Module: Advanced Reporting

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Advanced Reporting
Module Code	CM283 (ITS) / JRR1014 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Communications
Module Co-ordinator	Declan Fahy
Module Teachers	Dawn Wheatley
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None

Description

This module aims to develop understanding of news and news processes, to develop news judgement, and through practice to equip students with news-gathering and news-writing skills across a range of digital technologies.

Learning Outcomes

1. Assess information for its news value to different audiences
2. Identify and accurately report the main points of news interest in a range of routine assignment
3. Confidently approach and interview a wide range of people, using inititative to establish the facts of rapidly developing news stories
4. Locate and use public records and other documents
5. Pitch, investigate and write original news stories
6. Routinely apply the principles of verification of facts and attribution of statements and opinion
7. Write clearly and economically in a variety of styles across a range of platforms
8. Consider and apply legal and ethical standards, keep notes, and explain any decisions made
9. Use digital online media to research and verify news stories
10. Publish multimedia content across a range of platforms

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	11	Lectures
Lecture	11	Reporting exercises
Laboratory	11	Practical Workshop
Independent Study	92	Daily, critical reading of news media across all platforms
Independent Study	125	No Description
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

1. Defining news. Identifying the news point.

2. News writing. Press releases and verification.

3. Style-book. Freedom of Information.

4. Notebooks, contacts, interviews.

5. Speeches and press conferences.

7. Courts and crime reporting.

8. FoI stories.

10. Libel and privacy traps

11. Colour stories.

13. Reporting local government.

14. Numbers, polls, and analysis.

15. Digital media skills
Digital reporting skills, social media practice, interactivity, video and audio reporting, imaging, CMS, SEO, web writing, data journalism, digital/multimedia production. These skills are integrated through the module.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Portfolio	Reporting portfolio: selection of news stories originated and produced over the course of the module	70%	Every Week
Assignment	Specialist news topic site showcasing digital production skills, with individual contributions	20%	Once per semester
Laboratory Portfolio	Continuous participation in live, deadlined class activities	10%	Once per semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Steve Hill Paul Lashmar: 2014, Online Journlaism The Essential Guide, 1st, Sage, London, 978-1-4462-0734-5
Anna McKane: 2014, News Writing, 2nd, 1-13, Sage, London, 978-1-4462-5629-9
Kovach , Bill & Rosenstiel, Tom: 0, Elements of Journalism,
Randall, David: 0, The Universal Journalist,
Bradshaw P.; Rohumaa L.: 0, The Online Journalism Handbook,

Other Resources

57532, Online, 0, Additional resources via Moodle,