Module: Video Storytelling

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Video Storytelling
Module Code	CM30120 (ITS) / JRR1019 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Communications
Module Co-ordinator	Colleen Murrell
Module Teachers	Declan Fahy
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only
A student will have to submit a new, original piece of video journalism in a narrative format.

Description

Video Storytelling aims to train students to produce feature-style pieces of video journalism. The advanced module builds on the skills and understandings developed in the year two module, Video Journalism, to cover the principles and procedures involved in creating video stories that are more complex and more narrative-based than a typical video news report. The five-credit core module will focus on crafting video pieces that pay particular attention to the core aesthetic and dramatic elements of storytelling, such as structure, setting, and character. Students will also learn how creative shot selection and careful editing can enhance their video storytelling. By the end of the module, students will be equipped to create, plan, write, shoot, and edit an original piece of high-quality video storytelling.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify, propose, and develop suitable stories for feature-style video journalism
2. Prepare a research brief for video production
3. Design and plan a shooting script and production schedule
4. Conduct original recording and interviewing
5. Evaluate broadcast pieces of video storytelling
6. Engage productively as a team member
7. Exercise mature judgement in applying appropriate legal and ethical standards, showing keen awareness of the special risks in television of defamation, invasion of privacy or offence to good taste
8. Produce a five-minute piece of original journalism marked by high standards of technical and storytelling quality.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	33	Attending lectures where the principles and practices of video storytelling are explained, analysed, and evaluated.
Professional Practice	92	Students work in teams to produce original pieces of video journalism.
Total Workload: 125

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. Introduction to Video Storytelling
The difference between short form news stories and longer, current affairs style packages Examples The importance of central characters in a story

2. Preparing a Brief
How to write a brief. What is the story? Who are the interviewees? Where are you filming – do you need permission? When (how long will it take, how much shooting and editing time do you have). Division of labour – suggested roles for four person groups are producer, reporter, camera, sound/editor Discussion of roles. Shooting schedule. Shooting script. Technical work

3. How to Shoot a Longer Story
Sequences. Developing a character on screen. How to choose locations. Getting permission to shoot. Making sure you have enough material.

4. Scripting
The Lead in. Examples of good scripts. Writing to pictures How to let pictures breathe. Practical examples. VT details given to studio Technical work

5. Editing
How to edit sequences. How to make a package flow. Editing with music and natural sound. Obituaries and other packages that are created mainly in the edit suite rather than on the road. Working with an editor and alone

6. Reviewing Packages
Reviewing and developing initial packages. How to advance stories.

7. Legal and Ethical Issues
Legal issues with video journalism. Ethical issues with video journalism.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Professional Practice	Working in self-selected teams, students should produce a piece of original video journalism (a ‘package’) approximately 1:30 duration marked by high standards of technical and aesthetic quality. This package must include at least two interviewees, a PTC, v/o script and at least one filmed sequence. Students should also write the studio lead in that would be broadcast before the story, and the production details that will be given to studio – super details etc.. Students should submit, with their video piece, the original brief and shooting and production schedule they wrote, also a short, not more than 500 word document written post production.	40%	Week 5
Professional Practice	Continuing to work in their team, should produce a 5/6 minute piece of original video journalism that is marked by high standards of technical and aesthetic quality. The 5/6 minute package should contain at least three interviews, a PTC, at least once film sequence and nat sound. At least one of the following two – music and vox pops - should also be used in this piece .They will also submit a final document of not more than 500 words detailing how the final project differed from the original plan, if at all	60%	Week 10

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

Other Resources

None