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GO UNIVERSITY  Ghana/Global 2016/17/18/19

BA Journalism degree - 3 Years

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Course Description-

 

This course gives you the knowledge and skills to pursue an exciting career in the multimedia world of journalism.

You’ll receive hands-on training in TV, radio and digital production, alongside theoretical study. You’ll learn how to spot and investigate a story and then write, produce, record and edit your own stories in our cutting-edge studios, editing rooms and media suites. You’ll explore ethical issues and the role of journalism in society – and choose optional modules on topics from documentary production to citizen media.

If you want to broaden your studies in later years, you can transfer to our BA Journalism and Media degree, allowing you to put the study of journalism into the broader context of media and communication and choose from a wider range of options.

You’ll complete a work placement to gain hands-on experience of a working newsroom and put your skills into practice. You could even get involved in Leeds University Union’s (LUU) award-winning student media societies.

 

Course Contents

From the moment you start the programme you’ll explore key concepts in journalism and build your journalistic skills. You’ll examine the role of journalism and its relationship with politics in particular, while learning how to spot a story and developing key investigative techniques, alongside writing skills for different news media. You’ll also be introduced to media and communication research.

In Year 2 core modules will focus on specialist aspects of TV and radio news production, as well as introducing you to vital ethical issues in the field. You’ll also choose from a range of optional modules focusing on topics that interest you, from PR to media policy and the role of technology in media and communications.

Across the first two years, you’ll produce your own news output for radio, television and online outlets, as well as learning how to record for radio, film for TV, and edit your stories to professional standards. Between Years 2 and 3, you’ll spend three weeks gaining industry experience on a work placement where you’ll put your skills and knowledge into practice.

In your final year, you’ll move towards examining current affairs output. In addition, you’ll gain a vital grounding in media law and select from optional modules on topics such as war and the media or documentary journalism. You’ll also have the choice either to showcase your research skills with a dissertation, or to develop your own project portfolio – a chance to research and produce your own TV and radio documentaries on a topic of your choice. This could tackle a specialist area, such as sports or science journalism.

BA Journalism and Media

At the end of Year 1, you’ll have the option to broaden your studies by switching to BA Journalism and Media. This course involves less compulsory practical training in Years 2 and 3, giving you more scope to explore topics across the fields of media and communication. You could continue with some journalism practice while taking modules in digital media, film, photography and media studies, as well as other disciplines across the University.

In your final year, you’ll undertake an independently researched dissertation on a topic of your choice – although if you have chosen to take some practical modules you could also still complete a project portfolio.

 

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Introduction to Media and Communication Research 20 credits

• Introduction to Journalism 20 credits

• Journalism, Politics and Society 20 credits

• Camera and Editing for Journalists 20 credits

• Journalism News Skills 20 credits

Optional modules

• The History of Communication 20 credits

• Introduction to Media and Communication Theory 20 credits

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Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Compulsory modules

• (Broadcast) Journalism Ethics 20 credits

• Issues in Journalism 20 credits

• Journalism Practice A

• Journalism Practice B

• Optional modules

• Technology in Communication and Media 20 credits

• Communication Skills 20 credits

• Digital Storytelling 20 credits

• Digital Cultures 20 credits

• Media Policy 20 credits

• Working in New Media 20 credits

• Communication Research Methods 20 credits

• Introduction to Public Relations 20 credits

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• Year 3

• Compulsory modules

• Live News Production 20 credits

• Media Law 20 credits

• Broadcast Journalism Placement 20 credits

• Communication Dissertation OR Broadcast Journalism Individual Project Portfolio 40 credits

• Optional modules

• The Documentary and Reality 20 credits

• Feminism, Identity and Media 20 credits

• Statistics and Data for Journalists 20 credits

• The Reporting of Politics 20 credits

• TV Documentary Journalism 20 credits

• The Ethnography of Speaking 20 credits

• Mobile Media 20 credits

• Citizen Media 20 credits

• War and Media 20 credits

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