Module: Broadcast journalism

This free educational module provides an outline for teaching students about broadcast journalism. It’s designed to be adapted by universities and colleges to meet local needs.

The module provides a foundational understanding of broadcast journalism, encompassing both radio and television. Students will learn the essential skills required to produce compelling news packages, conduct effective interviews, write engaging scripts, and navigate the ethical considerations inherent in the profession. Through practical exercises and theoretical exploration, students will develop the ability to create high-quality broadcast content, from breaking news coverage to in-depth documentaries.

Module timetable:

Week 1: Foundations of news packaging

• Topic: Introduction to broadcast journalism, understanding news values, editorial ethics, and basic news package construction.
  • Activities:
    • Lecture on the fundamentals of broadcast news.
    • Practical exercises in identifying newsworthy events.
    • Introduction to the components of a news package.
  • Resources:
    • “Constructing a news package for TV” – This article introduces the basic structure of a TV news package, outlining the essential components such as stand-ups, voice-overs, and soundbites.
    • “Lesson: How to construct a TV news package” – This lesson teaches what is involved in constructing a TV news package and takes students through the process.
    • “Constructing a news package for radio” – This article details the fundamentals of radio news package construction, emphasising the importance of audio clarity and effective storytelling.
    • “Lesson: Constructing a news package for radio” – This lesson teaches how to construct a radio news package.
    • “Why editorial ethics are important” – This article explains what ethical issues journalists need to consider when producing journalism. The article contains links to details pages on accuracy, fairness, impartiality, objectivity, privacy, consent, bias and integrity.
    • “Lesson: Editorial ethics” – This lesson plan sets out the issues journalists need to be aware of when producing journalism with integrity.
  • Assessment: Short written exercise on news values.

Week 2: Scriptwriting and visual storytelling

• Topic: Writing effective scripts for television and radio, and using visuals to enhance storytelling.
  • Activities:
    • Lecture on scriptwriting techniques.
    • Practical exercises in writing news scripts for different formats.
    • Introduction to visual storytelling principles.
  • Resources:
    • “Guidelines for reporters writing scripts for TV packages” – This article provides practical advice on writing clear and concise scripts for television news packages.
    • “Lesson: Letting the pictures tell the story” – This lesson highlights the importance of visual storytelling and how to use images effectively.
    • “Writing radio news scripts” – This article details the fundamentals of writing radio news scripts, emphasising clarity and conciseness.
  • Assessment: Scriptwriting assignment.

Week 3: Interviewing techniques

• Mastering the art of interviewing for broadcast, including preparation and execution.
  • Activities:
    • Lecture on interviewing techniques and ethics.
    • Practical exercises in conducting mock interviews.
    • Analysis of effective interview examples.
  • Resources:
  • “20 interviewing tips for journalists” – This article offers a comprehensive guide to effective interviewing techniques.
  • “Lesson: Preparing for and carrying out an interview” – This lesson provides a step-by-step guide to preparing for and conducting successful interviews.
  • “Interview tips for video journalists” – This article provides specific tips for video journalists focusing on visual interviews.
• Assessment: Conduct and record a mock interview.

Week 4: Audio and video editing

• Topic: Introduction to audio and video editing for broadcast news.
  • Activities:
    • Practical workshops on using audio and video editing software.
    • Editing exercises to create news packages.
  • Resources:
    • “Editing audio for radio news” – This article provides essential tips for editing audio for radio news.
    • “Editing radio news bulletins” – This article explains the editing process of radio news bulletins.
    • “TV and radio packaging” – This article covers a wide range of tips for producing high-quality broadcast packages.
  • Assessment: Edited news package.

Week 5: Advanced broadcast production and ethics

• Topic: Documentary production, breaking news coverage, and ethical considerations.
  • Activities:
    • Lecture on documentary filmmaking and breaking news strategies.
    • Discussion on ethical issues in broadcast journalism.
  • Resources:
    • “How to make a documentary” – This article sets out the steps needed to plan, produce, and publish a documentary.
    • “Lesson: Documentary making” – This lesson sets out how journalists can create powerful documentaries.
    • “Making documentaries for radio” – This article focuses on radio documentary production.
    • “Lesson: Radio documentaries” – This lesson sets out the steps journalists need to follow when creating radio documentaries.
    • “How to handle a breaking news situation” – This article provides guidance on handling breaking news situations.
    • “Photojournalism and ethics” – This article outlines the ethical considerations for photojournalists and video/TV journalists.
    • “Editorial considerations when a big story breaks” – This article provides editorial guidance when breaking news occurs.
  • Assessment: Ethics case study analysis.

Week 6: Programme Production and Presentation

• Topic: Creating news and current affairs programmes, and developing a distinctive station sound.
  • Activities:
    • Group project: planning and producing a mock news or current affairs programme.
    • Lectures on creating a distinctive radio station sound, and engaging viewers and listeners.
  • Resources:
    • “How to create a news and current affairs programme” – This article provides a guide to creating news and current affairs programmes.
    • “The art of engaging viewers and listeners” – This article covers techniques for grabbing the attention of the audience.
    • “Creating a distinctive radio station sound” – This article provides guidance on how to develop a unique radio offering.
    • “Producing radio bulletins” – This article sets out the essential elements needed for producing radio bulletins.
    • “Newsgathering requirements for producing informative content” – This article looks at systems that need to be in place to run an effective newsgathering operation.
  • Assessment: Group programme presentation.

Summary:

This course is designed to equip students with the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary to excel in broadcast journalism. Over six weeks, students will progress from basic news package construction to advanced documentary production, mastering key skills such as interviewing, scriptwriting, audio and video editing, and ethical reporting. The module emphasises hands-on experience, allowing students to apply their learning through real-world scenarios and projects.