Master
2020/2021
Basics of News Journalism
Category 'Best Course for Career Development'
Type:
Compulsory course (International News Production)
Area of studies:
Media Communications
Delivered by:
Institute of Media
When:
2 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Master’s programme:
International News Production
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
2
Contact hours:
64
Course Syllabus
Abstract
Television, radio and online news are conversational media. For this reason it is very important to write modern news in a conversational way that would be attractive to a worldwide audience. During the course the students will learn the basics in text writing. Besides, the students will also grasp basic ideas about basic principles of journalism, writing stories, creating powerful headlines. In addition they will learn more about key principles of story planning. They will also learn the tricks of storytelling from reporters with native English.
Learning Objectives
- The students will master their skills in news writing in English for different types of media (news agency, radio, TV, online platforms).
- They will also learn how to find an interesting and powerful angle for angle for the story
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Be able to produce media text suitable for various media in proper English with full understanding of the way the text is perceived in different media and platforms
Course Contents
- Unit 1. What should we know before we start writing newsWhat do we know about modern media consumer. How we can reach him for the story? How do we reach him when the news breaks fast? How to tell the news story?
- Unit 2. Where we get the news fromSources of information: strengths and weaknesses How to analyze the source of the information. Finding the background for the story. Getting all the basic information. Writing the background materia
- Unit 3. What is a short news item?Pros and cons of traditional news writing. What is a topline and how we can find it.
- Unit 4. Writing stories for the news agencyStructure of the story for the news agency. What to use and not to use for the news story. Writing short stories on international affairs.
- Unit 5. Headlines and leads.How to come up with good headlines and leads. Case studies of good and bad headlines. Writing good headlines for international media.
- Unit 6: Journalist at the press conference.What is a press conference and what a journalist can get from this. How to come up with the questions for the audience.
- Unit 7: Reporting the news.The role of the reporters. How to do reporting for radio, TV and the web. Live coverage and pre-recorded.
- Unit 8: Planning the news coverageHow to find a unique idea for a dull news story. What is an angle. How to plan a news for various news platforms.
Interim Assessment
- Interim assessment (2 module)0.5 * Final test + 0.3 * Individual tasks + 0.2 * Work during seminars and attendance
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Anand, V. E., & Jayanthi, K. (2018). A Handbook of Journalism : Media in the Information Age. New Delhi, India: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1739149
- Eide, M., Sjøvaag, H., & Larsne, L. O. (2016). Journalism Re-examined:Digital Challenges and Professional Reorientations : Digital Challenges and Professional Reorientations. Bristol: Intellect. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1406720
- Hernandez, R. K., & Rue, J. (2016). The Principles of Multimedia Journalism : Packaging Digital News. New York: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1018396
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Hartley, J. M. (2017). Journalism Re-Examined: Digital Challenges and Professional Orientation (Lessons from Northern Europe). Nordicom Review, 38(1), 127–129. https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0406