BA (Hons) Journalism

The BA (Hons) Journalism is now a totally multimedia approach for all your practical journalism classes, reflecting the very latest industry practice, with integrated cross-platform projects where the overlaps, connections and multipurposing of content across print, online, radio and TV can be explored and practised. Projects could include developing a magazine app for iPads and tablets, practicing fast-turnaround video journalism in the field, or using social media for live event reporting. 24/7 newsfeeds from Sky, IRN and Reuters mean you can work with sound and pictures from around the world in real time, to real deadlines.

New specialist strands in technology, business, automotive, sport and celebrity journalism allow you to develop your portfolio and highlight to employers in sectors with high demand for content creators your distinctive specialist knowledge and interests.

Journalism at UCA Farnham is well-equipped with Mac and PC based newsrooms, radio studios and a TV studio with cutting-edge digital production systems. 24/7 newsfeeds from Sky, IRN and Reuters mean you can work with sound and pictures from around the world in real time, to real deadlines.

You are taught by experienced journalists and industry specialists. Our journalism teachers have worked at the BBC, ITN, international TV stations like CNBC, on network current affairs shows, in local radio, at major newspapers including The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Observer and on a wide range of magazines, from Nursing Standard to Autocar. We train to very high standards of technical and production excellence - we know, because the employers tell us so!

Recently, two of our first year students were shortlisted in the national Press Gazette Awards - the only first years of any Journalism course in the country to be nominated for awards.

You can get a glimpse of the work of the journalism department at UCA Farnham by visiting our blog http://www.studentjournos.blogspot.com/

Syllabus (12/13*)

Year 1

• Core Journalism Skills 105: Newsgathering, Research, Sourcing, Interviewing, Writing - looks at the core news gathering and writing skills required by any reporter or journalist working in any medium.
• Journalism Content Fundamentals 102: Researching, Writing & Developing News, Features & Information for Multi-Platform Delivery - you will explore multimedia content skills in exercises that continue to bring together theory and practice in an industrial setting.
• Journalism Production Fundamentals 101: Multimedia, Multi-platform Presentation & Digital Workflows - you are introduced to production techniques using industry-standard software and hardware across a range of journalistic.
• Journalism in Context 112 - builds your understanding of journalism and the media in a wider context. It also builds general knowledge of public/current affairs and anticipates later units on civics and institutions.

Year 2

• News Networks 212: Journalism, technology, society; preparing for dissertation - builds on previous work done on contextual and historical studies and develops a range of theoretical and analytical approaches to the media.
• Law, Public Affairs, Civics & Institutions 215 - provides a thorough introduction to the key legal principles, UK statutes and European Law which affect the work of journalists in print, online and broadcast media.
• Journalism Production Intermediate 201: Multimedia, Multi-platform Presentation & Digital Workflows - you consolidate your skills and learn more advanced techniques using industry-standard software and hardware to showcase your work more ambitiously in a range of journalistic media.
• Journalism Content Intermediate 202: Researching, Writing & Developing News, Features & Information for Multi-Platform Delivery - you consolidate your content skills and develop content of greater extent, range and complexity.
• Automotive Journalism 203: Researching, Writing & Developing Automotive News, Features & Information for Multi-Platform Delivery - optional specialist unit gives you an opportunity to develop a distinctive portfolio of work focused on the automotive specialism.
• Celebrity Journalism 204: Researching, Writing & Developing Celebrity News, Features & Information for Multi-Platform Delivery - optional specialist unit gives you an opportunity to develop a distinctive portfolio of work focused on the celebrity specialism.
• Technology Journalism 205: Researching, Writing & Developing Technology News, Features & Information for Multi-Platform Delivery - optional specialist unit gives you an opportunity to develop a distinctive portfolio of work focused on the technology specialism.
• Business Journalism 206: Researching, Writing & Developing Business News, Features & Information for Multi-Platform Delivery - optional specialist unit gives you an opportunity to develop a distinctive portfolio of work focused on the business specialism.
• Sports Journalism 207: Researching, Writing & Developing Sports News, Features & Information for Multi-Platform Delivery - optional specialist unit gives you an opportunity to develop a distinctive portfolio of work focused on the sports specialism.

Year 3

• Escape Velocity 310: Preparing for Work, Enterprise and Industrial Placement - you identify your work placement(s), it is anticipated that you will spend at least 12 working days in the workplace(s) you arrange, and possibly more. This may be undertaken flexibly, in blocks, or on a day (or two/three day) a week basis.
• Journalism Production Advanced 301: Multimedia, Multi-platform Presentation & Digital Workflows - you synthesize your skills and practise advanced techniques using industry-standard software and hardware to showcase your work ambitiously in a range of journalistic media.
• Journalism Content Advanced 302: Researching, Writing & Developing News, Features & Information for Multi-Platform Delivery - you practise sophisticated multimedia content skills in preparation for employment and industrial placements.
• Dissertation - a substantial period of sustained, individually negotiated research on a subject that is likely to be related to the contextual and/ or theoretical concerns of your discipline or chosen area of practice, towards the provision of structured written argument.

For further information please view the full programme specification

* Please note the syllabus content is for the academic year indicated and is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change.

Accommodation at UCA Farnham

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