Broadcast Journalism

Digital Journalism (40 credit points)

You'll learn how to write for online, operate as a mobile journalist, conduct interviews for radio and television, record and edit material for radio and television news output, and how to use social media to gather and disseminate news.

Media Matters (20 credit points)

Develop a theoretical and critical understanding of the practices and processes of newspapers, magazines, radio, television and online journalism. You'll consider the relationship between society and media industries and investigate the ways that both influence each other.

Media Law 1: Covering the Courts (20 credit points)

Study the English legal system, courts, reporting restrictions and contempt, along with an introduction to court reporting. As part of the module you will also visit different courts to produce news reports from the proceedings. This module will give you an understanding of some of the legal rules which control broadcast media coverage of news stories as they break.

Social Media (20 credit points)

This module provides you with the knowledge to examine and analyse the impact of social media on the news industry as well as wider society, and introduces you to the tools and practices used by journalists to research and disseminate news across social media platforms.

Democracy in Action (20 credit points)

Examine the structure of the British political system, how it works, and how different branches interact. This module will give you a solid understanding of the basic features and operation of both central and local government. You'll also learn where to find information and interviewees on political stories and need to recognise current newsworthy issues relating to local and central government.

Semester One

Broadcast News (20 credit points)

Learn more advanced editing and production skills, make news packages for radio and television, and gain training in producing material for use online. Throughout the module you'll be working in teams to replicate industry practice in radio, television and online news, and produce work of a high journalistic standard.

Keeping out of Court (20 Credit Points)

This module introduces you to a number of important areas of law which has particular relevance to those involved in the media. You'll develop an understanding of many legal provisions which effect  the day-to-day activities of a working journalist. These include defamation, contempt, copyright, elections and sexual offences.

To complement these modules you'll select one of the following optional modules:

Journalism, Ethics and Society (20 credit points)

This module explores a range of ethical dilemmas, with a view to facilitating a responsible awareness of the role of the journalist in society. You will gain an insight into the key concepts regarding the production and practice of journalism. You will also develop a critical awareness of discourses pertaining to the changing form and functions of contemporary journalism within society.

Or

Political Journalism (20 credit points)

Looks at ethical issues and current controversies, such as fake news, propaganda, political partisanship, through the relationship between journalism and politics and its impact on past and current events.

Semester Two

Programme Production (20 credit points)

You'll participate, as part of a team, in newsdays to plan and produce live radio and TV magazine programmes with links to social media and with supporting online content on our outward-facing news website CBJSpotlight

You'll then choose two modules from the following options:

Sports Journalism (20 credit points)

This practical module develops your theoretical and critical understanding of the role and coverage of sport in contemporary society, and gives you the skills needed to work as a sports reporter. You'll study the links between national, regional, and local identity and sport, reflecting on how the media shapes that identity. Alongside lectures and student presentations, expert guest speakers will explain the logistics of reporting on sport and provide a greater understanding of the practical aspects of sports reporting.

Global Journalism (20 credit points)

Gain an appreciation of the journalism industry from an international and global perspective in terms of both contemporary realities and theoretical concepts. The module features a range of visiting speakers including practising journalists with experience of working across the world in different cultures and political regimes. Alongside lectures and workshops, you'll investigate the work and practice of journalists across the world through special screenings and discussions.

Photojournalism (20 credit points)

This module enables you to demonstrate skills, knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of stills photography. You'll gain practical skills in image capture on still digital formats and the transmission of stills You'll be competent in producing stills for publication and demonstrate the ability to write clear and accurate captions and news stories.You'll understand photographic practice and media law and ethics relating to the publication of images from both professional photographers, citizen journalists and other external sources in newspapers, magazines and on related websites and social media.

Fashion Journalism (20 credit points)

This module will introduce you to the world of fashion and how it is covered by journalists online, in print and on TV/radio. You'll study key trends in the industry, explore fashion design and manufacture, dissect brands and influencers, and learn how to analyse fashion from a journalist's perspective.

Newsroom Practice (40 credit points)

You'll participate in weekly newsdays to produce content for hourly radio news bulletins and daily TV news programmes. You'll continue to learn about bulletin and programme construction through these real-world newsdays, and will take part in as-live and live broadcasting and presenting.

Documenting News (40 credit points)

You'll produce a radio or TV documentary, on an issue or subject of your choice, showcasing the wide range of skills you have gained over the three years of the course. Features made for this module have also gone on to win national journalism and student journalism awards sponsored by organisations such as the RTS, BJTC, Midlands Media, Student Radio Awards, Nottingham's International Soroptimist Society, and Amnesty International.

You will then choose two of the following options - one per semester:

Semester One options

Data Journalism (20 credit points)

You'll apply and critically evaluate the new and emerging tools and processes used in researching and producing news content through statistical analysis and data, as required by employers and our professional accrediting body the BJTC.

Challenge and Conflict (20 credit points)

In this module you will examine and discuss journalism's role in the foundation and maintenance of democracy. You will explore the journalists' role as the guardians of freedom…as well as the disseminators of propaganda.

PR and Communications (20 credit points)

Enables you to demonstrate a working knowledge of PR in the private, public and voluntary sectors and use professional techniques and tools to produce a basic PR campaign.

Semester Two options

Celebrity Journalism (20 credit points)

Examines this increasingly important part of the industry and the societal impact of celebrity culture through lectures and student presentations.

Podcasting (20 credit points)

Learn the practical skills needed to compile and produce successful podcasts, while developing an understanding of the role of podcasting in the contemporary media landscape. Guest speakers who are experts in the field will explain the logistics and monetisation of podcasting to provide a better understanding of the economic framework within which podcasting sits.

We also offer this alternative route of study to selected third year students. This involves being attached to NottsTV, one of a number of hyper-local television stations licensed by Ofcom across the UK, and working as an intern within the station's professional newsroom throughout your final year.

Journalism at Work (40 credit points)

A NottsTV attachment will be organised around a 2-week rotation with you spending one week working with the NottsTV news team and the alternate week attending scale-up workshops and working on a group project, guided by CBJ tutors.

Group Documentary Project (40 credit points)

This module aims to provide you with the experience of working as a team alongside others completing the third year of their degrees at Notts TV to achieve the collective goal of producing a factual TV documentary. The assessments for this module consist of a Group Project in the form of a TV documentary and its promotion via social media and websites plus a critical essay and a reflective essay.

Documenting News (40 credit points)

You'll produce a radio or TV documentary, on an issue or subject of your choice, showcasing the wide range of skills you have gained over the three years of the course. Features made for this module have also gone on to win national journalism and student journalism awards sponsored by organisations such as the RTS, BJTC, Midlands Media, Student Radio Awards, Nottingham's International Soroptimist Society, and Amnesty International.