Introduction To Journalism
- Social Sciences
- 700 level
- 3 credit units
- 146 pages
- 16 units
This course introduces students and practitioners to the fundamental principles of journalism, focusing on writing and reporting for mass media. It explores the history and development of journalism, journalistic writing styles, and news gathering techniques. The course also covers media laws, ethics, and the structure of the journalism industry, with a particular emphasis on the Nigerian context. Students will learn to write news stories, edit content, and understand the legal and ethical considerations in journalism.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 208 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, practical, case study
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of JLS711, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
JLS711 · UNIT 1: THE DEVELOPMENT OF JOURNALISM: A HISTORICAL APPROACH
You should do each Self Assessment Exercise as you come to it in the study unit. There will be examples given in the study units. Work through these when you have come to them.
What you should be able to do
- Demonstrate understanding of journalism history and development
- Apply basic principles of journalistic writing
- Gather, process, and disseminate news effectively
- Understand relevant laws affecting journalism practice
- Identify and analyze ethical dilemmas in journalism
What it prepares you for
- Reporter
- Editor
- Sub-Editor
- Correspondent
- News Analyst
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Radio
- Television
- Online Media
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 4: JOURNALISM/MEDIA LAWS
Unit 4: Defamation Law
Understanding the nuances of absolute and qualified privilege requires careful analysis of legal precedents and hypothetical scenarios.
- Module 4: JOURNALISM/MEDIA LAWS
Unit 5: Copyright Law
The complex legal definitions and exceptions related to copyright infringement require meticulous attention to detail.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 45 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Journalism Development and Structure
Unit 1: The Development of Journalism: A World View · 2 hours
Read Unit 1: Understanding the historical context of journalism's evolution.. Identify key technological advancements and their impact on news dissemination.. Discuss the role of political and economic factors in shaping journalistic practices..
Unit 2: Journalism Development in Nigeria: Pre-independence Period · 2 hours
Read Unit 2: Examine the influence of missionary journalism in Nigeria.. Identify key publications and their objectives during the pre-independence era.. Analyze the roles and contributions of early press owners and participants..
- Week 2Module 1: Journalism Development and Structure
Unit 3: Journalism Development in Nigeria: Post Independence Era · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Analyze the shift in press focus after Nigeria's independence.. Examine the impact of civil war and military rule on journalistic practices.. Discuss the role of the press in promoting national cohesion and political stability..
- Week 3Module 1: Journalism Development and Structure
Unit 4: The Journalism Industry: Key structural make up · 3 hours
Read Unit 4: Understand the structural makeup of the journalism industry.. Identify key personnel in the editorial, production, and business departments.. Discuss the functions and responsibilities of each department..
- Week 4Module 2:
Unit 1: The Nature of News · 2 hours
Read Unit 1: Define news and its determinants.. Identify the criteria for selecting newsworthy events.. Distinguish between different types of news reports..
- Week 5Module 2:
Unit 2: Writing the News · 3 hours
Read Unit 2: Understand the structure of news writing.. Identify the types of leads and their characteristics.. Practice writing news stories with effective leads..
Unit 3: Editing the Copy · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Understand the functions of copy editing.. Identify copy editing symbols and their uses.. Practice editing news copies for publication..
- Week 6Module 2:
Unit 4: Headline Writing · 3 hours
Read Unit 4: Define headline writing and its functions.. Understand headline schedules and their importance.. Practice writing headlines for various news stories..
- Week 7Module 3:
Unit 1: Essentials of Journalistic Style · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Understand the meaning of journalistic style.. Identify different types of writing styles and their characteristics.. Analyze the essentials of good journalistic writing..
- Week 8Module 3:
Unit 2: Elements of Good News Reporting · 3 hours
Read Unit 2: Identify the elements of good news reporting.. Understand the importance of identification, attribution, and capitalization.. Apply the rules of punctuation and word division in news writing..
- Week 9Module 3:
Unit 3: Interviewing and News Sources · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Understand the meaning and types of interviews.. Identify effective interviewing techniques.. Explore various news sources for gathering data..
- Week 10Module 4: JOURNALISM/MEDIA LAWS
Unit 1: Contempt of Court · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Understand the concept of contempt of court.. Identify the types of contempt and their implications.. Learn the checklist for reporting summary trials..
- Week 11Module 4: JOURNALISM/MEDIA LAWS
Unit 2: Court Reporting · 3 hours
Read Unit 2: Understand the general background of court reporting.. Apply the rules of writing good court reports.. Explain the importance of accuracy and fairness in court reporting..
- Week 12Module 4: JOURNALISM/MEDIA LAWS
Unit 3: Knowing the Courts in Nigeria · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Identify the major types of courts in Nigeria.. Understand the hierarchy of courts and their jurisdictions.. Describe the composition of each court..
- Week 13Module 4: JOURNALISM/MEDIA LAWS
Unit 4: Defamation Law · 3 hours
Read Unit 4: Understand the tort of defamation.. Identify libel and slander and their differences.. Explore the defenses to defamation..
Unit 5: Copyright Law · 3 hours
Read Unit 5: Understand the meaning of copyright law.. Identify who is entitled to copyright and what is protected.. Explore the conditions for entitlement and infringement of copyright..
Preparing for the exam
- Create a timeline of key events in journalism history from Units 1-3.
- Practice writing news leads and headlines based on different scenarios from Units 2-4.
- Review case studies on defamation and copyright from Units 4-5.
- Prepare a glossary of legal terms related to media law from Module 4.
- Simulate exam conditions by answering past questions within the time limit.
Questions students ask about this course
What is JLS711 about?
This course introduces students and practitioners to the fundamental principles of journalism, focusing on writing and reporting for mass media. It explores the history and development of journalism, journalistic writing styles, and news gathering techniques. The course also covers media laws, ethics, and the structure of the journalism industry, with a particular emphasis on the Nigerian context. Students will learn to write news stories, edit content, and understand the legal and ethical considerations in journalism.
How many units does JLS711 have?
JLS711, Introduction To Journalism, has 16 units across 4 modules, over 146 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is JLS711?
JLS711 carries 3 credit units, at 700 level in Social Sciences.
Is JLS711 hard?
JLS711 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.
How long does JLS711 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 16 units.
How is JLS711 assessed?
JLS711 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with JLS711?
Reporter, Editor, Sub Editor, Correspondent and News Analyst.