Journalism (A Practical Introduction) BTEC Certificate/Subsidiary Diploma

Course code: FTB024

School of Humanities & Science

The Programme

This course is designed for students interested in undertaking a foundation course in print journalism. It will introduce you to the basic practical skills and creative approaches necessary for contemporary multi-skilled journalistic practice. The first year of the course will consist of two mandatory units, pre-production techniques for the creative media industries and communication skills for creative media production, together with two optional units which may include factual writing for print and photography and photographic practice. The follow on subsidiary diploma year will include the above with a further mandatory unit, research techniques for the creative media industries, plus a further two optional units.

The Programme Content

The Certificate will consist of two compulsory units:
* Communication Skills for the Creative Media Industries
* Pre-production Techniques for the Creative Media Industries

The Subsidiary Diploma will consist of the above plus a further compulsory unit:

* Research Techniques for the Creative Media Industries

The Certificate students must study two additional units and Subsidiary Diploma students will study four additional units which could be from the following suggested list:

*Factual writing for print
*Photography and photographic practice
*Writing copy
*Producing print-based media
*Digital graphics for print

An Introduction to Practical Journalism is designed for students interested in undertaking a foundation course in print journalism. It will introduce students to the basic practical skills and creative approaches necessary for contemporary multi-skilled journalistic practice. It is designed to be part of a mixed programme of study with other academic and

Entry Requirements

Five GCSEs at grade C or above which must include English.

Costs

Some individual digital photographic projects may carry a small cost for props, costumes etc. We normally offer some voluntary educational trips to media institutions such as the BBC for which there will be a cost*. You will need an 8GB USB memory stick.

Venue

Barnstaple, Main Site

Progression

The course will generate a skill set and portfolio of work as evidence for potential employers. The course can form part of the basis for entry into higher education courses including journalism and media production. Entrance into the media production industries requires further training, talent, persistence and an element of luck.

Length of Study

Certificate one year, Subsidiary Diploma two years.

Academic Year

This course starts in the 2013 / 2014 academic year.