Skip to main content

Module

MCH8012 : Freelancing in Media and Communications

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Miss Laura Richards
  • Lecturer: Ms Sarah Drummond
  • Owning School: Arts & Cultures
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This module aims to prepare students for freelancing opportunities within an expanding sector, with short-term contracts prevalent across the media and communications industry. By focusing specifically on freelancing and entrepreneurship within media and communications, the module aims to develop skills and knowledge that will help prepare students for this competitive sector by identifying opportunities, enhancing their employability skills, identifying individual goals and developing personal action plans.

Outline Of Syllabus

- Outline of the freelance and short contracts sector within media and communications
- Identifying opportunities within the sector
- Identifying individual goals
- Developing a Personal Action Plan
- Developing portfolios and enhancing employability skills
- Partnership and collaborative working

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture111:0011:00On-campus lectures (can be delivered synchronously online if necessary)
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials111:0011:00Interactive non-synchronous lecture materials delivered online
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion115:0055:00Independent preparation for assessments
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading101:1212:00Directed weekly to set texts and readings
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops111:0011:00On-campus workshops (can be delivered synchronously online if necessary)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery11:001:00One hour zoom/online drop-in session for full group to support assessment submission
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study119:0099:00Independent engagement with content and practice related to learning and assessment
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The online non-synchronous learning materials will relate to syllabus materials for freelancing in media and communications. These will present an overview of the key practices for the sector and will be expanded upon within scheduled weekly lectures.

The workshop sessions will be held on campus (but can be delivered online synchronous if necessary), allowing students to discuss their practice in relation to syllabus materials and prepare for assessment.

Weekly lectures are held on campus (but can be delivered online synchronous if necessary). Students will engage with the lecturer to consolidate key learnings, participate in the key debates, as a class, and student contributions will be encouraged.

It is expected that all students will contribute to on-campus and online discussions.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise2A100Personal Action Plan and evaluation (approx. 3500 words)
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

In this module students are looking at their individual skills, knowledge and expertise within the context of freelancing within the media and communications sector.

The Action Plan and individual evaluation aims to outline students' vision of where they want to be as a freelancer and how they plan to make that happen, with a reflection which demonstrates their understanding of key knowledge outcomes.

Reading Lists

Timetable