Welcome to the Broadcast Journalism Course at NZ Writers' College.
This course introduces the student to the wonderful and challenging world of broadcast journalism, from radio and television to Web journalism.
A career in broadcast journalism is an exciting adventure, where speed, accuracy and solid writing skills are paramount. This course throws you in at the deep end as you write and produce your own radio and TV packages.
The Broadcast Journalism Course will help you understand how to write for the different media, how to research and interview and how to package your stories. All with expert guidance from our award-winning tutor Noel Cisneros.
Course Details:
-
Modules: 10 Modules
-
Duration: Course can be completed at own pace: between six and twelve months
-
Start date: At any time; applications all year round via our website
Student must complete:
-
Ten writing assignments for assessment and feedback
-
Short features, two full news reports and scripts
Admission Requirements:
-
Basic English writing skills are essential
-
Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required
-
No previous tertiary qualification required
Tutor for this course:
Noel Cisneros
Course Curriculum
Module 1 - What is broadcast journalism?
|
-
Top questions about working as a broadcast journalist
-
Assignment: Analysing a news report
|
Module 2 - Getting the story
|
-
Getting the story
-
The essential ingredients of news
-
News agencies: providing visuals
-
Turning an idea into a story
-
Assignment: Finding contacts; writing a news report
|
Module 3 - Writing for broadcast: The basic news story - An introduction
|
-
The components of a news story
-
The unique structure of a story for broadcast
-
Qualities of writing for broadcast journalism
-
Assignment: Analysing news reports
|
Module 4 - Interviewing skills
|
-
The importance of the interview
-
The four basic interviews
-
The Vox Pop
-
Assignment: Assessing interviews; recording a Vox Pop
|
Module 5 - Writing for radio: Part one
|
-
Appreciating the medium of radio and podcasts
-
The work of the radio reporter: some typical scenarios
-
Three main types of radio news reports
-
Writing the radio news story
-
Assignment: Coming up with a radio news story
|
Module 6 - Writing for radio: The packaged feature & Podcasts
|
-
The ABC of writing for radio
-
The radio news package feature
-
What is a Podcast?
-
Assignment: Producing a packaged feature for radio, or a podcast for radio
|
Module 7 - Introducing television
|
-
Introducing the medium of television
-
Reporting for television news
-
Working with the TV crew
-
Writing the story
-
Assignment: Writing TV stories
|
Module 8 - Writing features for TV
|
-
What is a news feature?
-
Features for TV
-
Camera techniques and tips
-
Assignment: Working on a packaged feature for TV
|
Module 9 - Editing your TV package
|
-
What is editing?
-
Tips for editing VO and VOSOT
-
Assignment: Editing the packaged feature for TV
|
Module 10 - The life of a professional journalist
|
-
Pertinent questions about the broadcast industry
-
Assignment: Submitting the packaged feature for TV
|
|
|
How does the course work?
Detailed class notes covering the content of each module are e-mailed to students.
At the end of each module, students will be required to complete one or two writing exercises. In total, the course includes twelve assignments, all of which count towards the final result of the student.
Once the assignments have been completed, and e-mailed to the lecturer, an assessment and feedback will be sent to the student, and the module will be considered complete. Students can also participate in ongoing online discussions by posting comments about the materials covered in the course or other issues pertaining to writing in the college blog.
Conditions of Certification:
Students will receive an NZ Writers' College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided they meet the following conditions:
-
Students must have completed all 12 assignments
-
The course must have been completed within twelve months of registration.
-
Students are expected to attain a minimum average of 50% for the course
Minimum Estimated Time Commitment:
-
Reading time: 15 hours
-
Writing time: up to 25 hours
-
Research time: 10 - 25 hours, depending on the complexity of the selected topics for writing.
