MDS-20042 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

Are you interested in the news or a career in journalism? Are you interested in how the news we see is selected and presented to us?
This module introduces a broad range of theoretical debates and issues involved in the making of contemporary news. We examine the factors that affects what becomes news including; who owns global news corporations, organisational constraints within institutions, professional codes of practice such as news values, issues of equality and ethics in production. We will then examine the impact of these factors by analysing news content and, in particular, how these play out in war reporting. Finally we consider how news production and content is evolving with the development of digital technologies, the rise of open journalism, for example. There will be some opportunity to consider the issues raised through a practical activity.

Reading:
Wahl-Jorensen K and Hanitzsch, T (2009) The Handbook of Journalism Studies. Routledge
Allan. S (2010) News Culture, OU
Allan, S (2009) Routledge Companion to News and Journalism. Routledge

This module introduces students to the theoretical debates about news production, particularly around the context of production, institutional and professional routines and practices, and how this impacts on content and audiences.

Intended Learning Outcomes

evaluate theoretical debates about, and critically reflect on, journalistic communications and practices: 1,2
research and write a journalistically ethical news item designed to inform, educate and persuade an audience using the media: 1
evaluate the impact of changing technologies on news production: 2
understand and analyse the broad contexts of journalism and news production, predominantly in the West (both economical, political, historical and social): 1,2

Study hours

10 hours lectures
10 hours seminars
2 hours tutorials
2 hours workshop
40 hours seminar, tutorial & workshop preparation
46 hours project preparation
40 hours essay preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment