Media and Journalism: Writing for the Media
Programme Outline
Journalists don't just tell stories - they sell them. Part of the skill lies in understanding audiences, understanding what those audiences want to know - finding it out, and then telling them in a way which is truthful, but engaging.
This programme will let you try your hand at putting together a news report, researching and writing a feature article, editing copy and designing pages for publication. You will explore the differences and similarities between writing for a newspaper and writing for the worldwide web.
The Press Association Training - Students will spend two teaching sessions with The Press Association, Britain and Ireland's national news agency. Staff from The Press Association training section also train journalists working with internationally-known newspapers such as the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and Daily Mirror, as well as many of Britain's leading provincial newspapers.
Just one programme highlight includes an examination of key changes in the media in Russia during the transition from the Soviet era to today's 'oligarchic' economy.
This course will:
- Examine the differences between journalism and PR
- Explore the legal and ethical framework in which journalists must operate
- Investigate key issues such as the apparent conflict between the right to privacy and to freedom of information
- Ask what a journalist's role is in a democracy
Over the three weeks, you will research and write a 2,000 word travel feature about Newcastle and the area around it. It will be up to you to decide the kind of publication you are writing for, the audience you are addressing and what they will need to know - the give it to them!
And if the audience you choose is your local paper's readership – you will be encouraged to offer it to the editor for publication - at a price.
The course will be taught by both academics and practising journalists. Programme tutors include:
David Baines - David is a Teaching Fellow, regional daily newspaper sub-editor, a former Media Law examiner for the NCTJ, and is a member of the North East Regional Advisory Committee of the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ); the Association of Journalism Educators (AJE) and is an National Union of Journalists (NUJ) learning representative.
Ian Blackhall - Ian is a senior lecturer in Journalism and Public Relations, and a member of the Institute of Public Relations; the North East Regional Advisory Committee of the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ); the Association of Journalism Educators (AJE) and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Frank Beardow - Frank was formerly Reader in Russian and Comparative Literary Studies at the University of Sunderland, has also held University teaching appointments in Wales, Canada, and Latvia. He has published widely on many aspects of Russia, including cinema. His book LITTLE VERA appeared in 2003 in the I.B. Tauris KinoFiles series.
Peter Leathley - Peter is an award-winning senior designer on The Journal newspaper in Newcastle, part of Trinity Mirror, Britain's biggest newspaper publisher.
Press Association Training
Part of Britain's national news agency, the Press Association, and its training centre in Newcastle is the only one in the country to be based in a working newspaper office. Students will spend two teaching sessions at Press Association Training.
