Module Code - Title:
JM4034
-
JOURNALISM AND WRITING 2: BREAKING NEWS AND FEATURES
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
Journalism and Writing 2 follows on from Introduction to Journalism from semester one. The course aims to delve deeper into journalistic theory while in the laboratory classes the course aims to develop students' writing skills in producing a variety of news articles including breaking news, short features, long form journalism and reviews for a variety of publications - print and online.
Syllabus:
In the lectures students will discuss theories of journalism including; journalism and ethics, normative theories of journalism, journalism in the digital age, citizen journalism, mass communication theory and political economy.
In the labs students will extend their knowledge of different journalistic forms, including breaking news, short features, long form journalism, profiles, vox pops, and reviews. Regular news writing workshops will continue, including one on a breaking news exercise and a wrap story exercise. They will be helped to begin writing for student publications, and will be encouraged to write their own blogs.
Assessment will be by the production of a portfolio of work completed during the course, and a final timed examination.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
• Write a good quality breaking news story and a wrap story under deadline pressure
• Apply their analytical skills to writing reviews of concerts, plays or clubs
• Apply and develop their writing skills to produce better quality news stories
• Handle a breaking news story
• Write short features and profiles
• Write news stories suitable for publication online
• Write for a student or local publication
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
• Differentiate between news, feature, profiles and reviews
• Demonstrate an appreciation of the constraints of writing under deadline pressure
• Understand the value of writing news stories for online publications
• Analyse each other's work and the writing of professional journalists
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
The module consists of a two-hour laboratory and one-hour tutorial where the students will develop and improve their skills in writing news, short features, reviews and profiles. Students will be engaged in active learning both inside and outside the laboratory and encouraged to get their stories placed in a local or student publication. In the laboratory, students will be given more detailed outlines of good news, feature, review and profile writing and practical exercises in each of these. In the workshops, they will also be given experience in writing a breaking news story and wrap story to a strict deadline.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
McKane, A (2006)
News Writing
, Sage
McKane, A (2004)
Journalism: A Career Handbook
, A&C Black
Strunk, W. and White, E. B, (1999)
The Elements of Style
, Longman
Pape, S., and Featherstone, S. (2006)
Feature Writing: A Practical Introduction
, Sage
Other Relevant Texts:
Evans, H (2000)
Essential English for Journalists, Editors and Writers
, Pimlico
Plotnik, A. (2007)
Spunk & Bite: A Writer's Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style
, Random House
Barber, L. (1999)
Demon Barber
, Penguin
Evans, H (2000)
Essential English for Journalists Editors and Writers
, Pimlico
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BAJNMEUFA - JOURNALISM AND NEW MEDIA
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Spring
Module Leader:
Kathryn.Hayes@ul.ie