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2011/2 Provisional Module Catalogue - UNDER CONSTRUCTION & SUBJECT TO CHANGE
 Module Code: SOC3024 Module Title: MAGAZINE JOURNALISM: FROM CONCEPT TO CONTENT
Module Provider: Sociology Short Name: SOC3024
Level: HE3 Module Co-ordinator: DUNN C Ms (Sociology)
Number of credits: 20 Number of ECTS credits: 10
 
Module Availability
Year
Assessment Pattern

Assessment  


1. One presentation outlining the concepts behind three potential magazines (20%)

2. Portfolio (80%), to comprise:

 

- A flat plan and features list with editorial suggestions;

 

- Original features and interviews suitable for inclusion within your publication as follows:

 


2 extended features (1200 words each)

 


2 short features (e.g. review, preview, profile) (600 words each)

 


2 interviews (of any genre) (between 800 and 1200 words each)

 


1 additional short feature (600 words) OR one additional short interview (800 words).

 

 

Module Overview

Prerequisites/Co-requisites
Module Aims

·         To examine the current magazine market and identify commercial opportunities

 

·         To assess and analyse styles of journalism produced for particular markets

 

·         To evaluate magazines’ content with an editorial eye

 

·         To plan potential magazine content and structure

 

·         To write and edit content in a variety of styles appropriate to a specific audience

 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

 

 

 

 

Apply critical perspectives to analyse examples of contemporary journalism from a range of different media

 

 

Write extended pieces of journalism, using appropriate software tools 

 

 

Plan an issue of a magazine, using flat-plan and feature-list techniques

 

 

Module Content

This module is based around each individual student devising, planning and writing original content for their own magazine. Each student will be expected to carry out research, writing and interviewing outside of class, though the time in class will be effectively time in the “newsroom”, with access to research, writing and design facilities as well feedback and support from classmates and tutor;

Weeks 1-3: Identifying audiences; identifying potential gaps in the market for a magazine; justifying the originality of the concept; drafting three potential ideas for a magazine concept and presenting them to the class (part of the module’s assessment criteria) before deciding on one

Weeks 4-5: Beginning to flat-plan and develop a features list; identifying possible interviews; researching and setting up interview times; writing up interviews

Week 6: Reporting back to the class on magazine’s development so far; feedback

Weeks 7 and 8: Short features; how to plan them, how to research them; writing them

Weeks 9 and 10: Extended features: coming up with ideas, researching, interviewing, writing

 

 

Methods of Teaching/Learning

Lectures addressing areas of theory

 

 

Practical workshop sessions

 

 

Seminar discussions

 

 

Video screenings

 

 

Selected Texts/Journals

Allan, Stuart (2006) Online News: Journalism and the Internet (Open UP) Cutts, Martin (2004) Oxford Guide to Plain English (Oxford UP) Dahlgren, Peter and Colin Sparks (1992) Journalism and Popular Culture (Sage) Fergusson, Rosalind and Martin H. Manse (1998) The Macmillan Guide to English Grammar (Macmillan) Gillmor, Dan (2006) We The Media: Grassroots Journalism By The People, For The People (O’Reilly Media) Keeble, R (2006) The Newspapers Handbook (Routledge) McKay, J (2000) The Magazines Handbook (Routledge) Morrish, J (2003) Magazine Editing: How to Develop and Manage a Successful Publication (Routledge) Niblock, S (1996) Inside Journalism (Blueprint) Quinn, Frances (2007) Law for Journalists (Longman) Roget’s Thesaurus (Penguin) Shiach, Don (1995) Basic Punctuation (John Murray) Welsh, T et al (eds) (2007) McNae’s Essential Law for Journalists (Oxford UP)

 

Last Updated
September 2010