Modules

Core Module Information
Module title: Television News
SCQF level: 09:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10
Module code: JAC09123
Module leader: Miranda Hurst
School School of Arts and Creative Industries
Subject area group: Media and Humanities
Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added
Description of module content:

You will examine different television reporting styles and techniques. You will engage in the production of live rolling news days: covering real-life stories sourced locally, nationally and internationally with the help of news feeds. News bulletins will include elements typical within the TV industry including reporter packages, live elements and newsbelts. In this way, you will gain an understanding of the structure and narrative mechanisms in TV news bulletins. During the news days, you will be encouraged to cover a wide range of news stories including sports news and report from Edinburgh courts and the Scottish and UK Parliaments.You will take responsibility for pre-planning and producing TV news content to strict deadlines which reflect industry practice. In studios and newsrooms that imitate industry production facilities, you will produce TV news bulletins to industry standards. Voice coaching, camera workshops and technical support will be provided.Prior to engaging in news days, you will produce in pairs an assessed television reporter package with a short written report detailing your involvement and experience. You will also critically analyse issues around the evolving TV news industry and you will demonstrate an awareness of target audiences, mobile journalism, social media, the effect of emerging technologies on the industry and the legal and ethical framework within which broadcast journalists work (including broadcast regulation and legal compliance). Skills learnt on Radio News are expected to be applied on this module. Legally and ethically sound journalism skills impartial, balanced, accurate and properly sourced reporting, advanced writing skills for broadcast outlets and the sourcing of original stories are basic requirements on this module.
Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to

LO1: Create originally sourced, editorially robust and well-structured TV news reports

LO2: Working individually and in groups to produce journalistic output which is legally sound and ethically robust.

LO3: Create television and video content to a high technical standard.

LO4: Working in groups to create TV bulletins and other related content to deadlines during Newsdays.

LO5: Critically analyse developments in the emerging converged news industry, including target markets, broadcast regulation and technological advances.
Full Details of Teaching and Assessment
2025/6, Trimester 1, In Person,
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: In Person
Location of delivery: MERCHISTON
Partner:
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Miranda Hurst
Module Organiser:


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)NESH Description
Face To Face Practical classes and workshops 65 This module is delivered in a workshop setting, where you will be given a presentation outlining the theories and learning for that day. You are then given practical assignments, including learning to operate television cameras, microphones and tripods, how to do Pieces to Camera and interview techniques. You also learn principles of scripting to pictures, identifying interview clips, editing pictures using Premiere Pro, adding voiceover, producing on-screen graphics and exporting video.
Online Guided independent study 135 As students you will be given unedited video footage ('rushes') for a news story. You are given support to work independently on this material in order to develop your skills and understanding of the requirements of television news. This is a formative assessment, so you will receive feedback and advice from your lecturer and technical assistants.
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words Description
Project - Practical 50 1~2~3~5 Week 9 HOURS= 2.5 minutes In pairs, find, research, film and edit a 2’30” (2min 30 secs) TV news package. It must be your own original news or features story and produced to a high professional standard. The packages should contain: · at least 2 interview clips (not including vox pops). One of these can be an online interview. · at least one piece to camera (PTC).· a 15 second ‘presenter cue’ on a separate word document.You should also produce a 500 word essay reflecting on your role in producing this report.
Essay 20 2~5 Exam Period , WORDS= 1500 words Academic essay with Harvard referencing. You will engage with the theories and practice of TV news. One key element of this essay will involve a CONTENT ANALYSIS methodology.
Project - Practical 30 1~2~3~4 Week 13 HOURS= 25 minutes Work in your production team to produce a 25 minute TV news bulletin (including a 5 minute sports segment) from the studio. The programme will contain real-world stories from the day itself and you will be given production roles which reflect industry practice.
Component 1 subtotal: 50
Component 2 subtotal: 50
Module subtotal: 100

Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
JAC09123 TV News
 

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