Year 1 gives you all the tools you need to start producing quality journalism that is both ethically and legally sound. You work on the Tside website to develop skills producing quality written, audio, video and social media content.
In Year 2 you develop a deeper and more sophisticated understanding of the work of a sports journalist, and are given the opportunity to explore your own interests through a series of multimedia news days.
In the final year you take a leading editorial role in content creation for the Tside brand whilst drawing on your existing sports skillset to build your own journalism digital brand. You develop your entrepreneurial abilities to explore ways of monetising your ideas - focusing on the content you love to create.
Course structure
Foundation year core modules
Case Studies
This module provides tools in your reading of cultural texts. Focusing on computer games, animation and film, you gain an introductory level of understanding in the context of your chosen fields of study.
As well as looking at the historical and contextual overview of the history of animation, film and computer games, you also look at how we interpret these types of media historically and materially. You choose a text from within your area of interest and undertake an analytical review in the form of a case study.
Creative Media Production
You explore the basic technical components of the process of making video or audiovisual materials for outputs such as online publishing, documentary or drama. You are introduced to media languages and how to communicate clearly to target audiences.
The module is project based and you carry out writing, composition and editing of your own short video or online publication. You learn basic skills in risk assessment for technical equipment, filming, editing and using online resources.
Your assessment is the creation of a video in response to a brief and the submission of a written review.
Final Project
This module aims to guide you through the production of a small-scale individual project defined in part by you, with guidance from the tutor. The final project aims to develop an individual working approach and good project management. You will develop original ideas and concepts for an appropriate project in your chosen field of study. These may take the form of a short story, artefact, report, campaign, comic, concept art or other appropriate form related to the arts and media industries.
Storytelling
Here, you apply acquired knowledge and skills to a selected project according to an area of your individual interest or specialism. This module provides an overview of professional graphic practice and enables you to reflect on your own learning and personal career aspirations. You review work from modules through your portfolio presentation and set goals for the next stage.
Study Skills
You explore learning skills for undergraduate study at University, providing you with a range of learning material and practical sessions. You develop your professional skills including teamwork, researching a topic, report writing and delivering presentations, as well as time management and learning practice.
You learn by a combination of lectures, e-learning material and support.
You are introduced to the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) at Teesside University, exploring e-learning material and reading lists, and student support and learning resources.
Your assessment is a portfolio based on set tasks, including research into set problems.
Understanding Media
You explore a range of contemporary media theories and ideas in their broader historical, social, cultural, technological and economic context. You learn how these contexts can help us understand the power and influence of the media and how to begin to read the media through identifying codes and conventions.
Your assessment is a short essay that researches one area of media production.
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.
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.
Sport Culture and Society
You develops understanding of sport in its wider historical, social and cultural context. You explores key debates in sport journalism by providing a theoretically and critically informed understanding of the sport industry. You critically engage with existing and emerging issues in sports on a global, national and local level such as representation, social stratification and division in sport, and social fandom.
You gain a critical understanding of the social responsibilities and expectations of a sport journalist. This prepares you to be able to report on a wide range of sport related issues, which often spill over to the news pages.
Your assessment is 100 % ICA, group presentation and essay.
Year 2 core modules
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.
Match Day Reporting
You gain practical skills needed to become multi-media sports journalists.
You focus on how to deal with the demands placed on a journalist when covering live sport events. You learn how to produce accurate, informative and entertaining sports reports to tight deadlines, produce compelling content, attention grabbing headlines and identifying the best angle.
You are expected to attend live sport events to put your learning into practice.
Your assessment is 100% ICA: match report and reaction piece.
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.
Power of Sport
Sport is more than just a game. It is big news and big business. Sport journalism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the British media industry. This module digs beneath the surface of match reporting and explores the theoretical debates surrounding sport, the media and society.
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 is a self-managed project of professional practice and reflective consideration. You work individually to produce creative work as a finished multimedia web site demonstrating skills in the newsgathering, production of multimedia sports journalism including audio, video, layout, typography, web design and associated technologies. You also produce a critical essay, examining a key issue of professional practice raised in the creative process.
Your assessment is 100% ICA: website, individual project and essay.
