MP4016 - Writing for Digital

This module offers a varied teaching and learning strategy. You will learn via a variety of mechanisms. These include lectures, seminars, online activities (where appropriate) and independent learning. Lectures will provide the contextual and practical information you need to understand the module’s themes and approaches. The lecturer will provide examples that will demonstrate how to apply relevant practical techniques, and to stimulate your engagement with the course material. Seminars will be used to help you develop writing, interview, research and decision-making skills. These will also guide your learning strategies and offer the opportunity to develop issues you have learned independently. You will take part in group conferences for your assignments. This will give you the chance to develop ideas in an industry style environment. You will be expected to assess peers’ work, pitch ideas, agree a brief and file copy on time. Guidance with the preparation of assessed work, and feedback and feed-forward during writing. During your independent working time, it is also expected that you will apply the ideas raised in the lectures and workshops to your own practice. Where appropriate, additional materials will be supplied on the eLearning Portal, or you will be directed towards additional materials. These independent activities will facilitate your development as you progress through the module, laying a foundation for your assessed work.

You will be directed to a range of relevant texts, both books and journals and will also draw upon the professional experience of the lecturer. You are also supported in a variety of manners: the module tutor is available to discuss issues both during and outside scheduled teaching. Tutors can discuss issues during pre-determined Office Hours each week, and also via email. Additionally, information, teaching materials and other support is available through the Electronic Learning Portal system.
You will be supported by the module lead; they will introduce the module at the start of the semester and offer advice and guidance throughout. Your learning is mapped out via documentation on Blackboard Ultra, the Northumbria University online electronic learning portal; this is accessible online on and off campus. The e-Learning Portal will include guidance notes and key dates to help you organise and plan your time. It will also include teaching materials, announcements and updates, and detailed information on assessment. You will have a university email that we contact you through. We support your learning by providing on-going feedback (Formative and Summative) through the range of teaching and learning approaches offered. We ask you to electronically submit your work electronically, and we will supply feedback via Turnitin. You will be able to compare your feedback across modules so that you can assess your development as you progress through the programme. Formative assessment is offered throughout the module, and summative assignments will receive written feedback within 20 working days of assignment submission. Every tutor has set weekly feedback and tutorial drop in hours, wherein you can seek advice on your academic progress. Where appropriate you may also be directed to engage with our Skills Plus or other resources offered through the University Student Support Services such as Dyslexia Support. Guidance tutorials also provide opportunities for students to discuss, in confidence, their academic progress on the programme.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. To understand the requirements of writing for different formats and audiences.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. To write in a range of journalism styles and formats in particular for social media and online journalism but also, where appropriate, print.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
3. To gain skills in writing clean crisp copy for news stories.
4. To understand the appropriate application of style as a technique.

Students will be given formative feedback during workshops
For their summative assessment students will produce four pieces of work consisting of:

1. A 400-word online news story. The story will include relevant links to other online and social media rich content where appropriate. LO 1-4
2. To live blog an event that lasts at least an hour minutes. The live blog must include at least 20 entries that conform to the style outlined in class by the tutor. LO 1-4
Both assessments will include supporting social media activity from a professionally presented social media account.

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Writing is at the heart of good journalism and this module instructs students on how to produce this highly stylized form of English. Using contemporary references and examples students learn how to write news, reviews, features and online articles with impact, balance and professionalism; a range of skills which are invaluable across a range of career paths.. In addition students are given tuition in making contacts and interview technique. Assessment is via a portfolio of work which includes a range of self-generated, original journalism.