Module: International News

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	International News
Module Code	MCO1074 (ITS: JR2xx)
Faculty	Communications	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module investigates how international news is gathered and disseminated within the media ecosystem. It takes students from global news agencies through to news gathered by local reporters and citizen journalists and sent out via social media. This module asks how are these news stories selected and assigned value? We will examine large media companies such as the 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 RTÉ, the BBC, Al-Jazeera, CNN, and CNTV, plus legacy print media operations such as The New York Times, The Irish Times, The Guardian, 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 employed by reporters in international contexts. This module combines both practical and studies-based approaches.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify how global news agency stories enter the local media sphere.
2. Evaluate stories in their country-specific contexts.
3. Research how foreign correspondents, local reporters and producers operate as news gatherers.
4. Examine current global hotspots and how they are covered by the media.
5. Understand how history, geography and power dynamics affect news-gathering
6. Write and analyse stories with an international remit.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Workshop	24	2 hour workshop in a MAC lab. First hour directed learning/lecture Second hour media production
Independent Study	65	Independent study/research and assignments
Assignment Completion	36	Completing practical assignments
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11885	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	Colleen Murrell	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Students will write a 1000 word article on the coverage of an international story by the news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP)	30%	Week 7
Participation	Students must attend 10 x workshops out of the 12 in the semester	10%	n/a
Presentation	Presentation and uploading of plan regarding the second major assignment - the article	10%	Week 10
Professional Practice	1 x article of 1200 - 1400 words on an agreed international story topic. At least three relevant people must be interviewed for this piece.	50%	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

Weekly classes would include classes on the following topics:
- Global News agencies AP, AFP and Reuters - Covering Washington - Global Broadcasters BBC, CNN, Al-Jazeera and RTÉ - Foreign Correspondents, local reporters and fixers - Gaza & Ukraine coverage (or other conflicts) - The Times, NY Times and the Irish Times - Covering Europe - NGO reporting and advocacy - Covering China & Beijing - Black holes of newsgathering

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Lisa Napoli: 2020, Up All Night, 1, Abrams Press, New York, 0, 9781419743061
Trevor Watson & Melissa Roberts: 2021, The Beijing Bureau, Quadrille Publishing, Sydney, 11, 978174379754
Brian O'Donovan: 2021, Four Years in the Cauldron, 1, Sandycove, Dublin, 9781844885770
Hala Gorani: 2021, But You Don't Look Arab, 2, Hachette Books, New York, 9780306831645

Articles:

Articles for reading will be put up on Loop: 0,

Other Resources

None

I have changed two of the assignments. I have changed an essay to an article and I have got rid of one of the two presentation assignments.