This Module focuses on corruption as it can be studied by the media. At the end of the semester, the students are expected to demonstrate their expertise in identifying, researching, and analysing issues of public importance and matters for investigative reporting. They are expected to effectively write publishable, in-depth investigate stories about local and national issues using primary sources.
General Objectives:
This Module particularly focuses on the various manifestations of corrupt practices in government and private sectors. The aim of the Module is to train students on how to identify corrupt acts and practices, conduct advanced research, analyse facts and perform investigative reporting.
This Module is designed as a continuation of Civics Module. This Module furthers the focus on the practice of political reporting, concluding work on social and political systems, especially regional institutions and relationships and an interweaving theme of gender perspectives and gender-sensitivity in journalism.
At the end of the semester, the students will have developed or are expected to:
1) Explore the practice of political reporting;
2) Practice the key elements of political journalism with an understanding of political systems and regional perspectives;
3) Identify national and regional issues and the organisations/institutions that handle these issues;
4) Understand Information Disclosure policies and Freedom of Information and how it relaters to political reporting;
5) Develop an awareness and sensitivity toward various ways of how and why gender can impact media content and to become more critical thinking producers and consumers of media by applying gender-sensitive concepts and practices to journalism; and
6) Engage in sensitive issues and matters of public importance through research and producing media.
This module is designed for students’ exposure to the nature, elements, process and practice of writing for print. The course focuses on critical, interpretive and opinion writing for newspapers and other media in the form of editorials, reviews, columns, letters and cartoons.
At the end of the semester, the students will have gained confidence and proficiency in their informed application of the advanced skills in writing various types of material for print media (to include feature writing, editorial and opinion, commentary, and youth writing.
The course focuses on the development of students’ skills to
1) understand the difference (and similarities) between broadcast and print journalism,
2) gain knowledge and understanding of journalists’ skills as broadcasters in news and current affairs and in a range of talk genres,
3) understand the role(s), construction and presentation of talkback radio;
4) improve broadcast interviewing skills to an advanced level
5) gain knowledge and understanding of documentary-making
6) apply this knowledge in reporting.