Module:

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Our systems are undergoing maintenance and are temporarily unavailable. Please try again later.

Module Title
Module Code	(ITS: CM3019)
Faculty		School
NFQ level		Credit Rating

Description

Enterprise Reporting is a type of journalism in which reporters enterprisingly produce in-depth original journalism. It differs from routine news reporting in a fundamental respect. Routine news reporting sees journalists react to events initiated elsewhere, such as elections or accidents or crimes, or respond to planned media events, such as press releases, news conferences, the publication of reports, or stories published by other news outlets. Enterprise reporting, by contrast, sees journalists take the initiative to create news, taking a proactive role in coming up with ideas, conducting in-depth research and reporting, and crafting compelling stories. Students in this five-credit module will work in small teams to produce an original piece of enterprise reporting about a contemporary issue in Irish society. The module aims to produce high-quality stories suitable for publication or broadcast. Students will work closely with faculty to develop their stories in a structured fashion, meeting each week in workshops to discuss their progress and to set reporting and writing goals for the next week. Through working on enterprise stories, students will develop the higher-level critical thinking skills of how to find, analyse, synthesise, and evaluate evidence, as well as drawing conclusions from that evidence. There is an onus on students in this module to engage in significant independent learning. Enterprise Reporting demands significant commitment, original thinking, and self-motivation in order for students to apply the advanced reporting and storytelling skills essential to this top-echelon form of reporting. On occasion, there will be opportunities for the class to partner with a national media organisation to work with editors to produce stories for that outlet.

Learning Outcomes

1. Conduct advanced independent journalistic research and reporting
2. Develop multi-media news stories from concept to finished product
3. Demonstrate advanced storytelling skills in the production of high-quality original journalism across a range of platforms
4. Act effectively and collaboratively as part of a goal-focused team
5. Exercise appropriate professional judgement in the production of original journalism, accepting accountability for all decision-making
6. Act effectively under guidance in a peer relationship with qualified practitioners
7. Learn to produce original journalism independently, professionally and ethically

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Directed learning	22	In-class workshops will discuss and progress story ideas in an environment of directed learning, under the supervision of a faculty member.
Professional Practice	128	Students work in teams to research, report, and craft their original enterprise stories.
Total Workload: 150

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Professional Practice	Each group will submit a final in-depth story of approximately 1,800-words, or two shorter stories equivalent to 1800-words. Each member of the group will receive the same grade.	100%	Week 12

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

Enterprise Reporting and The Method of Hypothesis-Based Reporting

"Open Doors" Reporting and Mapping Key Sources

Humans Sources and Preparing a Focus Statement and Rolling Focus Statement

Workshop on Story Development
There will be in-class meetings to discuss story progress, and set goals for the following week's work, until stories are completed.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Lee Hunter, Mark et al.: 2011, Story-Based Inquiry: A Manual for Investigative Journalists, UNESCO, Paris,
Randall, David: 2011, The Universal Journalist, Pluto Press, London,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None