LT144-4-SP-CO:
Journalism Now
2020/21
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Sunday 17 January 2021
Friday 26 March 2021
15
05 June 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
LT138
(none)
(none)
LT138, LT231, LT232
BA P500 Multimedia Journalism,
BA P501 Multimedia Journalism (Including Year Abroad),
BA P503 Multimedia Journalism (Including Placement Year),
BA P590 Journalism and Modern Languages,
BA P550 Journalism and Criminology,
BA P551 Journalism and Criminology (Including Placement Year),
BA P552 Journalism and Criminology (Including Year Abroad),
BA P540 Journalism and Sociology,
BA P541 Journalism and Sociology (Including Placement Year),
BA P542 Journalism and Sociology (Including Year Abroad),
BA P510 Journalism and English Language,
BA P511 Journalism and English Language (Including Placement Year),
BA P512 Journalism and English Language (Including Year Abroad),
BA P530 Journalism and Literature,
BA P531 Journalism and Literature (Including Placement Year),
BA P532 Journalism and Literature (Including Year Abroad),
BA P570 Journalism with Human Rights,
BA P571 Journalism with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
BA P572 Journalism with Human Rights (Including Placement Year),
BA P580 Journalism and Politics,
BA P581 Journalism and Politics (Including Placement Year),
BA P582 Journalism and Politics (Including Year Abroad)
This module is all about how the internet has transformed the media in the 21st century. Building on the History of journalism module in the autumn term, this 10-session module is taking in several related topics, including the way the internet has changed the working practices and business models of existing news media organisations – local, national and international; the increasing dominance of social networking corporations in advertising; the rise of ‘citizen journalism’ online; how journalists can use social media; the challenge of big data for journalists, from Wikileaks to ‘fake news’; the difficulties of regulation in the online age.
The scope is broad: you will be encouraged to explore the economic, political and ethical issues of the still-emerging new media landscape in all its aspects and to engage with debates worldwide. The majority of reading is extremely contemporary – and liable to week-by-week change – and the format of classes will be a mix of lectures, seminars and audio-visual material.
The module aims to:
1. introduce you to current debates on new media and its influence on journalists’ practices
2. provide you with a sophisticated understanding of the fast-changing dynamics in the contemporary newsroom
3. help you develop your analytical skills to understand the complexities and challenges arising in the new digitised communication sphere
4. help you develop your critical skills through lectures, essay writing, academic reading and group discussions
5. help you develop your public speaking skills through the preparation and delivery of in-class presentations.
At the end of this module, you will:
1. understand the tensions and opportunities created by the growing merging of old and new media for journalists and the public
2. understand the complex changes introduced by digitisation to news production and consumption
3. acknowledge the transformations and developments in communication brought on by the digital age
4. understand topics at the heart of contemporary debates in journalism -- cyber activism, citizen journalism, ‘fake news’, big data, regulation of online content
5. understand the many ethical challenges posed by the use of social media sources by journalists
No additional information available.
Weekly 2-hour seminar
For 2020-21, we will offer a mixture of tailored online, digital, and campus-based teaching where it may be possible and as appropriate, along with personalised one-to-one consultation with academic staff.
- BBC programme on the Murdoch dynasty 2020, https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000kxw1/the-rise-of-the-murdoch-dynasty
- Shoshana Zuboff. (2019) The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power, London: Profile Books Ltd.
- Hargreaves, Ian. (2014) Journalism: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Brock, George. (2013) Out of Print: Newspapers, Journalism and the Business of News in the Digital Age, London: Kogan Page Ltd.
- (no date) The Cairncross Review 2019.
- Mair, John. (2015) The BBC today: future uncertain, Bury St Edmunds: Abramis academic Publishing.
- James Curran; Jean Seaton. (2018) Power Without Responsibility: press, broadcasting and the Internet in Britain, Abingdon: Routledge.
- (no date) Mediatique report for DCMS on UK press (2018).
- Paul Bradshaw. (2017) Online Journalism Handbook, London: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
- Rusbridger, Alan. (2018) Breaking News, Edinburgh: Canongate Books Ltd.
- The Leveson Report, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/leveson-inquiry-report-into-the-culture-practices-and-ethics-of-the-press
- Charlie Beckett; James Ball. (2012) Wikileaks: news in the networked era, Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Rusbridger, Alan. (2018) Breaking news: the remaking of journalism and why it matters now, Edinburgh: Canongate Books Ltd.
- Barnett, Steven. (2011) The Rise and Fall of Television Journalism: just wires and lights in a box?, London: Bloomsbury Academic.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Essay (1,500 words) |
|
100% |
| Practical |
Formative: In Class Oral Presentation |
|
0% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mr Paul Anderson, email: paul.anderson@essex.ac.uk.
Paul Anderson
LiFTS General Office - email liftstt@essex.ac.uk.
Telephone 01206 872626
No
No
No
Mr Richard Evans
City, University of London
Programme Director, UG Journalism
Available via Moodle
Of 618 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
618 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.