Journalism

Contents

Course Structure

Practical Journalism

This is a major part of the course and includes news reporting, feature writing, investigative journalism and other specialisms, and NCTJ exam preparation. It develops students' ability to write in a range of styles appropriate to content, purpose and audience, as well as enhancing students' understanding of news values and other influences on the selection and presentation of material.

In the second semester, students work on news days, where they produce their own publications in a variety of formats and platforms. In addition, students learn sub-editing using QuarkXpress.

This class also equips students with the research skills needed on a daily basis by news and features reporters. It develops knowledge of the main news and information sources and information-gathering techniques, such as interviewing, and introduces students to the major sources of information, including libraries, official documents and the Internet.

Specialist Journalism

This class consists of the production of a specialist feature project on a topic chosen by the student. The piece is developed over the second semester and illustrates much of the learning that has been accrued over the course. Each individual is supported and advised by staff throughout. Students also undertake a short elective in a specific aspect of journalism, such as arts and entertainment journalism, magazine journalism or sports reporting.

Journalism and Society

This class encourages students to develop a critical understanding of the institutional and financial frameworks within which the media operate, together with the structures and practices of journalism as a career. It deals with media discourse and the ethical issues confronting journalists.

Scots Law for Journalists

Many aspects of law impinge on journalistic activity and this class is designed to impress upon students the need for a detailed working knowledge of these aspects, such as libel, copyright and court reporting.

Scottish Public Affairs

This class explains the working of European, Scottish, central and local government to enable students to understand the complexities of the policy-making process at different levels.

Teeline Shorthand

Editors in both print and broadcasting consider shorthand to be a key skill and the NCTJ places great emphasis on it. By the end of the course, students are expected to take dictation at 100 wpm and transcribe with a minimum of 98% accuracy, as required by the industry and the NCTJ.

MLitt Dissertation

Entry to the MLitt is subject to satisfactory completion of the Diploma, ie good passes in all of the above classes (with the exception of Shorthand and Professional Placement) and approval of a dissertation proposal.

The MLitt is aimed at students who want to gain proficiency in academic research as well as vocational skills. MLitt students submit a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words which enables them to further explore the analytical aspects of the course and to apply academic research methods to the examination of journalistic practice.