BA (Hons) Journalism with Foundation Year

This module puts the tools of content creation in your hands. You will learn how shoot and edit great video and stills images, how to record audio content for podcasts, and how to write compelling copy. These are the basic building blocks of journalism and storytelling and will allow you to start developing your own showcase of work. As well as developing technical skills, you will study theories such as shot composition, narrative structure, and the ethical considerations of content creation. You will also critically review the work of contemporary journalists and content creators both in terms of news values and production techniques. The module fosters a sense of belonging by encouraging students to tell stories from their own lived experience. The technical training programme is flexible to ensure accessibility.

What is the role of the journalist? What place do reporters and content creators have in a modern democratic society? How can your journalism address issues like social justice, diversity and sustainability? In this module, we critically explore the evolving nature of journalism and how this leads to specific forms of practice. You will learn, research and debate some of the issues central to news production through a series of lectures, seminars, guest speakers and visits. Through this module you will develop an understanding of the profession which will help you produce journalism that is ethical, socially conscious, and sustainable

In this module, students are invited to explore how they and their peers perceive the world and examine how that fits in with creative practice and the wider context of the Creative Industries. The focus is on empowering voices and refining the articulation of ideas. The module aims to develop students' abilities to critically analyse information and engage in thoughtful, sometimes controversial, discussions on contemporary issues. It provides an opportunity to explore concepts including cultural, social, political, economic, and environmental factors and across various disciplines. Additionally, it encourages the exploration of diverse perspectives and fosters the development of collaborative and inclusive communication skills.

This module will introduce you to the world of public relations (PR) and, in doing so, will answer the following questions: What is the purpose of PR? What are the key concepts that inform its practice? What PR functions distinguish it from, yet relate it to, journalism? What employment opportunities exist for journalism students within PR? You will explore the latest academic research and theories and engage in practical activities related to PR functions.

This module immerses you in a dynamic newsroom and studio environment, building on the technical and editorial foundations established at Level Four. Framed around the practical demands of weekly production deadlines, the module focuses on the collaborative creation of news outputs, including TV news programmes, audio bulletins, and online content. Through a rotation of newsroom roles, you will engage critically with the responsibilities and workflows integral to real-world journalism, while developing your skills and confidence to step into more senior roles in future practice.

This module is about ‘you’ and your place in the world, with a view to refining your specialism as a professional/practitioner and improving your profile. The module will be delivered across specific course groupings that capture the core values of each course. Across this module students will typically undertake at least one major externally facing project (e.g. live brief, placement, virtual placement, etc) or 2-3 smaller projects by negotiation. These projects will support student transferable skills around employment within the Creative Industries.

It is now time to take on senior leadership roles in our weekly Newsdays. As in Level 5, you will be deploying your storytelling skills in a realistic newsroom and studio environment. Working to real deadlines, you will collaborate as a team to produce a TV show, podcast and online output from scratch, every week. This time though, you will be expected to take on roles such as News Editor, Producer, Planning Editor and Presenter and you will be graded not only on your journalism but also your leadership. You will be asked to take editorial and legal decisions, advising others on content. You will also receive specialist resilience training to help prepare you for the pressures and challenges of this unique career.

This is your capstone project – the final piece of independent project work that represents the culmination of your degree. Using the skills, knowledge, and tools developed throughout your studies, you will produce an original piece of in-depth journalism. In addition, you will develop a comprehensive plan to reach your target audience – whether through social media, a pitch to an established broadcaster, or another appropriate channel. You will be supported by a dedicated supervisor and have access to Screen School resources to complete your project.

This module is about your 'career' after you complete your formal UG study. It is about the realities of (and preparation for) freelance, entrepreneurial, industry and further study trajectories. This pan-school module will hinge around students creating a personal career strategy plan called ‘28 days later’. The purpose is for students to take accountability and ownership over their future direction by creating a career plan that they activate when leaving the course with a view to maximise their long term employability prospects.