytically and critically upon a variety of academic and non-academic sources
-
Learn, apply and master a range of complex techniques for digital news collection and dissemination
-
Create and critically evaluate a variety of original content for multi-media digital platforms, aiming towards producing a portfolio of a professional standard
-
Critically evaluate, select and develop appropriate media platforms such as apps, blogs and social media feeds, aiming towards producing a portfolio of a professional standard
-
Demonstrate a critical knowledge and understanding of, on-line media law and ethics to the complex field of practice of digital journalism
Assessment Methods
Type | Name | Description | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Virtual Newsroom Seminars | 15 | ||
Written News Stories | 60 | ||
Website | 25 |
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Hours | ||
---|---|---|
Individual Project | Researching news stories and interviewing contacts |
16 |
Lecture |
|
11 |
Practical classes and workshops |
|
11 |
Private study | Set readings and research |
162 |
Transferable skills
- Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
- Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
- Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
- Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
- Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
- Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
- Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
- Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
- Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
- Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
- Caring - Showing concern for others; caring for children, people with disabilities and/or the elderly
- Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
Subject specific skills
- An understanding of creative and critical processes, and of the wide range of skills inherent in creative writing. (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.1).
- An awareness of writing and publishing contexts, opportunities and audiences in the wider world (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.1).
- Artistic engagement and ability to articulate complex ideas in oral and written forms. (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2).
- Ability to connect creative and critical ideas between and among forms, techniques and types of creative and critical praxis. (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2; English Benchmark Statement 3.2).
- Awareness of how different social and cultural contexts affect the nature of language and meaning (English Benchmark Statement 3.2).
- Reflective practitioner skills, including awareness of the practice of others in collaborative learning (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2; English Benchmark Statement 3.2).
- The ability to synthesize information from various sources, choosing and applying appropriate concepts and methods (English Benchmark Statement 3.3).
- Ability to formulate and solve problems, anticipate and accommodate change, and work within contexts of ambiguity, uncertainty and unfamiliarity (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2; English Benchmark Statement 3.3).
- Ability to engage in processes of drafting and redrafting texts to achieve clarity of expression and an appropriate style. (English Benchmark Statement 3.3; NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2).
- Ability to gather information, analyse, interpret and discuss different viewpoints (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2; English Benchmark Statement 3.3).
- Information technology (IT) skills broadly understood and the ability to access, work with and evaluate electronic resources (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2; English Benchmark Statement 3.3).
Resources
Resource implications for students
None
Talis Reading list
http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/uxs-3033.htmlPre- and Co-requisite Modules
Pre-requisites:
Courses including this module
Compulsory in courses:
- Q5P5: BA Cymraeg gyda Newyddiaduraeth year 3 (BA/CN)
- 065C: BA English Literature with Journalism year 3 (BA/ELJ)
- PQ53: BA English Language & Journalism year 3 (BA/ELJO)
- R1P5: BA French with Journalism year 4 (BA/FRJO)
- R2P5: BA German with Journalism year 4 (BA/GJO)
- V1P5: BA History with Journalism year 3 (BA/HJ)
- 8S11: BA History with Journalism (with International Experience) year 3 (BA/HJIE)
- V1PM: BA Hanes gyda Newyddiaduraeth year 3 (BA/HN)
- PP53: BA Journalism and Media Studies year 3 (BA/JMS)
- PP5B: BA Journalism & Media Studies (4yr with Incorp Foundation) year 3 (BA/JMS1)
- R4P5: BA Spanish with Journalism year 4 (BA/SPJO)
- W900: MArts Creative Practice year 3 (MARTS/CP)
Optional in courses:
- W3P3: BA Astudiaethau'r Cyfr & Cherdd year 3 (BA/ACC)
- T103: BA Chinese and Creative Studies year 4 (BA/CHCS)
- W890: BA Creative&Professional Writing year 3 (BA/CPW)
- WPQ0: BA Creative Studies year 3 (BA/CST)
- WPQB: BA Creative Studies (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 3 (BA/CST1)
- WQ93: BA Creative Stds & English Lang. year 3 (BA/CSTEL)
- WR91: BA French and Creative Studies year 4 (BA/CSTFR)
- WR92: BA German and Creative Studies year 4 (BA/CSTG)
- WR93: BA Italian and Creative Studies year 4 (BA/CSTITAL)
- WR94: BA Spanish & Creative Studies year 4 (BA/CSTSP)
- WP83: BA Media Studies & Creative Wrtng year 3 (BA/CWMS)
- W620: BA Film Studies year 3 (BA/FLM)
- W62B: BA Film Studies (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 3 (BA/FLM1)
- P3W8: BA Film Studies and Creative Writing year 3 (BA/FSCW)
- 2W89: BA Film Studies (with International Experience) year 3 (BA/FSIE)
- 3HPQ: BA Media Studies and English Literature year 3 (BA/MEN)
- P306: BA Media Studies year 3 (BA/MS)
- P31B: BA Media Studies (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 3 (BA/MS1)
- P30F: BA Media Studies [with Foundation Year] year 3 (BA/MSF)
- 8U76: BA Media Studies (with International Experience) year 3 (BA/MSIE)
- PW33: BA Media Studies and Music year 3 (BA/MSMUS)
- LP33: BA Media Studies and Sociology year 3 (BA/MSSOC)
- W6W8: BA Professional Writing & Film year 3 (BA/PWF)
- W839: BA Professional Writing with Game Design year 3 (BA/PWGD)
- P3W9: BA Professional Writing and Media year 3 (BA/PWM)
- M1W1: LLB Law with Creative Media Writing year 3 (LLB/LCMW)
- M1W2: LLB Law with Creative Media Writing (International Exp) year 4 (LLB/LCMWI)
- M1P2: LLB Law with Media Studies (International Experience) year 4 (LLB/LMSI)