Year 1 provides the basic tools to start producing quality journalism. You develop skills producing written, audio and video content.
In Year 2 your understanding of the work of a journalist deepens and grows as you are given more space and support to work in your chosen specialism.
In the final year you hone your entrepreneurial skills and work as part of a team on a media start-up project of you choosing.
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Bootcamp Post Production
You develop general digital production skills with an additional focus on post-production. The module enhances effective practical, technical and aesthetical approaches required to create a variety of digital media artefacts across a variety of digital delivery platforms with more relevance to the subject specific disciplines. You learn a variety of advanced sector specific and industry standard digital delivery methods and production techniques surrounding the acquisition, manipulation and operation of media production hardware and software applications. You also have access to freelance resources during the module. You are assessed on two pass/fail components. The first assessment involves a series of practical exams that determine your proficiency across a range of digital media production disciplines. The second is a digital portfolio of the culmination of work developed during the module.
Bootcamp Production
You are introduced to effective practical, technical and aesthetical approaches required to create a variety of digital media artefacts across a variety of digital delivery platforms. You learn a variety of sector specific and industry standard digital delivery methods and production techniques surrounding the acquisition, manipulation and operation of media production hardware and software applications. In addition to the supervised contact time, you also have access to freelance resources. You are assessed on two pass/fail components. Your first assessment is a series of practical exams that determine your proficiency across a range of digital media production disciplines. Your second assessment is a digital portfolio of work developed during the module.
Branding and Identity
This module looks at the ideas, concepts, and practicalities of developing a professional online presence. It takes a critical look at social media and considers how best to make use of existing online communities and tools. You design and create something that represents you in an online presence, using a range of available technologies and third-party applications (web authoring, blogging systems, social media, file sharing and networking systems), to act as a PR tool in promoting your career or specific media-related activities to a specified audience.
Journalism and News Culture
You examine the media through the central themes of industry, audience and text, debating ideology in news production as well as the role of the public sphere, representation and bias
Law and Regulation for Journalists
This module gives you the legal and ethical training required to practice as an effective, professional journalist. You learn about the judicial process and areas such as contempt, defamation, sexual offences, youth courts, inquests, copyright, privacy and ethics. You will also work towards your NCTJ Essential Law and Court Reporting exams.
Reporting and Newsgathering
You are introduced to the core journalistic skills of news reporting and news gathering in the digital landscape. You focus on different styles of writing, interviewing and research and industry level production skills with some exploration of usability and design for news audiences.
You explore news values, agenda-setting and the availability and usability of digital tools and techniques such as social media and imagery. You explore ways to cultivate and develop contacts, effectively utilising sources in the gathering, communication and dissemination of news in developing your own journalistic practice.
Year 2 core modules
Global Journalism
You examine the way news media operates on a global scale. You explore the structures and characteristics of how journalism is defined and practiced around the world. You discuss global perspectives on key topics and issues relating to news media organisations, globalisation and news flows. You examine key theoretical issues relating to the notion of “global journalism” as a news style located within global communications infrastructure, and take a comparative look at journalism in different parts of the world. You focus on different types of representations of reality people get from media.
Your assessment is 100% ICA: essay.
Live News Production
You experience a simulated live news environment to gain discipline and working practices associated with the industry. A key focus is on working to tight deadlines, using a model of repetition and reflection. Newsroom sessions are student led and you can develop independent learning and leadership skills. Reflection is used in debrief sessions so you can analyse and assess your own performance and professional practice. You build on skills and knowledge from your degree and produce a range of multimedia content for a specific audience.
Media Project
You work on industry-based projects that form part of your developing professional portfolio of work. You respond to time-based and/or live briefs in your allocated role within a professional network or team. You experience working within a professional network, reflecting your specialist area of media industry practice. For assessment, you submit a final product and a supporting research portfolio.
Professional Working
Preparation for your future career begins in your first year at Teesside. You learn how to market yourself to media employers whilst participating in live newsdays alongside second and third-year students.
Radio and Podcast
You research, pitch, write and produce reports for broadcast radio and a podcast using the TUXtra media platform. You learn more advanced presentation skills and receive practical development work to attune your voice so its suitable for radio and podcasting. You learn how to operate radio equipment and familiarise yourself with industry standard technology such as web newsroom software and digital online production delivery techniques. The stories you investigate involves analysing news and current affairs programmes, making editorial decisions and the practical, ethical and legal implications of broadcasting with regards to privacy, consent and copyright law.
Optional work placement year
Work placement
You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.
You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.
Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:
· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.
If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.
Final-year core modules
Advanced Professional Practice
Teesside University takes employability seriously and this module enables you to broach the gap between university and the workplace by preparing you for interview and job selection processes. As a third-year student you take on the role of editor for the print publication, TV news programme, and Tside radio show.
Critical Issues in Journalism
You explore the workings of a modern democracy, particularly how the structures and systems of local and central government and other public institutions impact on the practice of professional journalists. You develop your knowledge of council agendas, government sources and data and take part in a visit to a local council meeting.
Your assessment is 100% ICA: 50% journalism artefact and 50% exam.
Enterprise and Innovation
You consider, engage and analyse a range of key issues around enterprise and innovation when developing a professional digital publishing plan and pitch.
You research audiences, investigate and explore existing and emerging technologies and platforms, marketplaces, human factors, digital conventions and aesthetics. You develop your commercial awareness and business acumen; understanding existing and new digital business models, its challenges and opportunities. You develop an idea and plan for a new concept or an innovation based on an existing business.
You produce a detailed digital business plan, which presents and argues the case from a technical, audience, journalistic, content and commercial perspective.
Journalism Project
This project is the self-managed manifestation of all previous professional practice and reflective consideration. You work in small groups to produce a creative response to a negotiated brief.
In reflecting the current state of global journalism, the package should include a professional multimedia website managed and maintained for a discerning music and events audience. It should demonstrate the your skills in digesting research and synthesising a clear voice through demonstrated proficiency in journalism (specifically in your pathway choice, for example games, or music and events).
It is expected this site or collection of social media platforms will demonstrate skills in audio, video, layout, typography, web design and associated technologies for desktop and mobile platforms. In addition, you produce a critical essay, investigating a key issue in depth, in negotiation and agreement with the tutor.
