Module: Journalism Opportunities & Innovation

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Journalism Opportunities & Innovation
Module Code	JRR1027 (ITS: CM3860)
Faculty	Communications	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The module is focused on opportunities available to journalism graduates by introducing them to the business of the news industry with specific attention on entrepreneurship, freelancing and professional skills to help them succeed in a competitive landscape. The module responds to the changes in the media environment, in particular, disruption to traditional employment practices and the reality of more transitory career paths, coupled with the role of social media in professional journalists’ public profiles. Module content will focus on the future of journalism and will encourage entrepreneurial creativity and business understanding not just in innovative start-up environments but also inside legacy media organisations. Students will also be encouraged to reflect on their professional identities and how they present themselves to potential employers, especially in online contexts.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the business and economics of the news industry;
2. Conceive and develop a group business proposition and present a formal pitch
3. Reflect on importance of professional identities for journalists seeking work opportunities
4. Understand the role of social media in promoting a journalistic brand
5. Understand contemporary work opportunities and freelance journalism roles

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	No Description
Assignment Completion	33	No Description
Independent Study	70	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20578	Part of Term	Semester 2
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	David Robbins, Declan Fahy, John Walsh

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Group assignment	Conceive business idea, present to panel of judges, and submit business plan	60%	n/a
Presentation	Present on an existing start-up in the journalism industry	25%	n/a
Professional Practice	Submit professional biography and CV	15%	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

Business elements of journalism

Business of the news entrepreneurship

Start-up culture

Freelancing

Future of journalism

Entrepreneurial creativity

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Briggs, Mark: 2012, Entrepreneurial Journalism: How to Build What’s Next for News, Sage/CQ Press., Los Angeles,
Reis, Eric.: 2011, The Lean Start-up. How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses., Penguin,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None

A list of core and supplementary reading material - much of it from online sources - will be provided in the module syllabus.