BMA0C201 – Writing for the Media

Module code

BMA0C201

Module title

Writing for the Media

Prescription

This module introduces Journalism and PR/Advertising students to the processes and skills used by media practitioners in the gathering and writing of copy.

Programmes

BM9601

NZQA Level

Level 6

NZQA Credits

Delivery method

Web-Based

Learning hours

Total learning hours: 150

Resources required

Content: What makes news
- News selection
- Audience Research
- Characteristics of news
- News analysis
- Current affairs
- Story pitches
- Print and electronic platforms
- News diaries
- Spot news

Reporting
- Accuracy, verification and ethics
- Interviewing face-to-face and by phone
- Introductions and ground rules
- Hearsay, validation and attribution
- Notetaking and recording
- Texts
- Legal constraints

News writing
- Deadlines
- Print, broadcast and online
- Word counts and time allocation
- Precise language
- The inverted pyramid
- Other formats
- Story structure
- Style

Communicating with a range of cultures
- Content of interest to a maaori audience
- New Zealand cultural identities
- Content from at least one other culture
- Modes of address appropriate to the audience
Learning Outcomes: 2.1 Understand an integrated process for responding to news situations
- identify the situations and issues outlined in the module brief
- demonstrate an evaluation of news values
- show evidence of independent processes for working
- identify target audiences as an influence on news gathering
- analyse, interpret and evaluate news events
- distinguish between personal news and news of record

2.2 Understand the role of the writer
- identify and advocate news ideas
- distinguish between fact and opinion
- explore techniques to ensure accuracy
- identify conventions required for news interviews
- employ a vocabulary for describing the interview process
- use interview techniques to generate news stories
- distinguish between primary and secondary sources in news gathering
- identify news angles when researching
- extract information from texts

2.3 Acquire the ability to write copy
- demonstrate ability to meet deadlines
- employ a vocabulary for writing news
- test interrelationships between writing styles and formats
- develop a range of techniques for writing introductions
- structure reports in logical sequences

2.4 Understand relevant aspects of discourses in contemporary media practice
- review and write descriptions and analyses of selected texts
- reflect critically upon relationships between representative texts, examples of work and self-practice
- produce oral and written interpretations of and comparisons between selected works

2.5 Comprehend the process of graded assessment
- participate in group and class critiques
- consider and discuss self and peer performances for formative assessment
Assessment Criteria: To pass this module, students must complete all assignments, and accumulate an overall module mark of no less than 50%
Teaching and Learning Strategy: Lecturer prescribes project briefs that examine issues of form and techniques.
Lecturer monitors students’ progress through the time management of individual projects.
Students research technical and formal issues to present as a class resource.
Students initiate research relating to content for their own projects.
Lecturer identifies problems with a student’s process, lecturer and student develop strategies for approaching future projects.
Lecturer prescribes topics, students identify specific questions within those topics.
Students participate in informal presentations of their work.
Students participate in graded assessment according to criteria set by lecturer.
Graded assessment performed by self, peers and tutor.