Introduction to News Writing & Reporting
- Social Sciences
- 100 level
- 3 credit units
- 205 pages
- 21 units
This course, Introduction to News Writing and Reporting, is designed for first-year Mass Communication undergraduates. It provides a comprehensive overview of journalism, news reporting, and writing across various media platforms. Students will learn the roles of journalists, news gathering techniques, and ethical considerations. The course covers print, broadcast, and online journalism, emphasizing practical skills in news writing, interviewing, and reporting. Legal aspects and ethical standards are also explored, preparing students for responsible and effective journalism careers.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Study hours
- 60 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, practical, case study
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of MAC121, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
MAC121 · UNIT 1 THE REPORTER AND HIS ATTRIBUTES
4.0 CONCLUSION The reporter is that important individual that helps journalism to fulfil its role in the society. Therefore, an event cannot be said to be news if it is not reported. As such, there is no way we can talk about journalism in the society without first looking at the reporter, his attributes, and functions.
What you should be able to do
- Define journalism and its role in society
- Apply news gathering techniques
- Write news stories for print and broadcast media
- Understand legal and ethical considerations for journalists
- Differentiate between ethics and law
- Discuss ethical issues in Nigerian journalism
What it prepares you for
- Reporter
- Editor
- News Anchor
- Correspondent
- Media Analyst
- Newspapers
- Television
- Radio
- Online News Platforms
- Public Relations
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 5: The Journalist and The Law
Unit 1: Regulation and Press Freedom
Understanding the nuances of press regulation and constitutional rights requires careful analysis of legal frameworks and case studies.
- Module 5: The Journalist and The Law
Unit 2: Disclosure of Source of Information
Balancing the public's right to know with the journalist's duty to protect sources demands nuanced ethical judgment.
- Module 6: The Ethical Journalist
Unit 3: Ethical Issues and Enforcement of Ethics in Nigerian Journalism
Applying ethical theories to real-world journalistic dilemmas requires critical thinking and moral reasoning.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 48 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Role of The Journalist in Society
Unit 1: The Reporter and His Attributes · 3 hours
Define journalism and the role of a reporter.. Identify the attributes of a good reporter.. Explain journalistic terminologies..
- Week 2Module 1: Role of The Journalist in Society
Unit 2: Gathering the News · 3 hours
Explore newsgathering techniques.. Identify news sources.. Practice note-taking and interviewing skills..
- Week 3Module 1: Role of The Journalist in Society
Unit 3: Theories of the Press · 3 hours
Understand the Authoritarian, Soviet-Communist, Libertarian, and Social Responsibility theories.. Relate press theories to media operations in Nigeria..
- Week 4Module 2: Print Journalism
Unit 1: News and Components of News · 3 hours
Define news and its components.. Identify determinants of news.. Apply news components in writing news stories..
- Week 5Module 2: Print Journalism
Unit 2: Writing for News Paper: The Lead · 3 hours
Write effective leads for news stories.. Identify elements of a good lead.. Practice writing leads for different types of news..
- Week 6Module 2: Print Journalism
Unit 3: The Body · 3 hours
Develop the body of a news story.. Use transitional devices effectively.. Incorporate quotations properly..
- Week 7Module 2: Print Journalism
Unit 4: Covering Speeches, Meetings and News Conferences · 3 hours
Cover speeches, meetings, and news conferences.. Identify the theme of a speech.. Write news stories from meetings and conferences..
- Week 8Module 3: Broadcast Journalism
Unit 1: Broadcast Style Book · 3 hours
Understand broadcast style.. Avoid clichés and journalese.. Write clear and concise broadcast copy..
- Week 8Module 3: Broadcast Journalism
Unit 2: Preparing Broadcast Copy · 3 hours
Prepare broadcast copy.. Apply principles of writing for radio.. Edit copy for clarity and readability..
- Week 9Module 3: Broadcast Journalism
Unit 3: Interviewing · 3 hours
Conduct effective interviews.. Apply interviewing techniques.. Prepare for different types of interviews..
- Week 10Module 4: Online Journalism
Unit 1: What is the Net? · 3 hours
Define the Internet and its uses.. Understand the history of the Internet.. Explore the characteristics of the Web..
Unit 2: Computer-Assisted Journalism · 3 hours
Understand the history of the Internet.. Explore the characteristics of the Web..
- Week 11Module 5: The Journalist and The Law
Unit 3: Legal Pitfalls on the Internet · 3 hours
Identify legal pitfalls on the Internet.. Understand defamation, privacy, contempt, and copyright issues.. Apply legal guidelines to online journalism..
Unit 1: Regulation and Press Freedom · 3 hours
Understand regulation and press freedom.. Explore constitutional guarantees.. Recognize limits to press freedom..
- Week 12Module 5: The Journalist and The Law
Unit 1: Ethics and Journalism · 3 hours
Understand the concept of ethics.. Trace the origin of ethics.. Explore theories of ethics..
Unit 2: Disclosure of Source of Information · 3 hours
Understand the concept of ethics.. Trace the origin of ethics.. Explore theories of ethics..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all study units and focus on key concepts.
- Practice writing news stories for different media.
- Study legal and ethical guidelines for journalists.
- Analyze case studies of ethical dilemmas.
- Create concept maps linking modules 5 and 6 legal and ethical concepts.
- Practice writing leads and structuring news stories weekly.
- Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments and Self-Assessment Exercises.
- Focus on understanding the application of ethical principles in journalism.
- Create a study group to discuss challenging concepts and share notes.
Questions students ask about this course
What is MAC121 about?
This course, Introduction to News Writing and Reporting, is designed for first-year Mass Communication undergraduates. It provides a comprehensive overview of journalism, news reporting, and writing across various media platforms. Students will learn the roles of journalists, news gathering techniques, and ethical considerations. The course covers print, broadcast, and online journalism, emphasizing practical skills in news writing, interviewing, and reporting. Legal aspects and ethical standards are also explored, preparing students for responsible and effective journalism careers.
How many units does MAC121 have?
MAC121, Introduction to News Writing & Reporting, has 21 units across 7 modules, over 205 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is MAC121?
MAC121 carries 3 credit units, at 100 level in Social Sciences.
Is MAC121 hard?
MAC121 is rated beginner level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.
How long does MAC121 take to study?
About 60 hours of study, spread across its 21 units.
How is MAC121 assessed?
MAC121 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.
What can I do with MAC121?
Reporter, Editor, News Anchor, Correspondent and Media Analyst.