Prospectus

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Journalism Practice

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Not applicable

Description

This course consists of two components: 1) Writing Skills, and 2) Video and Podcast Production.

Writing Skills

In Writing Skills, we introduce students to the most commonly occurring written journalistic genres and styles. Once they have familiarised themselves with these genres, we invite them to produce their own journalistic written texts, based on a topic of their choice, which they develop and transform for printed and online news media.

At the end of this course, students will know how to select the appropriate journalistic genre and style for a given topic, approach their writing with a critical journalistic stance, and be able to deal with the all-important deadline.

Video and Podcast Production

In Video Production, students will learn about the basics of producing, filming, and editing TV news reports as well as online videos. We deal with questions such as “How is a TV news report different from a documentary-style web video?” and “How can video be combined with other ways of storytelling in an online context?” Moreover, the seminars will focus on the skills needed for video reporting, including how to shoot and edit video, script design, interview techniques, how to deal with sound, and how to voice your reports for TV and the web. The main emphasis of this course will be on students doing it themselves. Student-produced videos will be shown and discussed in class.

In Podcast Production, students not only contemplate the changing role of podcasting in (digital) journalism but get down to producing their own podcast show. In a series of practical workshops, students will learn about planning podcast episodes, pre-production, recording, editing, and the post-production process. After completing this course, students will not only be able to confidently use the podcast genre to disseminate news stories, but also critically analyse other podcast productions.

Students will most often work in teams, enhancing their team working and communication skills. Dealing with deadlines and the uncertainties of ‘the world out there’, flexibility, being abte to have an open debate, and creativity are important skills throughout this course.

More details about group division, planning, and practicalities concerning materials will be communicated at the start of the course.

Course objectives

Writing Skills

After completing the program, students will have gained insight into:

  • The organization of editorial and journalistic work;

  • The principles of journalistic style and methods;

  • The main features of the journalistic genres news report and background story;

  • The sub-editing of journalistic texts;

  • The importance of relevant, reliable sources and how to maximize the information gained from them;

  • The most important discussions and new insights in the journalistic field.

Students will have gained skills in the field of:

  • The journalistic craft;

  • Writing news reports and background stories;

  • Sub-editing;

  • Gathering news and searching for information.

Video and Podcast Production

After completing the course, students will have gained insight into:

  • Audiovisual storytelling.

Moreover, students will have gained skills in the field of:

  • Editing Audio and Video;

  • Videography and Soundrecording;

  • Teamwork and communication skills;

  • Dealing with deadlines and feedback;

  • Working independently;

  • Giving and receiving constructive criticism.

Timetable

The timetables are available through MyTimetable.

Mode of instruction

  • Seminar

Assessment method

The final grade for Journalism Practice consists of "Writing Skills" 50%, and "Video and Podcast Production" 50%. Students need to pass both components in order to successfully complete the course Journalism Practice.

Writing Skills

Assessment

Students are evaluated by producing journalistic texts that must meet the criteria of the genre and must be submitted on time. Working with deadlines is an explicit part of the course.

Weighing

  • Background story: 45%

  • News articles: 30%

  • Sub-editing: 15%

  • Dealing with deadlines: 10%

Resit

The background story can be resubmitted if the student has failed (5.5/10 or lower).

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Video and Podcast Production

Assessment

Students are evaluated by producing journalistic video and audio that must meet the criteria of the genre and must be submitted on time. Working with deadlines is an explicit part of the course.

The assignments are made in groups.

  1. Video production
  2. Podcast

Weighing

  1. Video production: 50%
  2. Podcast: 50%

The final mark for the course is established by (i) determination of the weighted average combined with (ii) additional requirements: Students must pass both assignments.

Resit

If students fail one (or both) of the assignments, they will be given an alternative assignment in order to pass. In that case, dates and deadlines will be arranged with the teacher.

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

TBA

Registration

Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.

Contact

  • For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.

  • For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal.

Remarks

Not applicable