Digital Journalism

Course Content:

This module introduces students to the background of the ?online revolution? and its
implications for the role of the journalist and the future of the industry. Students will gain
understanding of the impact of the internet including social media on reporting and
writing and an introduction to multimedia reporting including video.

Topics covered include:
? Examining the history and background of the ?online revolution? and
identifying key players and thinkers in the debate relating to the future of
the industry
? Critically examining how the internet has transformed the way in which
journalists are expected to select, write and present content
? Understanding the impact of search engines on the way journalistic
content is sourced, written and presented on the web
? Creating a blog to develop skills in building an effective online journalism
platform including web writing, creating and uploading multimedia and
building a community
? Developing an understanding of visual storytelling through multimedia
including video and exercises such as photoblogging, sourcing user?s
images and aggregating multimedia content from around the web
? Understanding the importance of driving ?traffic? to online content and
exploring methods to achieve this
? Using social media for journalism including live reporting
? Critically appraising online sources and applying journalistic checks on
information and sources
? Developing an understanding of data journalism and and data
visualisation
? Adapting journalistic content to multiple platforms including mobile
technology
? Engaging with the concept of entrepreneurial journalism including
building an online brand and making money from online content
? Engaging and building online communities
? Developing understanding of collaborative journalism and other uses of
?user-generated content?
? Exploring ideas for the future of journalism and identifying innovative
practice.

AUTUMN SEMESTER:
Gaining key skills in writing for the web, focusing on style, speed and accuracy and using
social media, blogging software and other digital tools. Learning about debates in the
industry surrounding digital journalism through contextual lectures covering subjects
such as investigative journalism in the digital age and strategies employed by major
newspaper websites to drive traffic.

SPRING SEMESTER:
The role of multimedia in digital journalism and learning practical skills in visual thinking
story research, filming and editing. Contextual lectures on relevant case studies and
debates about changing technology in multimedia reporting.

Teaching: Lectures and workshops

Assessment:
STUDY OPTION 1:
? A multimedia portfolio (100%) equivalent to 3000 words.
STUDY OPTION 2: group project and live blog.
STUDY OPTION 3: group project and live blog.

Study Option 1 = Whole Year
Study Option 2 = Autumn
Study Option 3 = Spring/summer