Module: International News Gathering

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	International News Gathering
Module Code	JRR1031 (ITS: CM5967)
Faculty	Communications	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

This module will examine how international news is gathered and dispersed via the global information flow. It will explore how stories enter the news chain from the macro world of international news agencies through to those gathered by local reporters and citizen journalists and sent out via social media. How are these news stories selected, assigned value and then distributed? This module will explore large media companies such as Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse to see what purpose news agencies serve in a changing digital media landscape. We will also study broadcasters such as RTE, the BBC, Al-Jazeera, CNN, and CNTV, and legacy media operations such as The New York Times, The Irish Times, The Guardian, The Daily Mail and assorted European and international media companies. And finally, this module will explore the world of foreign correspondents, local journalists and the issues, lenses and language favoured by reporters in international contexts.

Learning Outcomes

1. In this assignment students will understand how international news flows operate around the globe. They will use this knowledge to examine coverage of news in the paid and public spheres.
2. In this third assignment students will apply what they have learned by creating a project or podcast to demonstrate their understanding of international news coverage
3. In class presentation - in this assignment students will show what they intend to study for their project. Feedback will be given in class
4. Weekly class participation

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Seminars	24	This module will be taught in seminar mode (incorporating lectures and discussion)
Independent Study	186	Students must complete readings, class preparations and do independent study for this module. Students will undertake research in class and also for three assignments to be completed during the semester
Total Workload: 210

Section Breakdown
CRN	20582	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	Colleen Murrell	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	Students will analyse and evaluate current reporting practices with regards to a particular country, issue or news outlet.	40%	Week 6
Presentation	The student will present to the class (and upload online) a PowerPoint presentation on the subject of their intended project assignment	10%	Week 9
Participation	The student will gain marks for participation in class exercises, tasks, and presentations from week 2 to 11.	10%	Other
Assignment	Students will write a piece of long form journalism or produce a podcast on a selected country, issue or topic of relevance in agreement with lecturer.	40%	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

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:

Lei Guo, Chris J Vargo: 2017, Global Intermedia Agenda Setting: A Big Data Analysis of International News Flow, Journal of Communication, 67, 21, https://academic.oup.com/joc/article-abstract/67/4/499/4642155, 58609
2017: The global television news agencies and their handling of user generated content video from Syria, Media, War and Conflict, 11, 27, 1750660, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1750635217704224, 58610, 1
Globalization of Chinese Media: the global context: China's Media Go Global, 17, https://www.amazon.com/Chinas-Media-Global-Internationalizing-Studies/dp/1138665 851, 58611, 1, Murrell, C.
Journalism Studies: 2019, 16,

Other Resources

None

Week 1 History of early news flows; International news agencies Week 2 International and national news agencies today Week 3 The Times, The Irish Times, The New York Times Week 4 Public service broadcasting vs commercial broadcasting coverage Week 5 International news deserts. Fixers, stringers and local reporters Week 6 Social media, citizen journalism and activism READING WEEK Week 7 Advocacy Journalism & NGOs Week 8 Governments and soft power Week 9 Student presentations Week 10 A day in the life of a foreign correspondent Week 11 Natural disasters versus longer-term crises Week 12 Working on the final assignment/consultations