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JLS721Social Sciences3 Unitsintermediate

News Reporting/Writing

This course introduces postgraduate students to the fundamental principles of news reporting and writing. It explores the role of journalists in society, the attributes of a reporter, and the compilation of reports for print and broadcast media. Students will learn about news gathering techniques, journalistic terminologies, and the legal and ethical considerations that guide journalistic practice. The course also covers online journalism and ethical issues specific to the Nigerian context.

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150h

Study Time

13

Weeks

12h

Per Week

none

Math Level

Course Keywords

News ReportingJournalismEthicsMedia LawNewswriting

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level

Builds on foundational knowledge

65%

intermediate

📚

Math Level

No Math

🔬

Learning Type

Hands-on Practice

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

News Reporting

2

Journalistic Ethics

3

Media Law

4

Newswriting

5

Broadcast Journalism

6

Online Journalism

7

Press Freedom

Total Topics7 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Reporter

Apply your skills in this growing field

Editor

Apply your skills in this growing field

Correspondent

Apply your skills in this growing field

News Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Broadcast Journalist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

NewspapersMagazinesRadio StationsTelevision StationsOnline News Platforms

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week

1

Module 1: Role of the Journalist in Society

6h

Unit 1: The Reporter and Journalism

3 study hours

•Read Unit 1: The Reporter and Journalism, focusing on the definition of journalism and the functions of a reporter.
•Identify the role of the reporter in the society.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1.1.

Unit 2: Attributes of a Journalist

3 study hours

•Read Unit 2: Attributes of a Journalist, focusing on the qualities of a good reporter.
•Discuss five major attributes of a reporter.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 2.1.

Week

2

Module 1: Role of the Journalist in Society

9h

Unit 3: Gathering the News

3 study hours

•Read Unit 3: Gathering the News, focusing on different sources of news and how to generate ideas for news stories.
•Visit a newspaper house in your community and find out the sources of news for the organization.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 3.1.

Unit 4: Theories of the Press

3 study hours

•Read Unit 4: Theories of the Press, focusing on the various theories of the Press and their relevance to Nigeria.
•List the four categories of general social theory recognized by McQuail.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 4.1.

Unit 5: Journalistic Terminologies

3 study hours

•Read Unit 5: Journalistic Terminologies, focusing on the terminologies peculiar to journalism.
•List and explain 10 terms mostly used by journalists.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 5.1.

Week

3

Module 2: Print Journalism

6h

Unit 1: News and News Judgment

6 study hours

•Read Unit 1: News and News Judgment, focusing on the definition of news and the criteria for identifying a newsworthy event.
•Ask 10 different people why they read newspapers and write your own definition of news.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1.1.

Week

4

Module 2: Print Journalism

6h

Unit 2: Rudiments of News Story

3 study hours

•Read Unit 2: Rudiments of News Story, focusing on the basic elements of a good news story.
•Take a look at two lead stories in the front page of any newspaper of your choice and evaluate the stories based on your knowledge of objectivity.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 2.1.

Unit 3: Writing for Newspaper: The Lead

3 study hours

•Read Unit 3: Writing for Newspaper: The Lead, focusing on the elements of a lead and how to write a good lead.
•Look for the WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHERE and WHEN in newspapers of your choice and indicate each element of the lead on the cuttings.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 3.1.

Week

5

Module 2: Print Journalism

6h

Unit 4: The Body

3 study hours

•Read Unit 4: The Body, focusing on how to build up the body of your news story and the ingredients needed to achieve this.
•Look at the Guardian and This Day newspapers and examine the stories at the back page of each of the newspapers and underline the transitional devices used in the lead stories.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 4.1.

Unit 5: Word Economy

3 study hours

•Read Unit 5: Word Economy, focusing on how to write a tight story and avoid redundancy and clichés.
•Read the editorial column of a newspaper of your choice and write down the clichés and redundant words you can identify in the editorial.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 5.1.

Week

6

Module 3: Broadcast Journalism

6h

Unit 1: Broadcast Style Book

6 study hours

•Read Unit 1: Broadcast Style Book, focusing on the guidelines for writing a broadcast story.
•What do you understand by the term house style?
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1.1.

Week

7

Module 3: Broadcast Journalism

6h

Unit 2: Preparing Broadcast Copy

6 study hours

•Read Unit 2: Preparing Broadcast Copy, focusing on the essential hints for making your copy readable and understandable.
•Write one news story for Radio and another for T.V from the given passage.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 2.1.

Week

8

Module 3: Broadcast Journalism

6h

Unit 3: Writing for the Ear: Five Principles

6 study hours

•Read Unit 3: Writing for the Ear: Five Principles, focusing on the principles of writing for radio.
•Look at the front page of your local newspaper, study three lead stories and re-write them for radio broadcast.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 3.1.

Week

9

Module 3: Broadcast Journalism

6h

Unit 4: How to Make Your Copy Sound

3 study hours

•Read Unit 4: How to Make Your Copy Sound, focusing on how to use words distinctly in telling your story.
•Go to a Television station in your locality, collect the news bulletin for the major news of the day and review the news items based on your knowledge of sound copy.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 4.1.

Unit 5: Interviewing

3 study hours

•Read Unit 5: Interviewing, focusing on the techniques and their application.
•Pick someone on radio or television that you think is a good interviewer and tape a live interview the reporter does and write down the questions.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 5.1.

Week

10

Module 4: Online Journalism

6h

Unit 1: What is the Internet?

3 study hours

•Read Unit 1: What is the Internet?, focusing on the definition of the Internet and its advantages.
•Visit the Net and send a mail to a friend in another country on latest political developments in Nigeria and attempt a download of more information on the history of the Internet using any of the common search engines.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1.1.

Unit 2: Computer Assisted Journalism

3 study hours

•Read Unit 2: Computer Assisted Journalism, focusing on the relevance of the computer to a journalist.
•What do you understand by Computer Assisted Journalism (CAJ)?
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 2.1.

Week

11

Module 4: Online Journalism

9h

Unit 3: Navigating the Net

3 study hours

•Read Unit 3: Navigating the Net, focusing on how to get connected to the Net and the workings of the Web.
•Explain the terms Modem and WWW.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 3.1.

Unit 4: Using the Browser

3 study hours

•Read Unit 4: Using the Browser, focusing on the use of the browser.
•Go to the Web and look for yesterday's edition of your favourite Nigerian newspaper.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 4.1.

Unit 5: Legal Pitfalls on the Internet

3 study hours

•Read Unit 5: Legal Pitfalls on the Internet, focusing on the legal potholes you may encounter on the information highway.
•Briefly explain how materials published on the Internet can lead to contempt of court?
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 5.1.

Week

12

Module 5: The Journalist and the Law

9h

Unit 1: The Concept of Press Freedom

3 study hours

•Read Unit 1: The Concept of Press Freedom, focusing on the freedom of expression and press freedom.
•What do you understand by freedom of expression?
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 1.1.

Unit 2: Regulation of the Mass Media

3 study hours

•Read Unit 2: Regulation of the Mass Media, focusing on the history of the regulation of the mass media.
•What are the major provisions of the Newspaper Ordinance of 1903?
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 2.1.

Unit 3: Disclosure of Source of Information

3 study hours

•Read Unit 3: Disclosure of Source of Information, focusing on the constitutional provisions on the disclosure of your source of information.
•How would you defend yourself if you were asked to disclose your source of information in the court?
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 3.1.

Week

13

Module 5: The Journalist and the Law

6h

Unit 4: Contempt of Court

3 study hours

•Read Unit 4: Contempt of Court, focusing on the definition of contempt of court.
•Differentiate between civil and criminal contempt.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 4.1.

Unit 5: Hints on Court Reporting

3 study hours

•Read Unit 5: Hints on Court Reporting, focusing on the language of court reporting.
•Explain the terms: Defamation, Affidavit, Injunction, Plea and Prima facie.
•Complete Self Assessment Exercise 5.1.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and their feedback to identify areas of weakness.

2

Create concept maps linking the different theories of the press (Unit 4, Module 1) to real-world media examples.

3

Practice writing news leads (Unit 3, Module 2) for various scenarios, focusing on clarity and conciseness.

4

Study the code of ethics for Nigerian journalists (Unit 3, Module 6) and analyze case studies involving ethical dilemmas.

5

Familiarize yourself with key legal terms and concepts related to media law (Units 4 & 5, Module 5).

6

Allocate specific study hours for each module, prioritizing those with higher unit counts.

7

Form a study group to discuss complex topics and share insights.

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