BASIC DETAILS:

Subject:	NEWS WRITING AND REPORTING
Id.:	31934
Programme:	GRADUADO EN PERIODISMO. PLAN 2014 (BOE 15/10/2014)
Module:	LENGUA Y MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN
Subject type:	OBLIGATORIA
Year:	3	Teaching period:	Primer Cuatrimestre
Credits:	6	Total hours:	150
Classroom activities:	56	Individual study:	94
Main teaching language:	Inglés	Secondary teaching language:	Inglés
Lecturer:		Email:

PRESENTATION:

The aim of this subject is to learn how to write news pieces in English including headlines, leads, nut graphs and the rest of the article. Different structures of the news story will be analyzed as well as the appropriate language for writing news in English. Students will become familiar with the tools needed to correctly develop a story from beginning to end. They will learn news writing style and the main parts of a news story and its news style. The subject will be taught as a workshop in which the students are required to investigate and cover news stories. Techniques to obtain information through different sources will be studied and put into practice.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCES ACQUIRED IN THE SUBJECT:

General programme competences	G01	Ability to analyse and synthesise.
	G03	Ability to organise and plan.
	G05	Use of Information Technologies.
	G06	Knowledge of a foreign language.
	G07	Teamwork.
	G08	Interpersonal skills.
	G09	Ethical commitment.
	G10	Ability to work in an international context.
	G11	Ability to apply knowledge.
	G13	Ability to undertake research.
Specific programme competences	E02	Ability to read and analyse specialised texts and documents on any relevant topic and be able to summarise or adapt them using language or vocabulary appropriate to the lay person.
	E04	Capacity and ability to seek, choose and prioritise any source or document (written, sound file, visual, etc.) of use in the creation and processing of information; likewise in the pursuit of effective communication or fictionalisation and entertainment.
	E05	Basic ability to understand written or audiovisual news or communicative production in standard English.
	E08	Capacity and ability to use the information and communications technologies and techniques in the various media or combined or interactive media systems (multimedia).
	E10	Capacity and ability to discharge the primary journalism tasks.
	E17	Ability to understand and analyse the social communicative situation in the Autonomous Region (structure, policies and working) in a Spanish, European or worldwide context.
	E25	Ability to define research areas that may contribute to awareness, advances and debates on information and communication; likewise how to suitably present the results of research in spoken, written, audiovisual or digital forms.
Learning outcomes	R01	Carry out an interview with a source in order to write a news piece.
	R02	Correctly use sources and attribution.
	R03	Construct a news piece with the main parts of a news story based on the characteristics of that story and the audience of the news outlet; cover different types of news and be organized to cover a regular beat; and write a complete news article in English.
	R04	Know the techniques required of a journalist to find information and investigate sources and documentation to be able to write a complete news story.
	R05	Apply the AP style rules to articles written in English, and correctly use English grammar rules in writing news stories.

PRE-REQUISITES:

To have passed the 2nd-year subject "Journalism."

SUBJECT PROGRAMME:

Subject contents:

1 - Introduction

2 - Newswriting Style

2.1 - Prewriting and Simplifying

2.2 - Remaining Objective

3 - Language of News

3.1 - Efectiveness of Words

3.2 - Preciseness and Strong Verbs

4 - AP Style

4.1 - Abbreviations

4.2 - Capitalization

4.3 - Numerals

4.4 - Time

4.5 - AP Style Review

5 - Beat reporting

5.1 - Covering a beat

5.2 - Finding story ideas and sources

6 - Exam

7 - Newsroom writing workshop

8 - Newswriting Basics

8.1 - Headlines

8.2 - Leads

Subject planning could be modified due unforeseen circumstances (group performance, availability of resources, changes to academic calendar etc.) and should not, therefore, be considered to be definitive.

TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODOLOGIES AND ACTIVITIES:

Teaching and learning methodologies and activities applied:

In order to develop the competences established for this subject, sessions are planned as follows:

Classes will be conducted exclusively in English. Students are expected to participate in class and in all class-related activities in English. Although this may be difficult for students at the beginning of the course, their linguistic competences will improve rapidly.

Practical Classes
Many class activities will be conducted in pairs and groups in the format of problem solving exercises, debates, project preparation, problem solving, simulations etc. This methodology
enables maximum student participation and talking time in class. It also promotes cooperative learning and meaningful interaction between students, and the development of professional competences.

Lectures
During lectures, where the lecturer will explain concepts orally with technological support, students will also participate with questions and there will be follow up exercises and tasks to
apply and practice new concepts. Selected theoretical classes will be given by students.

Tutorials
During these sessions, students can ask questions, clarify concepts, ask for additionalbibliography either face to face or electronically. Some tutorial time will be devoted to assistance with group work, especially with preparation for expert group presentations.

Self Study
Students are expected to complete weekly tasks uploaded on the PDU.

PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism will not be tolerated, neither will the use of Google translator or any other automatic translator. If the professor catches a student plagiarizing or using an automatic translator for written assignments, the assignments will be automatically given a zero.

Student work load:

Teaching mode	Teaching methods	Estimated hours
Classroom activities
	Master classes	12
	Practical exercises	26
	Practical work, exercises, problem-solving etc.	14
	Extra-curricular activities (visits, conferences, etc.)	4
Individual study
	Tutorials	4
	Individual study	24
	Individual coursework preparation	22
	Project work	22
	Research work	6
	Compulsory reading	10
	Recommended reading	6
	Total hours:	150

ASSESSMENT SCHEME:

Calculation of final mark:

Written tests:	20	%
Individual coursework:	60	%
Final exam:	20	%
TOTAL	100	%

*Las observaciones específicas sobre el sistema de evaluación serán comunicadas por escrito a los alumnos al inicio de la materia.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND DOCUMENTATION:

Basic bibliography:

BENDER, John. Reporting for the Media. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009

HARROWER, Tim. Inside Reporting. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2007

RICH, Carole. Writing and Reporting News. Boston: Wadsworth, 2010

Recommended bibliography:

EVANS, Harold. Essential English for Journalists. London: Editors and Writers, 2000

GIBBS, Cheryl. Getting the Whole Story. Reporting and Writing the News. New York: Guilford Press, 2002

RUDIN, Richard. An Introduction to Journalism. New York: Focal Press, 2003

SCHWARTZ, Jerry. Associated Press Reporting Handbook. Boston: McGraw Hill Professional, 2001

Recommended websites:

AP Press	http://www.ap.org/
Inside Reporting	http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073378917/student_view0/index.html
New York Times	http://www.nytimes.com
The Guardian	http://www.guardian.co.uk/
The Poynter Institute	http://www.poynter.org/
USA Today	http://www.usatoday.com
Washington Post	http://www.washingtonpost.com/

* Guía Docente sujeta a modificaciones