Module: Newswriting and Reporting 1

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Newswriting and Reporting 1
Module Code	JRR1001 (ITS: CM114)
Faculty	Communications	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10

Description

The purpose of this module is to teach students the concepts and skills involved in basic news writing and reporting. The module develops basic competencies of professional journalism. Specifically, students will develop, through hands-on practice and feedback, the skills to craft a simple story, and source story ideas. Students will learn several journalistic writing styles and develop an understanding of which is appropriate when. They will hone skills of clear, concise writing, and basic reporting practices such as attending events and conducting interviews. The approach taken addresses the needs of students as: 1] consumers and producers of news who are informed by basic news theory; 2] novice news workers expected to be familiar with elementary reporting methods.

Learning Outcomes

1. Outline a coherent approach to news story construction.
2. Identify characteristics of news from journalistic and sociological perspectives.
3. Demonstrate basic competencies in writing technique.
4. Paraphrase the written and spoken words of sources in an efficient, accurate and ethical way.
5. Complete basic reporting assignments such as covering an event and conducting an interview
6. Discuss current events as a knowledgeable professional.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	44	Students receive substantial assistance in writing weekly basic news stories to deadline in workshops.
Directed learning	2	An in-class-test of basic news writing for news media and the theory which informs it.
Independent Study	132	The reading of essential books, newspapers, websites, e-books and interactive e-books, preparatory study for in-class-tests, seminars, workshops.
Directed learning	50	News consumption for current events quizzes
Directed learning	22	learning of style, including punctuation and grammar to a high level
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	10855	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Dawn Wheatley	Module Teacher	John Walsh

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Writing assignments and exercises	65%	n/a
In Class Test	Weekly current affairs quiz	15%	n/a
In Class Test	In-class reporting test	20%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Introduction
Module descriptor; reading list; assessment regime. Space and time constraints; deadlines; news v features; media consumption; news production; style.

Defining News
Defining news; journalists v sociologists; muck-raking v gatekeeping; determinants; social responsibility.

Language
Language; print v broadcast; tabloid v broadsheet; common error patterns; vocabulary; abstraction obstructs. • Redundant phrases; needless repetition; variation; agreement; syntax; clarity. • Sentence structure; incorporating the spoken word; third person summary; direct quotes; fair play.

Basics of Reporting
Basics of reporting; accuracy; attribution and positioning; identification; spot v statement/opinion stories.

Balance and Fairness
Balance and fairness; objectivity; opinions in news; verification; common problems; hoax

Approaching a Story
Approaching a story; pre-writing phase; understanding before writing; planning phase; uses and limits of the inverted pyramid; story-telling and delayed intro approaches.

Intros
Intros; five Ws and H; telegram and key word techniques; problem intros.

Building the Body
Building the body; action v statement/opinion story structures; positioning denials; quotes in context; transitions; lists; background – essential, non-essential and for interest.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Adams, Sally, Gilbert, Harriett, Hicks, Wynford: 2008, Writing for Journalists, Routledge, London,
Harcup, Tony: 2009, Journalism Principles and Practice, Sage, London,
Hicks, Wynford: 2003, English for Journalists, Routledge, London,
Mencher, Melvin: 2010, News Reporting and Writing, McGraw-Hill, New York,
Schwartz, Jerry: 2002, Associated Press Reporting Handbook, McGraw-Hill, New York,
Smith, Jon: 2007, Essential Reporting, Sage, London,
Truss, Lynne: 2003, Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Profile Books, London,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None