Investigative and Interpretative Reporting
- Social Sciences
- 200 level
- 2 credit units
- 105 pages
- 15 units
This course introduces undergraduate Mass Communication students to investigative and interpretative reporting. It explores fundamental concepts, information gathering techniques, and report writing processes for mass media. Students will learn to identify sources, conduct interviews, and interpret information ethically. The course also covers communication law, ethics, and their implications for sourcing and reporting investigative stories, emphasizing responsible journalism and societal impact.
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 MAC214, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
MAC214 · UNIT 1 WHAT IS JOURNALISM?
This unit considers the foundation of the concept of journalism and the function of journalists within the society. It also considers the elements considered by the journalist in choosing the newsworthy items to be presented to the audience for consumption.
What you should be able to do
- Define and differentiate between investigative and interpretative reporting.
- Apply ethical principles and legal frameworks to journalistic practices.
- Gather information from diverse sources, including primary and secondary sources.
- Conduct effective interviews and document information accurately.
- Write in-depth investigative stories with clear leads and coherent narratives.
- Analyze and interpret complex issues for public understanding.
What it prepares you for
- Investigative Journalist
- Reporter
- Editor
- Media Analyst
- Public Relations Specialist
- News Media
- Public Relations
- Government Communication
- Advocacy
- Non-profit Organizations
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Gathering Information for In-Depth Reporting
Unit 3: Documentation and Interpretation of Information
Requires understanding of ethical boundaries and legal implications of gathering sensitive information from reluctant sources.
- Module 4: Communication Law and Ethics
Unit 2: Journalism Law
Requires understanding of complex legal concepts and their application to journalistic practices, including libel, privacy, and sedition.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 60 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Investigative and Interpretative Reporting: Understanding the Terms
Unit 1: What is Journalism? · 4 hours
Define journalism, discuss its history in Nigeria, and explain news selection.. Understand the relationship between journalists and society..
- Week 2Module 1: Investigative and Interpretative Reporting: Understanding the Terms
Unit 2: What Is Investigative Journalism? · 4 hours
Define investigative reporting and differentiate it from other forms of reporting.. Discuss the importance and limitations of investigative journalism in Nigeria..
- Week 3Module 1: Investigative and Interpretative Reporting: Understanding the Terms
Unit 3: Interpretative Journalism · 4 hours
Define interpretative journalism and discuss factors influencing a journalist's interpretation.. Explain the importance and limitations of interpretative journalism..
- Week 4Module 1: Investigative and Interpretative Reporting: Understanding the Terms
Unit 4: Relating Investigative with Interpretative Reporting · 4 hours
Discuss the narrativity of news and the sociology of news production.. Explain the effect of international media influence and the impact of news presentation on society..
- Week 5Module 2: Gathering Information for In-Depth Reporting
Unit 1: Sources of Information · 4 hours
Develop an objective for a news story and differentiate between primary and secondary sources.. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of paper, human, and digital sources..
- Week 6Module 2: Gathering Information for In-Depth Reporting
Unit 2: Interviews · 4 hours
Explain the importance of interviews and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.. Identify various types of interviews and their appropriate uses..
- Week 7Module 2: Gathering Information for In-Depth Reporting
Unit 3: Documentation and Interpretation of Information · 4 hours
Discuss the importance of getting facts right and removing bias.. Explain the importance of going undercover and doing systematic follow-ups..
- Week 8Module 3: Investigative and Interpretative Reporting: Writing the Story
Unit 1: Writing an In-Depth Investigative Story (I) · 4 hours
Identify the basic forms and formats of an investigative report.. Explain journalism laws and ethics as they affect investigative journalism..
- Week 9Module 3: Investigative and Interpretative Reporting: Writing the Story
Unit 2: Writing an In-Depth Investigative Story (II) · 4 hours
Collate materials correctly for a story and write a story coherently.. Discuss what a lead is and its importance in a story..
- Week 10Module 3: Investigative and Interpretative Reporting: Writing the Story
Unit 3: Writing an In-Depth Investigative Story (III) · 4 hours
Identify and write leads for an investigative piece.. Explain the S-V-O construction formula and write an investigative feature story..
- Week 11Module 3: Investigative and Interpretative Reporting: Writing the Story
Unit 4: Writing an In-Depth Investigative Story (IV) · 4 hours
Use thread and transitions in a story.. Establish your 'signature' in a story and bring your story to an effective ending..
- Week 12Module 4: Communication Law and Ethics
Unit 1: Understanding Communication Law and Ethics · 4 hours
Define and explain communication law and ethics.. Explain the relationship between communication law and ethics..
Unit 2: Journalism Law · 4 hours
Discuss situations where a libel or sedition suit is imminent.. Explain how to avoid such suits and discuss defenses against communication laws like libel suits..
- Week 13Module 4: Communication Law and Ethics
Unit 3: Ethics in Journalism · 4 hours
Explain principles of Aristotle, Kant, Mill, and the Judeo-Christian ethic as they relate to journalism.. Explain how to apply ethical principles to your work and discuss the core values of journalists..
Unit 4: Ethical Issues and Making Ethical Decisions · 4 hours
Explain more ethical issues related to investigative journalism.. Discuss systematic methods for arriving at ethical decisions..
Preparing for the exam
- Review key definitions and concepts from Units 1-4 in Module 1 to establish a strong foundation.
- Create case studies based on real-world examples of investigative and interpretative reporting, analyzing their ethical and legal implications.
- Practice writing different types of leads (summary, narrative, etc.) for hypothetical investigative stories.
- Focus on understanding the elements of libel and the defenses available to journalists, as covered in Module 4, Unit 2.
- Develop a personal code of ethics based on the principles discussed in Module 4, Units 3 and 4, and apply it to various ethical dilemmas.
- Prepare a study guide summarizing the main points of each unit, focusing on key terms, concepts, and examples.
- Participate in group discussions to analyze and critique investigative reports, focusing on their strengths, weaknesses, and ethical considerations.
Questions students ask about this course
What is MAC214 about?
This course introduces undergraduate Mass Communication students to investigative and interpretative reporting. It explores fundamental concepts, information gathering techniques, and report writing processes for mass media. Students will learn to identify sources, conduct interviews, and interpret information ethically. The course also covers communication law, ethics, and their implications for sourcing and reporting investigative stories, emphasizing responsible journalism and societal impact.
How many units does MAC214 have?
MAC214, Investigative and Interpretative Reporting, has 15 units across 4 modules, over 105 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is MAC214?
MAC214 carries 2 credit units, at 200 level in Social Sciences.
Is MAC214 hard?
MAC214 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 MAC214 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 15 units.
How is MAC214 assessed?
MAC214 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assessments and Final Examination.
What can I do with MAC214?
Investigative Journalist, Reporter, Editor, Media Analyst and Public Relations Specialist.