Newspaper Production
- Social Sciences
- 300 level
- 3 credit units
- 114 pages
- 20 units
This course, Newspaper Production, is designed for undergraduate Mass Communication students. It provides in-depth knowledge of newspaper production, covering both historical context and modern techniques. Students will learn the principles guiding newspaper production, understand the processes involved, and apply concepts in design, layout, and distribution. The course also explores the impact of ICTs on newspaper production, equipping students with skills for successful newspaper creation and management.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 40 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical, practical
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assignments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of MAC312, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
MAC312 · UNIT 2: NEWSPAPER: THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE
With all these and more in place, a ‘penny press’ was established in 1883 by the then 22 - year old Benjamin Day who launched the New York Sun. This was followed by the colourful New York Times launched by James Gordon Bennett in 1835 and Horace Greeley’s New York Tribune which made its debut appearance in 1841.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the history and evolution of newspapers.
- Apply news gathering techniques and ethical considerations.
- Master copy editing and headline writing skills.
- Design effective newspaper layouts.
- Understand printing processes and quality control.
- Utilize ICTs in newspaper production.
What it prepares you for
- Journalist
- Editor
- Sub-Editor
- Layout Designer
- Production Manager
- Print Media
- Digital Media
- Publishing
- Advertising
- Public Relations
- Desktop Publishing Software (e.g., Adobe InDesign)
- Image Editing Software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop)
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Copy Editing and Page Planning
Unit 3: Unit Count and Copy Fitting
Requires understanding of complex calculations and spatial reasoning to accurately fit text within layout constraints.
- Module 3: Copy Editing and Page Planning
Unit 4: Page Planning
Involves understanding of design principles and the ability to create visually appealing and effective layouts.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 39 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Newspaper: An Historical And General Overview
Unit 1: Newspaper: How It Began · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Conceptual overview of newspaper, its characteristics and evolution.. Define newspaper and explain its key features.. Discuss the historical evolution of newspaper from tablet to modern form..
- Week 2Module 1: Newspaper: An Historical And General Overview
Unit 2: History of Newspaper: The Nigerian Experience · 3 hours
Read Unit 2: History of newspaper in Nigeria, focusing on Iwe Irohin and subsequent developments.. Discuss the factors that influenced the growth of early press in Nigeria.. Analyze the impact of key figures like Nnamdi Azikiwe on journalism education..
- Week 3Module 1: Newspaper: An Historical And General Overview
Unit 3: Classification of Newspaper · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Classification of newspaper by periodicity, reach, ownership, and dominant interest.. Explain the parameters for classifying newspapers.. Identify and describe the features of each newspaper type (daily, weekly, national, regional, etc.)..
- Week 4Module 1: Newspaper: An Historical And General Overview
Unit 4: Advantages of Newspaper as a Mass Medium · 3 hours
Read Unit 4: Advantages of newspaper as a mass medium, focusing on its unique characteristics.. Explain the merits of newspaper over other media.. Discuss the traditional functions of newspaper and its role in mass education..
- Week 5Module 2: Newspaper Production: Getting Started
Unit 1: Beat as Sources of News · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Beats as Sources of News, focusing on the meaning of beat and various news beats.. Define news beat and explain its importance.. Discuss the major news beats in Nigeria (police, judiciary, government house, etc.)..
- Week 6Module 2: Newspaper Production: Getting Started
Unit 2: Gathering the News · 3 hours
Read Unit 2: Gathering the News, focusing on tools and skills required for effective news gathering.. Discuss the tools for news gathering and reporting.. Explain the skills required for effective news gathering and reporting..
- Week 7Module 2: Newspaper Production: Getting Started
Unit 3: News Copy Preparations · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: News Copy Preparations, focusing on news writing skills and basic rules for preparing news copy.. Explain news writing skills for print media.. Discuss the basic rules for preparing news copy..
- Week 8Module 3: Copy Editing and Page Planning
Unit 1: Manuscript Editing · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Manuscript Editing, focusing on meaning, essence, and what to look for while editing.. Discuss the meaning and essence of editing.. Explain what to look out for while editing..
- Week 9Module 3: Copy Editing and Page Planning
Unit 2: Photo Editing · 3 hours
Read Unit 2: Photo Editing, focusing on meaning, essence, and how to edit photos.. Explain the meaning and essence of photography.. Discuss how to edit photographs effectively..
- Week 10Module 3: Copy Editing and Page Planning
Unit 3 Unit Count and Copy Fitting · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Unit Count and Copy Fitting, focusing on determining space for headline and copy.. Determine space for a given headline.. Calculate space for copy using unit count system..
- Week 11Module 3: Copy Editing and Page Planning
Unit 4: Page Planning · 3 hours
Read Unit 4: Page Planning, focusing on how to plan newspaper page and why it is necessary.. Explain how to plan a newspaper page.. Discuss why page planning is necessary..
- Week 12Module 3: Copy Editing and Page Planning
Unit 5: Typography and Typesetting · 3 hours
Read Unit 5: Typography and Typesetting, focusing on meaning and nature of typography.. Discuss the meaning and nature of typography.. Explain the process of type selecting and setting..
- Week 13Module 3: Copy Editing and Page Planning
Unit 6: Proof Reading · 3 hours
Read Unit 6: Proof Reading, focusing on meaning, essence, and how to ensure proper proof reading.. Explain the meaning and essence of proof reading.. Discuss how to ensure proper proof reading of galley..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and Self-Assessment Exercises (SAEs).
- Create a timeline of key events in newspaper history from Module 1.
- Practice copy editing exercises from Module 3, focusing on grammar and AP style.
- Design sample newspaper layouts, paying attention to balance and visual hierarchy.
- Understand the different printing methods and their advantages/disadvantages.
- Explore the use of ICT tools in news gathering and production.
Questions students ask about this course
What is MAC312 about?
This course, Newspaper Production, is designed for undergraduate Mass Communication students. It provides in-depth knowledge of newspaper production, covering both historical context and modern techniques. Students will learn the principles guiding newspaper production, understand the processes involved, and apply concepts in design, layout, and distribution. The course also explores the impact of ICTs on newspaper production, equipping students with skills for successful newspaper creation and management.
How many units does MAC312 have?
MAC312, Newspaper Production, has 20 units across 5 modules, over 114 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is MAC312?
MAC312 carries 3 credit units, at 300 level in Social Sciences.
Is MAC312 hard?
MAC312 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and practical work, and it has a practical component.
How long does MAC312 take to study?
About 40 hours of study, spread across its 20 units.
How is MAC312 assessed?
MAC312 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assignments and final examination.
What can I do with MAC312?
Journalist, Editor, Sub Editor, Layout Designer and Production Manager.