Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
News Journalism
Course Code
KSK_260
Branch of Science
Media and communications
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Communication Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Līga Ozoliņa
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
The aim of the course is to create students’ understanding of the causes of formation, essence and significance of news journalism in the work of various media. The course introduces the basic principles of news writing and gives an insight into the role of news in the mass media and the functions and role of news journalism in society.
Preliminary Knowledge
Completed course Introduction to Journalism.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.On the essence of news journalism, news values, news topics, principles of ethics and professionalism in news journalism, news structures, characteristics of news, and their writing stages in various media.
Skills
1.Ability to write news articles of different types, topics, and structures; skills to evaluate the quality, truthfulness, neutrality, comprehensiveness of news; skills to assess whether reality is not stereotyped at the time of writing the news, or whether the journalist is not prejudiced and biased.
Competences
1.The study course provides the basic skills of news writing, trains the ability to select the most important information, to write accurately, objectively, clearly, and concisely. It develops the ability to structure information, to evaluate its significance, objectivity, and accuracy, forming the basis for work in news journalism in various media. The course deals with the most relevant news topics, working with news sources, and impact factors of news in the context of the world as reflected by mass media and the actual events.
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
-
|
-
|
|
News writing for the practices. |
||
Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Short news writing |
0.00% from total grade
|
Test
|
|
2.
Hard news writing |
25.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
3.
News writing under the time pressure I |
-
|
Test
|
|
4.
News writing under the time pressure II |
15.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
5.
Reflection of progress |
-
|
Test
|
|
6.
Interviewing info sources |
-
|
Test
|
|
7.
Original news writing (1st version) |
-
|
Test
|
|
8.
Original news writing (final version) |
30.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
9.
Exam (evaluated on a 100-point scale) |
30.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
All works (both those rated with pass/fail and those rated with grade) must be submitted – a prerequisite for admission to the exam. Student must pass the exam successfully - get at least 40 points to get a final grade. |
||
Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
News. News journalism. The roles and functions of news journalism.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
News values. A distinction between facts and opinions. Impact of time pressure.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
News writing approaches and guiding principles. What becomes the news? How to present the novelty?
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Short news writing practice.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
News types - general news, hard news, soft news.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Sources of information, selection and structuring of information in news.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
News writing practice I. News writing and editing.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
News writing practice II. News writing and editing.
|
|
News lead writing practice.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
News lead writing practice.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
News headline-writing practice.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Translation as part of the daily practice of a journalist. Basic principles for creating translated content.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Constructive journalism vs emotionality, clickbait and sensationalisation in news journalism.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Original news writing practice I. News writing, selecting and describing visuals. Collaboration with the editor. News editing.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Original news writing practice II. Common mistakes in news writing.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Artificial intelligence and news journalism.
|
-
Test
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Exam
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
30 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Wahl-Jorgensen, & Wahl-Jorgensen, Karin. (2020). The handbook of journalism studies / edited by Karin Wahl-Jorgensen and Thomas Hanitzsch. (2nd edition.).Suitable for English stream
2.
Ireton, C., Posetti, J. (2018). JOURNALISM, ‘FAKE NEWS’ AND DISINFORMATION. A Model Course for Journalism Educators and Trainers Worldwide.Suitable for English stream
3.
Keeble, R. (2006). The Newspapers handbook. 4thh ed. Taylor & Francis e-Library.Suitable for English stream
4.
White, E. (ed). (2017). Ethics in the news. Ethical Journalism Network.Suitable for English stream
5.
Miller, C. (ed). (2009). The Future of Journalism. Papers from a conference organised by the BBC College of Journalism, BBC College of Journalism.Suitable for English stream
6.
McIntyre, K., Gyldensted, C. (2017). Constructive Journalism: An Introduction and Practical Guide for Applying Positive Psychology Techniques to News Production. The Journal of Media Innovations 4.2, p. 20-34.Suitable for English stream
7.
Lehman-Wilzig, S. N., & Seletzky, M. (2010). Hard news, soft news, ‘general’ news: The necessity and utility of an intermediate classification. Journalism, 11(1), 37-56.Suitable for English stream
Additional Reading
1.
Brewer PR, Young DG, Lambe JL, et al. ‘Seize your moment, my lovely trolls’: News, satire, and public opinion about net neutrality. International Journal of Communication, 2018. 12: 1408–1430.Suitable for English stream
2.
Djerf-Pierre M and Shehata A. Still an agenda setter: Traditional news media and public opinion during the transition from low to high choice media environments. Journal of Communication, 2017. 67, 5: 733–757.Suitable for English stream
3.
Mellado C, Hellmueller L, Márquez-Ramírez M, et al. The hybridization of journalistic cultures: A comparative study of journalistic role performance. Journal of Communication, 2017. 67(6): 944–967.Suitable for English stream
4.
Political news journalism: Mediatization across three news reporting contextSuitable for English stream
5.
Balmas M. When fake news becomes real. Communication Research, 2012. 41, 3: 430–454.Suitable for English stream
6.
Welbers K and Opgenhaffen M. Presenting news on social media. Digital Journalism, 2018. 7: 45–62.Suitable for English stream
7.
Papacharissi Z. Toward new journalism(s): Affective news, hybridity, and liminal spaces. Journalism Studies, 2015. 16(1): 27–40.Suitable for English stream
Other Information Sources
1.
Digital News Report by Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University
2.
International News Media AssociationSuitable for English stream
3.
Ethical Journalism NetworkSuitable for English stream
4.
WorldNewsDay.orgSuitable for English stream