MEDIA WRITING AND REPORTING SEM 1 2025/2026 AY

MEDIA WRITING AND REPORTING  SEM 1 2025/2026 AY


Purpose

To enable learners gather and report news.

 

Expected learning outcomes

By the end of the course, learners should be able to:

i.               Discuss ethical considerations in news writing and reporting

ii.              Demonstrate understanding of the methods of collecting information

iii.            Write news from various occurrences.    

iv.            Explain electronic news reporting trends

Course content

Legal and ethical considerations. Locating the news:  developing stories,  collecting information from real and virtual documents Types of news: beats, spot news and reporting assignments. Newswriting mechanics:  newswriting style,  writing compelling leads. Reporting news: fieldwork, interviewing, covering planned events, reporting live. Voiceovers. Packages and pictures. Delivering the news. Digital and Social Media Reporting, Data journalism, Mobile Journalism (MoJo), Podcasting and audio reporting, freelance and entrepreneurial journalism

 

Mode of Delivery

Lecture method, group activities/presentations, discussions, practical writing and reporting

 

Instructional materials

LCD projector, whiteboard/chalkboard and markers/chalk

 

Course assessment

CATs, assignments, group/class presentations 30%

Written examination                                         70%

Total                                                                100%

 

Core Reading Materials for the course

1.     Barnes, F. (2018). Broadcast news writing, reporting and producing. USA: Routledge.

2.     Ringrow, H., & Pihlaja, S. (2020). Contemporary media stylistics. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

3.     Marsh, C., Guth, D. W., & Short, B. P. (2020). Strategic Writing: Multimedia Writing for Public Relations, Advertising and More. Milton: Taylor & Francis Group.

Recommended reading materials

1.     Wheeler, A. (2019). Writing for the media. Bingley: Emerald Publishing.

2.     Carroll, B. (2019). Writing and Editing for Digital Media. Milton: Routledge.

Course Journals

1.     Communication Quarterly

2.     Journal of media writing and reporting