student handbook ba (honours) music journalism 2015/16 ...the ba (hons) music journalism programme...
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Student Handbook
BA (Honours) Music Journalism 2015/16
Course leader: Kate Jenner School of Journalism, Language & Communication
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Contents page
1. Introduction to the course
2. Structure of the course
3. Approaches to teaching and learning
4. Student support, guidance and conduct
5. Assessment
6. Course regulations
7. Student voice
8. Appendices: Grading, equipment loan and PCC Code of Conduct 8.1 Approved programme specification.
9. Fee Information
1. Introduction to the course
1.1 Welcome
Welcome to the School of Journalism. Language and Communication - one of the leading centres for journalism education in the UK. Our reputation rests on our commitment to providing practical and vocational courses in journalism, underpinned by the theoretical and conceptual aspects relevant to these disciplines.
The School is recognised nationally and internationally as a centre of excellence in its field. We have been teaching journalism in Preston for more than 50 years. Our graduates are spread across the media industry. They regularly return to the university to give guest lectures and masterclasses. They also help us to secure industry placements and inform our curriculum.
We have alumni who have carved out careers in entertainment journalism such as Jacqui Meddings, Entertainments Director at Cosmopolitan magazine and Andy Halls who works for The Sun’s Showbiz desk. The BA (Hons) Music Journalism programme aims to build on this reputation.
You will receive a solid grounding in multimedia journalism skills. You will also learn about the legal and ethical constraints journalists operate under. You will also learn about the history of popular music, its effect on cultural and sociological development and the development of the music media, giving you the knowledge and understanding you will need to operate as a music journalist.
In recent years advances in technology have changed the face of journalism. The challenges faced by the professional, digital journalist are enormous. Today’s journalist is multi-skilled, producing news in a variety of formats for a range of platforms. We endeavour, through our teaching and research, to equip you with the skills and knowledge to meet these challenges and to enhance your employability within the profession. Ethical, professional behaviour is at the heart of our teaching.
Cutting edge research in our Media Innovation Studio (MIS) has led to collaborative projects with the BBC and organisations such as Trinity Mirror, Northwest Vision and Media, Skillset, and the North West Development Agency.
Journalism programmes at UCLan have an excellent reputation for employability. This course will prepare you for a career in journalism, however, the degree does not by itself guarantee a job in the field. It is important that you not only work hard and attend all teaching sessions, but also take advantage of the many extra-curricular opportunities available at UCLan to develop your skills and enhance your employability. Get involved in student media; attend our prestigious guest lectures; take advantage of our bursaries for international projects; study abroad; enjoy prestigious work placements. UCLan is proud of the journalists it has nurtured over the past 50 years. We hope you enjoy your time with us and make the most of the opportunities we offer.
Julie Freer, Journalism divisional leader.
Introduction to the course
This course handbook will help you understand the structure of your degree and how the Journalism Division works. More details about each module are outlined in Module Information Packs (MIPs), which are given out at the start of each module. You should keep copies of all these documents.
1.2 Rationale, aims and learning outcomes of the course
Course Aims
The BA (Hons) Music Journalism programme aims:
To produce fully-trained multimedia journalists equipped with the skills needed for entry-level employment in journalism, the media/creative industries and other allied careers.
To equip students with specialist knowledge and understanding of popular music in order to enable them to operate as journalists in this area.
To develop journalism practitioners who are independent thinkers and doers and to encourage the development of critical thinking, reasoning and research skills through journalism theory.
To develop students’ understanding of the legal constraints and the ethics of journalism practice and to encourage students to reflect critically on their own decisions as journalists.
To provide a learning environment for personal development and growth both as an individual and as a contributor to a team.
Learning Outcomes By the end of the course, this is what we expect you to have learned as a result of the teaching you receive:
Knowledge and understanding of the news media, popular music legal and ethical
constraints, how journalists work and the theoretical and conceptual issues relating to
journalism.
Subject specific skills such as news gathering and writing, interviewing and presentational skills, technical, production and social media skills and shorthand.
Thinking skills such as selecting and critically appraising information from a range of sources, planning and conducting research and reflecting on learning and personal performance.
Other skills relating to employability and personal development.
A complete description of the learning outcomes of the course can be found in the programme
specification in Appendix 1.
1.3 Course Team
Head of School – Dr Paul Elmer
Journalism Division Leader- Julie Freer Julie leads the team of journalism lecturers and also teaches print and digital journalism. She spent 20 years in the regional newspaper industry before moving into teaching. Direct line: 01772 894750, e-mail [email protected]
Kate Jenner, course leader BA (Hons) Music Journalism. Kate is a senior lecturer in print and digital journalism She joined the School after a long career in regional newspapers. She spent 10 years as a news sub editor for the Lancashire Evening Post in Preston. Direct line: 01772 894818, e-mail [email protected]
Dr Peter Atkinson
Pete is Course Leader for Film and Media Studies at the University of Central Lancashire and has a doctorate on the subject of cultural representations of Liverpool at the time of the rise of The Beatles in the early 1960s. Pete has given papers at various international conferences and has work published on aspects of British popular music in several international publications. Pete specialises in British popular music studies.
Forming partnerships with a variety of stakeholders, Pete helped young people stage their
own music events, founded a youth magazine and gained media coverage for young
musicians, e-mail [email protected]
Amy Binns Amy teaches magazine and online journalism. Amy has previously taught at the University of Huddersfield. She has worked as a senior reporter on the Yorkshire Post and the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. Direct line: 01772 895694, email [email protected] Pat Brand Pat is module leader and co-ordinator for all shorthand teaching. She has a wealth of experience teaching this essential skill for journalists. Direct line: 01772 894735, e-mail [email protected] Clare Cook Clare is an award-winning investigative journalist with ten years' industry experience. She moved into lecturing following a successful career at regional and national press level before turning to magazines as a chief sub editor. Being bilingual has also allowed her to pursue a journalism career in France. Direct line: 01772 894737, [email protected]
Andy Dickinson Andy is a senior lecturer in print and teaches online production techniques and he is also involved in the department’s industry digital training programme. Prior to joining the department Andy worked in the university’s media technology centre. Direct line: 01772 894752, e-mail [email protected] Georgina Gregory Georgina teaches modules on youth and popular culture and the visual culture of popular music. Her research looks at issues around popular music, authenticity and imitation and gender and performance. She has published the first monograph on the subject of tribute bands – Send in the Clones: a cultural study of the tribute band as well as a number of articles and book chapters about popular music and bereavement, the Manchester music scene, glam rock, cross gender tributes, boy bands, dance and the politics of identity. She also works as a freelance music researcher for the UK Performing Right Society and performs regularly with award-winning vocal group Accord.
Caroline Hawtin Caroline is an experienced radio journalist having worked for BBC Radio Lancashire for a number of years producing and reporting news and features. Caroline is course leader for the MA/PGDip in Broadcast Journalism and she teaches on the BA Hons International Journalism course. Direct line: 01772 895692, email [email protected] Charles Lambert Charlie is a senior lecturer and teaches on the BA Sports Journalism programme. He worked for the BBC as a reporter, producer and presenter for both radio and TV. He was North West Tonight's sports presenter and became a regular contributor to TV's Final Score and radio's Sport on Five and Sports Report. He continues to work as a freelance broadcaster, reporting regularly on Premiership football. Direct line 01772 894739, email [email protected] Judy Merry Judy teaches broadcast journalism on the BA Journalism programme. She is a highly experienced journalist, specialising in radio features and documentaries. Judy works part-time at UCLan and when not teaching, she continues to work for BBC Radio Four. Direct line: 01772 894533 email [email protected] Francois Nel François is the founding director of the Journalism Leaders Programme at UCLAN and co-founder of the Digital Editors’ Network. An award-winning journalist and educator with wide international experience, Francois earned his BA and MA degrees in the US and is currently completing his doctoral studies at City University, London. An active researcher and consultant, he has initiated three ongoing studies into the impacts of technology on the business and practices of the newspaper industry. Francois has an interest in entrepreneurial journalism. Direct line: 01772 894758 email [email protected]
Deborah Robinson Deborah is a senior lecturer in broadcast journalism and also leads the broadcast journalism route. She spent 10 years as a TV reporter and producer for the BBC. She has also worked in newspapers, national magazines, radio and public relations. Direct Line: 01772 894749, email [email protected]
Delwyn Swingewood Delwyn has worked in print, radio and television. He was a member of Channel 4’s award-winning ‘Hard News’ team. Before joining the department, he taught at Surrey Institute of Art and Design. He is the leader of the Year 3 BA Journalism newspaper and digital route and teaches MA Journalism. Direct line 01772 894729 e-mail [email protected]
Fiona Steggles Fiona joined the department in 2012 and teaches on the undergraduate and postgraduate broadcast modules. Fiona is a highly experienced radio and TV producer, reporter and manager. She previously worked for BBC TV as assistant news editor for North West Tonight. Direct line 01772 894755 email [email protected]
1.4 Academic Advisor Each student has a member of staff designated as their Academic Advisor. In the first and second years this will be any one of the teaching staff. In the third year it will be your route leader. The role of the Academic Advisor is not to deal with assignment issues - this is a matter for your module tutor and should be raised at an appropriate seminar session. The Academic Advisors provide general academic advice and pastoral care, including dealing with problems that may affect your work. Think of your Academic Advisor as a ‘wise friend’, someone who knows the university and its academic regulations, and to whom you can turn for advice. It may not be appropriate for your Academic Advisor to deal with specific personal problems - counselling is a job best left to Student Services or the Health Centre - but they should be able to direct you to an appropriate source of advice. First year students will normally be contacted by their Academic Advisor within the first few weeks and invited for a meeting. If you do not hear from your Academic Advisor within the first month, please contact the Administration Hub (see section 1.5 for contact details).
1.5 Administration Hub Campus Admin Services provides academic administration support for students and staff and are
located at CM235 and is open from 8.45am until 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and until 4.00pm on
Fridays. The hub can provide general assistance and advice regarding specific processes such as
extenuating circumstances, extensions and appeals. Course specific information is also available
via school Blackboard sites.
The hub telephone number for the C&T Hub is 01772 891994 & 01772 891995.
The hub email contact is [email protected]
1.6 Communication
It is important to keep in touch. Beyond lectures and seminars, your tutors will contact you via the university’s Outlook e-mail system or via the UCLan eLearn/Blackboard site. E-mail/eLearn are now the first point of contact about timetable changes, tutorial times, news of guest speakers and job vacancies. It is vital that you check your e-mail/ eLearn every day during term time and at least once a week, via webmail or remote access in non-teaching weeks. It is particularly important that you check your e-mails/eLearn after results day in June and September. If you send us email messages from other addresses they risk being filtered out as potential spam and discarded unread. You will also find information on the journalism notice boards, both electronic and physical. Please check these regularly, particularly at the beginning of term. The notice boards for all years are outside the radio studios (near GR078) on the ground floor of the Greenbank Building. Some tutors will also contact you via Facebook and Twitter on occasion. Tutors do not operate a drop-in system but you can make appointments to see a tutor by booking a surgery time on notices posted on your tutor’s office door. Tutors can also be contacted by email. Tutors will try to answer emails within 24 hours. However, there may be occasions when a tutor is away from university or engaged in research and in these circumstances, email responses may take a little longer.
1.7 External Examiners The University has appointed an External Examiner to your course who helps to ensure that the
standards of your course are comparable to those provided at other higher education institutions
in the UK. The name of this person, their position and home institution can be found below. If you
wish to make contact with your External Examiner, you should do this through your Course Leader
and not directly. External Examiner reports will be made available to you electronically. The
School will also send a sample of student coursework to the external examiner(s) for external
moderation purposes, once it has been marked and internally moderated by the course tutors. The
sample will include work awarded the highest and lowest marks and awarded marks in the middle
range.
The external examiners for this course are:-
Karen Fowler-Watt, Head Of Department - Journalism & Communication, Bournemouth
University
Andrew James, Nottingham Trent University
Their reports will be posted on the Blackboard area for the course.
2. Structure of the course
2.1 Overall structure
You are studying for an honours degree. Putting it at its simplest this means that you are expected to:-
Engage in critical thought, using conceptual and theoretical frameworks.
Carry out practical work at a high level, demonstrating an appreciation of contexts and issues.
Learn independently.
Although this is a vocational degree it is important that you appreciate it is considerably more than a simple ‘how-to-do-it’ training course. You are expected to learn the practical skills of journalism whilst reflecting on the organisational, social, cultural, political and economic contexts of journalism. This is more simply summed up by one of the department’s key aims: to produce reflective practitioners.
The journalism syllabus includes practical elements, such as news judgement, news sources, and reporting, writing skills, using social media for newsgathering, interviewing, print, radio, TV and online production techniques. Journalism support subjects include shorthand, media law and public administration. Consideration of the development of popular music, its impact on cultural and sociological development underpins the practical elements of the course. This means that you will undertake a varied pattern of study and learning.
At any one time you may be operating as a student journalist, producing news in realistic newsroom conditions, while also examining and considering academic approaches to music in a seminar environment.
How you will study
Your course is divided into Stages One and Two. Stage One covers your first year and comprises six compulsory modules. Stage Two covers the remaining two years and comprises ten compulsory modules and two optional modules. Year one is at an introductory level and lays out the basic concepts, methods and contexts of journalism practice and journalism study. Year two extends and develops your journalism skills and seeks evidence of an analytical and questioning approach to issues raised by the practical elements of the programme. Year three modules are designed to extend your practical skills to industry-entry level and test your independent judgment and critical awareness.
Only Stage Two grades usually count towards your degree, although you must pass all six Stage One modules to progress to Stage Two
The course is made up of 18 modules and you will study six modules in each of the three years. Each single module has a value of 20 credits. Double modules have a value of 40 credits. To gain an honours degree you need to achieve 120 credits for each year of study- 360 credits in total over the three year period of your degree programme. You will be expected to pass all your module assessments before being allowed to progress to the next year. All students take five compulsory modules for the first year of the course, learning the basic skills of multimedia journalism and popular music and the media. You then have a choice of either learning shorthand or studying the business of the media.
In the second year, students continue to learn multimedia skills at a more sophisticated level, studying print, TV, radio and online journalism.
In the third year of the degree students can choose to specialise in one of the following: newspapers and magazines, broadcast, dissertation or an enterprise route. Online teaching remains an element of your study programme, whichever route you take.
Study abroad
The University runs exchange programmes with institutions in Europe, America and Australia. Many students
have benefited from the experience of studying abroad. Exchanges usually take place in the second year
and can be for one semester or for a whole year. If you are interested in studying at a partner college during your degree please contact Kate Jenner who will be able to advise you, and direct you to specialist staff in the school and the university. You will find Kate’s contact details in this booklet A diagram of the course structure is given on the following pages:
Course structure
Year 1
Semester 1 Semester 2
Popular Music and the Media
FI1400 Single compulsory module
Reporting Skills
JN1014 Single compulsory module
Creating Content
JN1016 Single compulsory module
Broadcast Skills
JN1015 Single compulsory module
Multiplatform Journalism
JN1017Single compulsory module
Shorthand for Journalists JN1005 Single optional module
The Business of Media
JN1033 single optional module.
Year 2
Semester 1 Semester 2
JN2043 Specialist Reporting
(single module)
JN2065 Broadcast Journalism (single module)
FI2004 Popular Music and Communication (Single module)
JN2049 Advanced International Journalism: Feature Writing
(single module)
The Digital Landscape JN2050
(Single module)
Law for Journalists LA2200
(Single module)
Year 3
Semester 1 Semester 2
Either JN3110 Newspaper and Magazine Journalism (optional 40 credit module)
OR
JN3112 Broadcast Newsroom(optional 40 credit module)
OR
TL3069 Enterprise and Development (optional 40 credit module)
FI3020 British Popular Music Since 1960 (compulsory 20 credit module)
FI3009 The Visual Culture of Popular Music (compulsory 20 credit module)
JN3025 Ethics and Regulation (compulsory 20 credit module)
Either choice of one 20 credit optional semester one module.
Or Choice of one 20 credit semester two module.
You can alternatively take a dissertation route through Year three. This will involve:
JN3024 Journalism Research
Plus either JN3992 a double 40 credit module or JN3991 a single 20 credit module plus an optional 20 credit module.
Modules available The BA Honours Music Journalism programme is built up of single and double modules. The course structure above explains what you will study in each semester. Single modules generally run in one semester, however some single modules may run across two semesters and this is indicated in the structure diagram on the previous page. A double module runs across two semesters. Below are brief details of what you will study for each module.
Year One Module JN1014 Reporting skills Module value: Single module (20 credits). Duration: Semester one. Assessment: Presentation and time constrained assessment. Module leader: Julie Freer This practical module introduces you to all the basic skills of journalism — recognising, and writing stories. The emphasis is on learning these skills in the print medium. You will learn the basic legal framework in which reporters operate. At the end of this module, you should be able to recognise and value news and construct a news story. Module JN1015 Introduction to Broadcast Journalism Module value Single module (20 credits) Duration: Semester one. Assessment: Group practical assessments and individual essay. Module leader: Delwyn Swingewood This module introduces students to radio, television and online journalism and the editorial and technical skills required in a professional environment. At the end of this module you should understand the basic principles of reporting and writing for the three mediums and you should be basically proficient in the use of audio and visual recording equipment.
Module JN1016 Creating content. Module value: Single module (20 credits). Duration: Semester two. Assessment: Portfolio Module leader: Kate Jenner You will learn how to create your own contact during this module and produce a portfolio of self-generated material. You will also develop your interviewing skills and carry out a range of reporting assignments. Module: JN1017 - Multiplatform Journalism. Module value: Single module 20 credits. Duration: Semester Two Assessment: Digital content portfolio Module leader: Andy Dickinson This module will introduce the practical skills of multi-platform production, enabling you to
understand the development of and unique opportunities offered by existing and emerging
digital and online platforms. You will also develop an understanding of the impact multi-
platform has on professional standards and practice.
Module: FI1400 Popular Music and the Media Module value Single module (20 credits) Duration Semesters one and two Assessment: Presentation and project. Module leader Dr Peter Atkinson Students are introduced to the study of popular music and the key areas of critical studies
through which it is interpreted. Through a series of case studies students also observe the role
that media has in disseminating and mediating popular music product. Students will observe
the effect of changes in the media landscape, and technological development, on popular
music product and its dissemination through examination of particular historical events. They
will consider the role of popular music in processes of globalisation, the institutional contexts
involved, and the role the press and the media has in communicating information about
popular music on a global scale. The module delivery is through a series of lectures,
workshops, screenings and visits and students will consider such aspects of popular music
as: genre, stars, history, gender, promotion, industry structure, narrative, mythology,
translation, space and place.
Module JN1005 Shorthand for Journalists Module value: Single module (20 credits). Duration: Semesters one and two. Assessment: Practical exam. Module leader: Pat Brand. Students will learn this essential skill for print journalists. The module involves the theory and practice of shorthand. Attendance in class and disciplined practice of the skill is essential to complete this module successfully.
YEAR TWO Module JN2050 The Digital Landscape Module value Single module (20 credits) Duration: Semester one Assessment: Presentation and multimedia project. Module leader: Andrew Dickinson The digital landscape aims to develop your critical awareness of a multitude of social media platforms, structures in an era of networked media. You will critically explore the impact of networked media, networking, how it has developed and, in particular, it's impact on journalism practice. As part of that you will critically analyse social media and develop innovative approaches to creating multiplatform content based on a developing understanding of a range of media tools and practice. You'll explore the emerging technologies, practice and issues in a changing digital landscape.
Module LA2200 Law for Journalists Module value Single module (20 credits) Duration: Semester One and Two Assessment: Presentation, essays and exam Module leader: Kevin Duffy Journalists work within a tight legal framework. This module explores the restrictions on what you can, and cannot, report and the workings of legal institutions. The major emphasis is on laws relating to defamation and contempt of court.
Module JN2049 Advanced International Journalism: Feature Writing Module value Single module (20 credits) Duration: Semester two Assessment: Portfolio of practical written work and presentation on analysis of three publications and a feature list for a new issue. Module leader: TBC This module develops and extends reporting and writing skills in areas of non-news production in specialist area and gives students knowledge of the use of features in different media and national contexts. Module JN2065 Broadcast Journalism Module value Single module (20 credits) Duration: Semester two Assessment: Individual radio package, group TV package and programme analysis assessments. Module leader: Deborah Robinson This module develops students’ radio and TV skills and prepares students to work as researchers, reporters and producers in broadcast news and current affairs programming and also as multi-skilled journalists producing audio and video content for online audiences. Students will become proficient in the use of audio and video recording equipment.
Module: JN2043 Specialist Reporting Module value: Single module (20 credits) Duration: Semester one Assessment: Essay, portfolio and quiz Module leader: TBC This module is designed to introduce students to writing and reporting on specialist topics and/or for specialist media; national and international contexts and variations. This module will give you the opportunity to write specialist articles about the music industry. Module: FI2004 Popular Music and Communication
Module value: Single module (20 credits)
Duration: Semester one
Module leader: Pete Atkinson
This module equips the learner with an understanding of the role played by popular music
in communications, and the processes by which the form is brought to audiences through
the media. The module develops research and analytical skills, provides a socio-cultural
and historical overview of the interrelationship between popular music and communication,
and encourages a critical understanding of the different manifestations of popular music
and its consumption.
Year Three
Compulsory modules
Module FI3009 The Visual Culture of Popular Music (L6)
Module value Single module (20 credits)
Duration Semester Two
Module leader Georgina Gregory
The module introduces students to a range of sources, encouraging them to identify the
inherent strengths and limitations, looking at how music and its representations have
conveyed a variety of social meanings through visual, oral and aural codes. Consideration is
given to the role of art, artists, designers and the art school experience in determining the look
of pop and rock music. The module also examines the constructed nature of pop and rock’s
femininities and masculinities and how these articulate contemporary gender and sexual
politics through performance. Heavy metal, psychedelia, rap, pop, punk, glam rock and electro
pop are amongst the genres which are studied.
Module FI3020 British Popular Music and the Media Since 1955 Module value Single module (20 credits) Duration: Semester one Assessment: Essay, presentation, analysis. Module leader: Dr Pete Atkinson. In this module we look at British popular music since 1955, when the nation was first introduced to rock ‘n’ roll. We see how: an indigenous form of pop emerged within a context of a modernizing broadcasting service in Britain; how popular music plays a dynamic role in culture and is closely related to a number of other forms of media and culture production; how the rock press has evolved in period under consideration; and we see how a ‘back-to-basics’ approach became evident in fields of record production, gig promotion, print media and fashion in the late 1970s. We look at Post-punk in Britain, and how this influenced the emergence of ‘Indie’ rock, but also the ‘Synth’ pop of the 1980s. We consider how media supports diverse genres of music and how media helps interpret these. We observe the emergence of a range of female artists since the 1990s and how British music in the first decade of the twentieth century reflects our diverse and multi-cultural society.
Module JN3025 Journalism Ethics and Regulation Module value: Single module (20 credits). Duration: Semester two. Assessment: Coursework and time-constrained essay. Module leader: Delwyn Swingewood Journalists are in a powerful position to do both good and bad for society. This module looks at some of the statutory and voluntary frameworks that restrict and guide the work of journalists
and relates these to the concept of professional ethics.
Optional modules. You will take one 40 credit module.
Module: JN3110 Newspaper and Magazine Production Module value: Double module (40 credits). Duration: Semesters one and two. Assessment: Coursework project, portfolio and practical exam. Module leader: Cathy Darby/Delwyn Swingewood. This module allows you to refine and practise your print journalism skills along a specialist route for newspaper and magazine journalists. You will take part in of workshops and lectures and, in teams, you will also design and produce magazines for targeted business and consumer/specialist markets. Module: JN3112 Broadcast Newsroom Module value: Double module (40 credits). Duration: Semesters one and two.
Assessment: Assessment Assessed news programmes and individual portfolio Module leader Deborah Robinson This ‘hands-on’ module gives you the opportunity to develop your skills in reporting and production for television and radio. You will learn both the editorial and technical aspects of broadcast journalism, including programme production, presenting, reporting, scripting, directing, shooting and editing pictures. You will produce ‘live’ television news programmes and also bulletins, audiovisual material and text for the accompanying website. You will undertake work placements. Module TE3069 Enterprise Development and Production Module value: Double module (40 credits). Duration: Semesters one and two. Assessment: Business planning, design and production of a media-related product Module leader: Gavin Allanwood During the course you will have learnt to question and analyse the impacts and influences of the work of journalists and news organisations. Undertaking a dissertation allows you to study and research in-depth a journalism issue of your choice in an academically rigorous manner. Plus one optional 20 credit module from the following list: JN3029 Community Journalism Project Students will work individually or in groups to develop a documentary project on a community-based issue/subject.. Students may work in partnership with a community group or may work in a mentoring role to produce broadcast content suitable for TV and radio transmission and/or online publication. This module is designed to give students the freedom to pitch an idea for a documentary project, agree a framework with the tutor and work with a community group to produce content for a range of media platforms. JN3043 Independent Study Module (Data Journalism, Semester 1 or 2) Journalism is increasingly about data and numbers, and learning how to find, interpret and present data effectively as a story is becoming a key skill journalists need. In this directed study module you will work with a team to find and present data-driven stories for a range of online, print and broadcast media. JN3046 Work Placement module (Semester 1 or Semester 2)
Students will undertake a work placement with a media organisation to develop their professional journalism skills. JN3076 Specialist Writing (Semester 1) The module introduces students to reader identification, targeting and marketing within specialist areas, developing contacts and equipping them with a critical understanding of the different demands of specialist journalism.
JN3111 Data journalism. (Semester 2)
This module will introduce you to how journalists are now able to source stories by scraping data from online sources.
JN 3062 Introduction to Photojournalism (Semester 2)
This module enables students to complete basic photojournalism, including composing,
shooting, editing and presenting photographs, and to work within legal and ethical
guidelines.
JN3703 Contemporary Issues in Journalism (Semester 1) This module synthesises a range of contemporary issues in journalism encouraging students to be cognisant of the media world around them as it evolves in real time. Students will develop a critique of the role and scope of media in a multidimensional multiplatform society.
Dissertation Route Modules Module JN3992 Dissertation Module value: Double module (40 credits). Duration: Semesters one and two. Assessment: Dissertation. Module leader: Dr Peter Anderson During the course you will have learnt to question and analyse the impacts and influences of the work of journalists and news organisations. Undertaking a dissertation allows you to study and research in-depth a journalism issue of your choice in an academically rigorous manner. You can also take a 20 credit JN3991 Dissertation module with an additional 20 credit optional module.
Module JN3024 Journalism Research Module value: Single module (20 credits). Duration: Semester one. Assessment: Essay and project. Module leader: Dr Peter Anderson In order to complete a dissertation you will need to be able to evaluate and critically analyse theoretical and conceptual perspectives and research methods. This module allows you to explore the possibilities and limits of academic thinking and relate them to the study of concrete examples of journalism.
2.2.1 Progression Discussions about your progression through the course normally take place in February each year. It is an opportunity for you to make plans for your study over the next academic year. The course team will tell you about the various modules / combinations available and you will both agree on the most appropriate (and legal) course of study for you. Your course leader will organise Progression talks to explain the options available to you. Once you’ve chosen your study route, you must fill in a Progression form and make sure that it is signed off by your course leader. If you miss the deadline for completion of your Progression form, then you may not secure a place on the study route you want to follow. If you feel you are on the wrong course altogether, then please see your course leader as soon as possible. It is easier to change course in semester one of Y1, so please do not leave it too late. Please be aware that to progress to each year of the course, you must pass all the required modules.
2.3 Study Time
2.3.1 Weekly timetable
When you enrol at UCLan, a personal timetable will be created for you and you will be able to access this via the Student Portal http://www.uclan.ac.uk/students/study/timetabling.php At the beginning of the semester there may be some timetable changes and your personal timetable may be updated, so please check it daily. Please note that UCLan operates a centralised, computerised timetable and it is difficult to amend this for individual students. Please make sure that you check your timetable first before taking on part-time paid work. Your timetable will not be changed unless you provide compelling reasons to move to a different seminar or workshop time/day. You are here to study for a degree and your university commitments should be prioritised before anything else. Any requests for changes to your timetable must be sent to your course leader Deborah Robinson. These will be forwarded on to the Central Timetabling Unit for consideration.
2.3.2 Expected hours of study
The normal amount of work involved in achieving a successful outcome to your studies is to study for 10 hours per each credit you need to achieve – this includes attendance at UCLan and time spent in private study. News can break at any time and like any professional journalist, you will be expected to cover it when it happens if you are taking part in news days or practical seminars. On this course there will be many occasions when you will need to work at weekends and evenings in order to assemble reports and interviews. Research and project based modules (for instance JN3024 and JN3992) will demand more private study and formal contact time with staff may be limited to tutorials and supervision sessions.
2.3.3 Attendance requirements
You are required to attend all timetabled learning activities for each module. Participation in seminars and workshops is important for both your learning experience and that of your classmates. Notification of illness or exceptional requests for leave of absence must be made to your module leader in the first instance and copied to your course leader.
Student attendance is monitored through a university data system called SAM (Student Attendance Monitoring). You can check your attendance record online through myUCLan. Each time you are asked to enter your details on SAM you must remember that the University has a responsibility to keep information up to date and that you must only enter your own details on the system. To enter any other names would result in inaccurate records and be dishonest. Any student who is found to make false entries can be disciplined in accordance with the university regulations. Any student in receipt of a bursary payment whose attendance is consistently poor, may have the bursary payment suspended. Module leaders may also withdraw a student from the module if the student does not attend regularly. Please do not book holidays during term time. Term time breaks disrupt your studies and will be counted as unauthorised absences. Please check the re-assessment week date before booking summer holidays If you are not an EU student under the UK Border Agency (UKBA), Points Based System (PBS) - you MUST attend your course of study regularly; under PBS, UCLan is obliged to tell UKBA if you withdraw from a course, defer or suspend your studies, or if you fail to attend the course regularly. If you have not gained the required authorisation for leave of absence, do not respond to communications from the University and if you are absent for four weeks or more, you may be deemed to have withdrawn from the course. If this is the case, then the date of withdrawal will be recorded as the last day of attendance.
2.4 Data Protection
All of the personal information obtained from you and other sources in connection with your studies at the University will be held securely and will be used by the University both during your course and after you leave the University for a variety of purposes. These are all explained during the enrolment process at the commencement of your studies. If you would like a more detailed explanation of the University’s policy on the use and disclosure of personal information, please contact the Data Protection Liaison Officer, Strategic Development Service, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE.
3. Approaches to teaching and learning
3.1 Expertise of staff
Teaching is delivered by experienced and highly qualified staff, who have worked as professional journalists across a range of media. The Journalism Division also has an established and respected research profile and many members of staff are involved in individual research projects. In addition, staff hold teaching qualifications relevant to the delivery of higher education. Enhancing student employability is an important aim for teaching staff and tutors maintain strong links with industry to develop work placement and employment opportunities.
3.2 Learning and teaching methods
It is particularly important that on this course you develop as an independent learner. This means that your tutors cannot and will not teach you everything you are expected to know. Instead, they will introduce you to new topics and ideas and then give you the structure and opportunities for you to learn more. This is a process that gives you the main responsibility for your learning. To do this you will have to:
Know what is expected of you.
Reflect on what you are learning and how you are learning, identify what else you need to know and make plans to gain this extra knowledge.
Develop skills to find more information (from texts, through research, at seminars).
Manage your time to study effectively and complete assignments by the deadline. You will learn more about independent study in a special session during the induction period before the course starts. Also, your work in the early part of semester one has been designed to support the development of independent learning and other study skills. Additionally, Personal Development Planning (see later section) will help you to further enhance your learning skills. A vital first step as an independent learner is to read this handbook and understand the course aims and outcomes and how the different modules contribute to your overall learning. Before each module starts you will receive a Module Information Pack (MIP). This is an important and very useful document that gives full details of:
What you will learn and how you will learn.
An outline of what you will be taught in each semester.
When assessments will take place, what they are, additional advice and guidance and any specific marking criteria
Contact details for the module team.
Extra learning material (i.e.; online resources) that may be available.
The books and other material you need to buy
A reading list that points you towards the main texts that may help in your studies.
Most modules follow a similar pattern. Generally, in each week in each module you will be expected to:
Attend a lecture. These are usually one hour long and are used to introduce new topics and learning. You should make notes of what is being said but, more importantly, you should think about the material and identify significant themes and extra information you need. Undertake private study. This enables you to reflect on the lecture and to start learning more about the topic, through reading, research or practice. You will often be directed towards activities you should carry out but you must also work independently to find answers to problems. Contribute to seminars and/or workshops. This is your opportunity to further extend your learning by discussing and testing out ideas, new knowledge and practical exercises with your tutor and other students. Many of these sessions will be structured, with your tutor asking you to prepare specific practical work to enable you to receive further feedback, or to prepare an individual or group presentation on an aspect of your learning. Seminars and workshops are also used to prepare you for assignments by giving you opportunities to do similar work and receive feedback. This course is both practical and theoretical. Although some modules emphasise one of these elements more than the other you should constantly strive to establish linkages between them.
Industry placements
You may choose the optional JN3046 Work Placement module in your third year. The timing of the placement is determined by the individual module leader. For the academic year 2014/2015 most placements will be in specific weeks in December and January, though students may also undertake placement at Easter and during the summer recess. Placement dates will be given at the start of the module.
Occasionally, employers may require placement attendance at other times. This can only be arranged in exceptional circumstances and you must ask permission from your module leader and course leader before contacting employers. You must not make your own arrangements for placements outside the official placement weeks unless your course leader has agreed. Permission will only be given in exceptional circumstances. While the placement is an important part of the third year programme, it is also vital that you do not miss classes for other modules.
Tutors may be able to assist in arranging placements through their industry contacts and they may prefer to make the initial contact with some employers for you. If this is the case, you will be told at the start of the module. However, it is your responsibility to make sure you have the required placements arranged. It is also your responsibility to inform the Administration Hub (see section 1.5 for contact details) of all your placement details so that the necessary health and safety checks can be carried out. Your employer must satisfy the university’s health and safety requirements in order for you to take up your placement. In addition, you must complete the university’s online Health and Safety course, which can be found on eLearn/Blackboard. Any student who does not complete the H&S course and provide details of the placement provider will not be allowed to take up the placement offer.
Use of the Internet and mobile phones
The Internet is an essential tool for the modern journalist. It provides information and a huge range of news contacts. It gives you the opportunity to contribute your views and show off your professional skills. We expect you always to act responsibly and to adopt professional standards when contributing to the web. Sometimes, in the process of free and frank debate, contentious or controversial issues and events may be discussed in lectures and seminars. It may be misleading, inappropriate or legally dangerous to take statements from such debates out of context and post them on the Internet. For this reason your tutor may occasionally ask you to respect the educational environment and the confidentiality of the speaker by invoking ‘Chatham House’ rules at the beginning of the lecture. When the rules are in force you must not use Twitter, Facebook or any other electronic social media to disseminate the lecturer’s comments or the content of the lecture and any discussion around it.
You must always adhere to the university’s Student Guide on personal internet presence. These rules are designed to protect you from electronic abuse or harassment by a fellow student, to protect the reputation of the university and to inform you of the local rules governing internet use. The full guide can be found on the UCLan website. However, we would draw your attention to the following paragraph:
‘You should not use your site to attack or abuse university staff or students. You should respect the privacy and the feelings of others. You should not include contact details or pictures etc of other students without their prior permission. Remember that if you break the law on your site (for example by posting something defamatory), you will be personally responsible’. Mobile phones must be turned off during lectures, seminars and workshops unless permission has been given to use them as part of the teaching session. It is not permitted for students to use mobile phones to record or video staff or fellow students during teaching sessions. Students who circulate or post online mobile phone recordings or videos featuring staff or students without their permission may be referred to the university’s disciplinary officer.
Copies of assignment work
It is your responsibility to keep an electronic copy of all assignment work you hand in. You may be required to produce a copy of your assignment for a final portfolio. Please do not rely on your tutor to save such material for you. Broadcast students should also make sure they dub any recorded material onto DVD or into a data file. The university server has limited space and is regularly cleared. You will be warned when clearing is taking place and given a deadline to remove any old audio or visual material from your work area. Any work left on the system after the deadline will be removed.
Professional conduct We encourage all students to develop their multimedia skills and to publish good examples of their work on internet sites such as the UCLan ‘Hotpot’ http://ukjournalism.co.uk/thehotpot/ and the ‘Blog Preston’ site, http://blogpreston.co.uk/. Having an Internet presence will enhance your professional CV as you can include links to show off your journalism work and skills to prospective employers. However, some of the work you do at university may not be suitable for posting online. You are still learning and you will inevitably make mistakes as you go along. If you wish to publish a piece of work online, for example uploading a video to YouTube, you must discuss this first with your module or course leader. Depending on the nature of the story, you may have to seek written permission from your news contact and/or interviewees to publish the story/audio/video. Please remember that if you publish a story which is inaccurate or libellous, you will be responsible and you could face legal action. It is a good idea to carry with you a contributor’s permission slip when you go out filming and recording, allowing you to post material online. A standard permission slip will be posted on the eLearn ‘Blackboard’ for you to print off should you need it.
Interviewing children Do not approach anyone under the age of 16, unless you have checked with your tutor and have then obtained permission from a parent/ guardian/teacher of the child.
Harassment
Harassment of an individual/s in pursuit of a story is not acceptable. Often you may have to contact a person several times to obtain information or request an interview but do not pester or harass people who are unwilling to talk to you. The long-suffering people of Preston are generally very willing to give up their time to talk to students from the Journalism Division. We don’t want to lose their goodwill. Some people in key positions get a lot of calls from students. If they won’t talk to you, be prepared to back down with good grace. You are, after all, doing a
student exercise that may be important to you but is not so important to them. Personal approach and presentation. Always give your name and introduce yourself as a student journalist at the University of Central Lancashire. Always be courteous in your dealings with the general public. Consider your personal presentation. How you dress in everyday student life is entirely your concern. How you dress and present yourself when operating as a student journalist and representative of the Journalism Division deserves more consideration. You should always strive to be clean and appropriately dressed. This is a matter for your common sense and the particular circumstances. You should certainly wear fairly formal clothing for formal situations – courts, public authority meetings etc. and during any industry placements. The same sort of clothing will also be appropriate for most other occasions when you are off-campus operating as a journalist. This is because:
3.3 Study Skills Learning to study at university can be a challenge as you are expected to do far more independent study for your degree than you did for your A Levels. You need to acquire specific study skills, for example the ability to research a topic thoroughly, to evaluate the literature on the topic, to develop an argument and to write a well-structured essay. If you are concerned about your ability to do any of these tasks or if you just want to improve your performance in assessments, you should arrange to see your module leader or course leader. You can also use the study skills resources and access advice from the university’s WISER team. Details can be found at http://www.uclan.ac.uk/students/wiser/index.php
3.4 Learning resources
3.4.1 Learning Information Services (LIS) Extensive Resources (http://www.uclan.ac.uk/students/it_library.php) are available to support your studies provided by LIS – Library and IT staff. Take advantage of the free training sessions designed to enable you to gain all the skills you need for your research and study.
3.4.2 Electronic Resources LIS provide access to a huge range of electronic resources – e-journals and databases, e-books, images and texts. You will be expected to use ‘Blackboard’ to keep up to speed with many of your modules. You will also find useful links on this site to other resources, such as book lists.
3.5 Personal development planning To help you with your learning you will carry out a process of Personal Development Planning (PDP).
Personal Development Planning is a supported and structured process to help you understand more about how you learn and what you learn. It encourages you to review, plan and take responsibility for your own learning to improve your personal, educational and career development.
Personal Development Planning provides you with opportunities to reflect on what you are learning on the course and during your time at university, identify your strengths and weaknesses and to develop your own strategies to further improve your performance. It gives you a framework to record your activities and actions and forms the basis for your career
a) we expect you to operate like a professional journalist and news organisations demand
that their staff dress conservatively;
b) you are far more likely to be taken seriously, and given the information you require, if you
look professional;
c) you won’t frighten members of the public. Who do you think is more likely to get a
response when canvassing public opinion in the street – someone smartly dressed, or
someone in scruffy army fatigues with multiple piercings?
At all times consider the reputation of the Journalism Division. For the sake of students who will follow you, never prejudice the good name we have. In all circumstances other than those described above, follow the Press Complaints Commission Code of Practice (see appendices to this booklet) and seek advice from staff whenever you are in doubt.
development by providing evidence of the development of a wide range of skills and experiences that are sought by employers and which will aid your advancement in the workplace.
Personal Development Planning is a process that only you can fully undertake as it calls upon you to constantly reflect on what you do and how you do it. It is a process that is similar to, and often linked with, your subject specific learning. On this course you are required to carry out practical journalism tasks and to reflect on how and why these are done, what the consequences are and ways they could be better done. Personal Development Planning is the same process, but in relation to yourself – you are required to carry out learning tasks and to reflect on what you learned and how, what the consequences are and ways they could be better done.
At the start of the course there will be an explanation of Personal Development Planning and the UCLan ‘Pebblepad’. You will be expected to start and maintain your electronic progress file which will contain transcripts and assignment and other feedback. It is important that you should record you activities as a learner and make notes that reflect on your experiences and the actions you took to resolve problems and achieve success.
You should bring this file to meetings with your Academic Advisor, who will ask you to talk about your learning and how you are developing plans to improve it.
In individual modules seminars will be included that will ask you to reflect on your approaches to subject learning (for instance, how you have related practical journalism experiences to communication theory) and how you reacted to different learning techniques (for instance, working in groups, making presentations, compiling portfolios).
3.6 Preparing for your career
Your future is important to us, so to make sure that you achieve your full potential whilst at university and beyond, your course has been designed with employability learning integrated into it at every level. This is not extra to your degree, but an important part of it which will help you to show future employers just how valuable your degree is. These “Employability Essentials” take you on a journey of development that will help you to write your own personal story of your time at university:
To begin with, you will explore your identity, your likes and dislikes, the things that are important to you and what you want to get out of life.
Later, you will investigate a range of options including jobs and work experience, postgraduate study and self- employment,
You will then be ready to learn how to successfully tackle the recruitment process. You will be able to record your journey using Pebblepad, the university’s e-portfolio system, which will leave you with a permanent record of all the fantastic things you have achieved during your time at UCLan. It’s your future: take charge of it! Careers offers a range of support for you including:-
career and employability advice and guidance
access to work placements, internships, voluntary opportunities, part-time employment and live projects
workshops, seminars, modules, certificates and events to develop your skills
business start-up, freelance and self-employment advice For more information come along and visit the team in Foster Building.
Careers staff are expert at providing careers advice, so if you need help with a CV or a job application, please contact them. Employability within Journalism is very good, with, on average, 60-70% of our students gaining jobs within the media industries within the first two
years after graduation. Many of our students go into associated professions, such as marketing and PR, teaching and retail management
4. Student support, guidance and conduct
4.1 Academic Advisors
The role of the Academic Advisor is explained in paragraph 1.4 of this handbook. You will be asked to attend scheduled tutorials in your first year. You will usually gain more from these sessions if you take some time to prepare in advance, thinking about any issues which you may want to raise. You can request a meeting with your Academic Advisor at any time – you do not have to wait for an invitation. It is mandatory for Year One students to see their designated Academic Advisor three times - at the beginning of semester one, at the end of semester one and once in semester two. At each Academic Advisorial your tutor will fill in a form recording the subjects you discussed and what advice was offered. You should read this form through at the end of the tutorial and then sign it. If you wish to change your Academic Advisor, you should let your course leader know and she will assign you to another member of staff.
4.2 Student Support
The 'i' is a central Student Information Centre and your first point of contact. You can obtain information on a wide range of topics including Council Tax Exemption Certificates, Bank and Confirmation of Study Letters, Portable Financial Credits, (continuing students only, Printing and Printer Credit, UCLan Cards, the ‘i’ shop and UCLan Financial Support Bursary (first year students only).
4.3 Students with disabilities
If you have a disability that may affect your studies, please either contact the Disability Advisory Service - [email protected] - or let one of the course team know as soon as possible. With your agreement information will be passed on to the Disability Advisory Service. The University will make reasonable adjustments to accommodate your needs and to provide appropriate support for you to complete your study successfully. Where necessary, you will be asked for evidence to help identify appropriate adjustments.
Assessment arrangements for students with a disability
Arrangements are made for students who have a disability/learning difficulty for which valid supporting evidence can be made available. Contact the Disability Adviser for advice and information, [email protected]. The School administration team will advise you on your disability lead, and their contact details.
4.4 Health and Safety
As a student of the University you are responsible for the safety of yourself and for that of others around you. You must understand and follow all the regulations and safety codes necessary for a safe campus environment. Please help to keep it safe by reporting any incidents, accidents or potentially unsafe situations to a member of staff as soon as possible. Safety assessments have been undertaken for each module of your course and you will be advised of all applicable safety codes and any specific safety issues during the induction to your course and modules. You must ensure that you understand and apply all necessary safety codes. These form an essential element of your personal development and contribute to the safety of others.
A specific Health and Safety handbook for student journalists has been developed and will be posted on the eLearn ‘Blackboard’. Please ensure that you read it and use it to guide you when reporting and producing stories.
4.5 Conduct
You will be expected to abide by the Regulations for the Conduct of Students in the University Student Guide to Regulations. UCLan expects you to behave in a respectful manner demonstrated by using appropriate language in class, and switching mobile phones / other devices off prior to attending classes. If your behaviour is considered to be unacceptable, any member of academic staff is able to issue an informal oral warning and the University will support staff by invoking formal procedures where necessary. You can read more about UCLan expectations in the regulations for the Conduct of Students.
4.6 Students’ Union
The Students’ Union is the representative body for all UCLan students. The organisation exists separately from the University and is led by the elected officers of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC) as well as representatives on the Students’ Council. The Students’ Union building is located at the heart of the Preston campus, and is the hub for all student activities. Representation and campaigning for students’ rights is at the core of what we do and is encompassed by our tag line of, Making Life Better for Students. Should you wish to make a change to any aspect of your student experience, whether it be academically related or not, then the Union is where your voice can be heard, actions taken, or campaigns launched. Your Union is also the home to a fantastic range of student-led societies, sports teams and multitudes of volunteering opportunities. You can also receive help in finding part-time work, whilst you study. Not sure where to go pop into the Opportunities Centre on the ground floor of the Students’ Union building and someone will point you in the right direction. We hope your time at University is trouble free, but should you come into difficulties around anything from academic appeals, to issues with housing, benefits or debt, then our dedicated staff team in the Advice and Representation Centre are on hand to help. As we are independently run from the university, we can offer truly impartial advice. More information on all these things, as well as details about all our (not-for-profit) commercial services, including our student supermarket (Essentials) and student-bar (Source) can be found at http://www.uclansu.co.uk/. The Opportunities Centre is the Union’s One Stop Shop to find employment or volunteering whilst you study. With thousands of jobs and voluntary positions advertised, agency work through the Bridge and information on over 2000 volunteer positions within the Union.
5. Assessment Please note that all modules will be assessed. You are expected to attempt all required assessments for each module for which you are registered, and to do so at the times scheduled unless authorised extensions, special arrangements for disability, or extenuating
circumstances allow you to defer your assessment.
5.1 Assessment Strategy
This handbook provides an overview of assessments, grades and results. It is important that
you read and understand this information. The Module Information Packs give you more details about the specific assignments in a particular module. All assessed work is returned to you with feedback from the tutor. It is important that you take on board this feedback in order to improve your performance as the course develops. If you do not understand the tutor’s feedback or wish to discuss the comments, please ask the tutor for an appointment.
The pass mark for assessments is 40%. A mark such as this indicates that you have only just reached the level of performance described in the learning outcomes for each module and there are weaknesses you will need to address. The steps from 40% to 70% and more are outlined in the marking criteria on the following pages. If you fail to achieve 40% you will normally be ‘referred’. This means you will be offered another chance to do assignments. If you then pass you can only get a mark of 40%, no matter how good your second piece of work was. In many modules you must pass each assignment. This means that even if all your marks in the module add up to an overall mark of more than 40% you will still be required to retake and pass any assignment in which you got less than 40%. Students new to university are sometimes surprised by what appears to be the low level of marks. This is a result of the marking scale we use and does not necessarily mean you are doing badly. You should note that the middle of the scale (i.e. the mark for generally adequate or average work) is 55%. Marks above this indicate quite good to excellent progress. Marks below this show that there are some weaknesses you need to address and correct. A guide to marking is included with Appendix 1 at the end of this handbook.
5.2 Notification of assignments and examination arrangements
Requirements for individual assessments and their respective deadlines for submission are usually outlined in Module Information Packs or contained in assessment briefings distributed by the respective tutor. You will also find this information on Blackboard. Your module leader will also explain how and where you should submit your work for marking.
5.3 Referencing
The referencing style is the Harvard style and a brochure on its use is available in the library and also for sale from most academic bookshops and online stores.
5.4 Confidential material
From time to time you may have reason to access confidential information during the course. Remember that you have ethical and legal responsibilities to respect confidentiality and maintain the anonymity of individuals and organisations within your assignments.
5.5 Dealing with difficulties in meeting assessment deadlines
Assignments must be submitted no later than the date on your assignment instructions/ brief. If you anticipate that you will have difficulty in meeting assessment deadlines or you have missed or are likely to miss in-semester tests you must report this at the earliest possible opportunity to the relevant module leader.
Authorisation of the late submission of work requires written permission. Your School is authorised to give permission for one extension period of between 1 and 10 working days where appropriate evidence of good reason has been accepted and where submission within this timescale would be reasonable taking into account your circumstances (Academic Regulations).
You should complete and submit an extension request form, with any supporting evidence, to your Administration Hub (see section 1.5 for contact details). Further information is available on the Student Portal at: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/students/study/examinations_and_awards/extenuating_circumstances.php We aim to let you know if the extension has been granted within 1 working day of the receipt of the request. If you are unable to submit work within 10 working days after the submission date due to verifiable extenuating circumstances, you may submit a case for consideration in accordance with the University’s Policies and Procedures on Extenuating Circumstances (Academic Regulations and Assessment Handbook).
5.5.1 Extenuating circumstances
Some students face significant events in their personal life that occur after their course has started, which have a greater impact on their students than can be solved by the use of an extension. If this applies to you, the University is ready to support you both with regard to your course and your personal wellbeing through a process called Extenuating Circumstances (see Academic Regulations and Assessment Handbook). Normally extenuating circumstances will relate to a change in your circumstances since you commenced your course, which have had a significant, adverse effect on your studies. Everyday occurrences such as colds or known conditions such as hay-fever will not qualify unless the effects are unusually severe and this is corroborated by a medical note. The University does not look sympathetically on absences or delays caused by holiday commitments or by work commitments in the case of full-time students. The normal work commitments of part-time students would not constitute an extenuating circumstance. A disability or learning difficulty does not constitute an extenuating circumstance (see Academic Regulations). Further information is available on the Student Portal at: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/students/study/examinations_and_awards/extenuating_circumstances.php You can apply for extenuating circumstances online via myUCLan. You must apply no later than 3 days after any examination or assessment submission date. Do not wait until you receive your assessment results to submit a claim. It is in your own interests to submit the claim as soon as possible. You will be expected to re-submit claims for extenuating circumstances for each semester.
All evidence that is provided relating to extenuating circumstances will be treated in a
sensitive and confidential manner. Supporting evidence will not be kept for longer than is
necessary and will be destroyed shortly after the end of the current academic year.
Further information about the submission process is available at: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/students/study/examinations_and_awards/extenuating_circumstance_submission.php In determining assessment recommendations, Assessment Boards will consider properly submitted claims from students who believe their performance has been adversely affected by extenuating circumstances. N.B. Assessment Boards are not permitted to alter individual assessment marks to take account of extenuating circumstances (Academic Regulations and Assessment Handbook).
5.5.2 Late submissions
If you submit work late and unauthorised, a universal penalty will be applied in relation to your work:
If you submit work within 5 working days following the published submission date you will obtain the minimum pass mark for that element of assessment.
Work submitted later than 5 working days after the published submission date will be awarded a mark of 0% for that element of assessment.
Unauthorised late submission at resubmission will automatically be awarded a mark
of 0% for that element of assessment.
5.6 Feedback Following Assessments
UCLan is committed to giving you clear, legible and informative feedback for all your assessments (Academic Regulations: G2.4). You are expected to review and reflect on your feedback and learn from each experience to improve your performance as you progress though the course. You will be provided with generic feedback for in-module formative and summative elements of assessment which contribute to a module within 15 working days of the scheduled submission or examination date. Generic feedback on end of module assessment and dissertations will be made available within 15 days of publication of results. Feedback may be oral, written, posted on a website or other.
5.7 Cheating, plagiarism, collusion or re-presentation
You are required to sign a declaration indicating that individual work submitted for an assessment is your own. If you attempt to influence the standard of the award you obtain through cheating, plagiarism or collusion, it will be considered as a serious academic and disciplinary offence as described within the Academic Regulations and the Assessment Handbook .
Cheating is any deliberate attempt to deceive and covers a range of offences described in the Assessment Handbook.
Plagiarism describes copying from the works of another person without suitably attributing the published or unpublished works of others. This means that all quotes, ideas, opinions, music and images should be acknowledged and referenced within your assignments.
Collusion is an attempt to deceive the examiners by disguising the true authorship of an assignment by copying, or imitating in close detail another student’s work - this includes with the other student’s consent and also when 2 or more students divide the elements of an assignment amongst themselves and copy one another’s answers. It does not include the normal situation in which you learn from your peers and share ideas, as this generates the knowledge and understanding necessary for each individual to independently undertake an assignment; nor should it be confused with group work on an assignment which is specifically authorised in the assignment brief.
Re-presentation is an attempt to gain credit twice for the same piece of work.
The process of investigation and penalties which will be applied can be reviewed in the Assessment Handbook. If an allegation is found to be proven then the appropriate penalty will be implemented: In the case of a single offence of cheating, plagiarism, collusion or re-presentation:
the penalty will be 0% for the element of assessment, and an overall fail for the module.
the plagiarised element of assessment must be resubmitted to the required standard and the mark for the module following resubmission will be restricted to the minimum pass mark.
when it is detected for the first time on a resubmission for an already failed module, no further resubmission for the module will be permitted, and the appropriate fail grade will be awarded.
In the event of a repeat offence of cheating, plagiarism, collusion or re-presentation (irrespective of whether the repeat offence involves the same form of unfair means) on the same or any other module within the course:
the appropriate penalty will be 0% for the module with no opportunity for re-assessment. This penalty does not preclude you being able to retake the module in a subsequent year.
The penalties will apply if you transfer from one UCLan course to another during your period of study and module credits gained on the former course are transferred to the current course. Contact the Students’ Union Advice and Representation Centre by emailing: [email protected] for support and guidance.
5.8 Appeals against assessment board decisions
If you consider that you have a reason to appeal against an assessment board decision, please bear in mind that your reasons must fall within the grounds specified in the University Academic Regulations: Section I. You cannot appeal simply because you disagree with the mark given. The specified grounds for appeal are:
1. that an Assessment Board has given insufficient weight to extenuating circumstances;
2. that the student’s academic performance has been adversely affected by extenuating circumstances which the student has, for good reason, been unable to make known to the Assessment Board;
3. that there has been a material administrative error at a stage of the examining process, or that some material irregularities have occurred;
4. that the assessment procedure and/or examinations have not been conducted in accordance with the approved regulations.
If you want to appeal, then you must do so within 14 days of your results being published. The dates for publication of results can be found in the Academic Calendar. (The onus is on you to find out your results and submit your appeal on time. Contact the Students' Union Advice Centre [email protected] for support and advice.
6. Course regulations
6.1 Course requirements
Students are required to pass ALL modules in Years Two and Three in order to qualify for a degree. Students are required to pass ALL modules in one year in order to progress to the next. A single module which has been failed may be re-taken the following year but must then be passed. If more than one module has been failed, the student may be allowed to re-retake the modules as a part-time student. Once the modules have been passed, the student can then return to the course as a full-time student. It is a requirement of the course that students on certain study routes go on a placement of three weeks’ duration, usually during the summer break before the start of Year Three, during the Christmas and Easter breaks in Year Three or in the summer period before graduation.
6.2 Classification of Awards
The University publishes the principles underpinning the way in which awards and results are decided in Academic Regulations .Decisions about the overall classification of awards are made by Assessment Boards through the application of the academic and relevant course regulations. In simple terms an undergraduate honours degree classification is based on the highest classification:
The Average Percentage Mark (APM) of your level 5 and 6 modules (generally taken in years 2 and 3 of a full time course) weighted 30:70. Or
Your Average Percentage Mark in year 3 only (i.e. your level 6 modules)
If the APM is near a borderline, at the discretion of the Assessment Board, students may be classified according to the academic judgement of the Assessment Board taking into account their overall profile and performance with the minimum requirement that:
1. A minimum of 3 modules (60 credits) at level 6 are in the higher classification band and
2. The APM is no lower than 2 percentage points below that required for the higher classification.
In operating discretion for profiling Course Assessment Boards will use academic judgement and may refer to performance in core modules; the placement component, the dissertation/project or other factors which have been published to students.
7. Student Voice
You can play an important part in the process of improving the quality of this course through the feedback you give. In addition to the on-going discussion with the course team throughout the year, there are a range of mechanisms for you to feedback about your experience of teaching and learning. We aim to respond to your feedback and let you know of our plans for improvement. This course is relatively new; over this academic year we will review it and together with your feedback, revise it. The Students Union can support you in voicing your opinion, provide on-going advice and support, and encourage your involvement in all feedback opportunities. They will be requesting that you complete the National Student Survey (during semester 2 for students in their final year of study) or the UCLan Student Survey (all other students). The Students’ Union and University work closely together to ensure that the student voice is heard in all matters of student-life. We encourage students to provide constructive feedback throughout their time at university, through course reps, surveys and any other appropriate means, The Union’s Student Affairs Committee (SAC), members of Students’ Council and School Presidents each have particular representative responsibilities, and are involved with decision making committees as high as the University Board. Therefore it is very important students engage with the democratic processes of the Students’ Union and elect the students they see as most able to represent them. Inform students of other opportunities available for students to voice their opinion within your course (SSLCs as noted below). Examples could include course management committees, timetabled sessions with whole cohort of students, on-line discussion with distance learners and Module Evaluation Questionnaires (MEQs).
7.1 Course representatives and School Presidents
A course representative is a student who represents their fellow students’ views and opinions to the course team, school, university and students’ union. Course representatives work proactively and diplomatically to improve the academic and non-academic experiences of students. The role of a course representative is extremely beneficial to both students on your course and the university. It enables students to have ownership of their student experience and voice their opinions and share positive practice with the course team, primarily the Student Staff Liaison Committee Meetings (see below).
Course representatives will be elected every year either in April or September. Alongside receiving recognition, support and respect being a course representative is a great opportunity to enhance your employability skills. If you are interested in becoming a course representative and wish to find out more about the role visit the Students’ Union website or by emailing: [email protected].
School Presidents meanwhile are annually elected representatives who voice the opinions of
students within each school. They communicate and engage with students in their school to
gain feedback and work in partnership with senior management to create positive change.
They are also trained to support and signpost course representatives where needed. If you
wish to find out who is your School President or more about the role visit the Students’ Union
website or email: [email protected]
7.2 Student Staff Liaison Committee Meetings (SSLC)
The purpose of a SSLC meeting is to provide the opportunity for course representatives to feedback to staff about the course, the overall student experience and to inform developments which will improve future courses. These meetings are normally scheduled once per semester. Your course leader will facilitate the meetings using Guidelines and provide a record of the meeting with any decisions and / or responses made and / or actions taken as a result of the discussions held. The meetings include discussion of items forwarded by course representatives, normally related to the following agenda items (dependent on time of year). Your Student Liaison Officer will be invited to attend and support the resolution of any issues. The course team encourage student feedback in all areas and recognise that additional items for discussion may also be raised at the meeting
Update on actions completed since the last meeting
Feedback about the previous year – discussion of external examiner’s report; outcomes of National /UCLan student surveys.
Review of enrolment / induction experience;
Course organisation and management (from each individual year group, and the course overall);
Experience of modules - teaching, assessment, feedback;
Experience of academic support which may include e.g. Personal Development Planning, Academic Advisor arrangements and The Card;
Other aspects of University life relevant to student experience e.g. resources, IT, library;
Any other issues raised by students or staff.
Students will be invited to put their names forward to become course representatives by email early in the academic year. Course representatives will be notified of staff and student liaison committee meetings via email by the School administration team. Meetings occur once in semester one and semester two and agendas and minutes of the meetings will be circulated by the administration team.
7.3 Complaints
The University recognises that there may be occasions when you have cause for complaint about the service you have received, when this happens, the complaints procedure is intended to provide an accessible, fair and straightforward system which ensures as effective, prompt
and appropriate response. Click on this link for more information Complaints Procedure.
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE
Programme Specification
This Programme Specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the
programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be
expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning
opportunities that are provided.
Sources of information on the programme can be found in Section 17
1. Awarding Institution / Body University of Central Lancashire.
2. Teaching Institution and Location of Delivery
University of Central Lancashire,
Preston
3. University School/Centre Journalism, Language and
Communication
4. External Accreditation None
5. Title of Final Award BA (Hons) Music Journalism
6. Modes of Attendance offered Full-time
7. UCAS Code P44-P55/2N18
8. Relevant Subject Benchmarking Group(s)
N/A
9. Other external influences N/A
10. Date of production/revision of this form July 2015
11. Aims of the Programme
To produce fully-trained multi-media journalists equipped with the skills needed for entry-
level employment in journalism, the creative industries and other allied careers.
To equip students with specialist knowledge and a critical understanding of popular music
in order to enable them to operate as journalists in this area.
To develop journalism practitioners who are independent thinkers and doers and to
encourage the development of critical thinking, reasoning and research skills through
media theory.
To develop students’ understanding of the legal constraints and the ethics of journalism
practice and to encourage students to reflect critically on their own decisions as
journalists.
To provide a learning environment for personal development and growth both as an
individual and as a contributor to a team.
12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A. Knowledge and Understanding
On successful completion of this programme the student will have:-
A1. Knowledge of the development, structures and operation of the media and
knowledge of legal, ethical and regulatory constraints on content production
A2 Knowledge of the development and understanding of the cultural and
sociological impact of popular music.
A3. Understanding of how a journalist works and how content is obtained, written,
edited and presented across multi-media platforms.
A4. Understanding of theoretical and conceptual issues that relate to the study of
media
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, practical workshops, news days, seminars, case studies, placements
Assessment methods
Practical coursework
Reflective analysis
Presentations
Examinations
Projects
Analytical essays
B. Subject-specific skills
On successful completion of this programme the student will be able to:-
B1. Select, gather and process content for a range of media.
B2. Demonstrate technical and production skills, social media skills.
B3. Demonstrate interviewing and presentational skills and other course specific
skills
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, practical workshops, news days, seminars, case studies, placements
Assessment methods
Practical coursework
Presentations
Examinations
Projects
Essays
C. Thinking Skills
On successful completion of this programme the student will be able to:-
C1. Select, research, analyse and critically appraise information from a range of
primary and secondary sources.
C2. Relate the practice and products of news work to theoretical perspectives and
concepts.
C3 Plan and conduct research and communicate results.
C4 Reflect on learning and personal performance.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, seminars, reflection on learning.
Assessment methods
Reflective analyses
Coursework
Essays
Peer assessment.
D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
On successful completion of this programme the student will be:-
D1. Self-confident, curious, persistent team player and flexible in approach.
D2 Able to communicate both verbally and in written form with clarity and brevity
D3. Able to use new technology and social media in content gathering and sharing.
D4. An independent thinker, creative, innovative and reflective
Teaching and Learning Methods
Seminars, workshops, group projects, presentations,
Assessment methods
Presentations.
Group projects.
Live newsrooms. Reflective analysis.
13. Programme Structures* 14. Awards and Credits*
Level Module
Code
Module Title Credit
rating
Level 6
Compulsory modules
Bachelor Honours Degree
Requires 360 credits including
a minimum of 220 at Level 5
and above and 100 at Level 6
and above
Bachelor Degree
Requires 320 credits including
a minimum of 200 at Level 5
and above
JN3025 Ethics and Regulation 20
FI3020 British Popular Music Since
1955.
20
FI3009 The Visual Culture of
Popular Music
20
Optional modules
One module from the
following:
JN3112 The Broadcast Newsroom 40
JN3110 Newspaper and Magazine
Production
40
TE3069 Enterprise development
and production.
40
PLUS one module from
the following:
JN3046 Work placement 20
JN3062 Photojournalism 20
JN3043 Independent Project 20
JN3703 Social Media 20
JN3076 Specialist writing 20
Level 5
Level 4
JN3111 Data journalism 20
HE Diploma
Requires 240 credits including
a minimum of 100 at Level 5
and above
HE Certificate
JN3029 Community Journalism 20
JN3200 Law for Journalists. * This
module is compulsory for
any student who did not
take JN2200 in Y2.
20
Alternatively students
can choose a dissertation
route as follows:
JN3024 Journalism Research 20
Plus either
JN3992 Dissertation 40
Or
JN3991 Dissertation plus a 20 credit
option.
20
Compulsory modules
JN2065 Broadcast Journalism 20
JN2050 The Digital Landscape 20
JN2043
JN2049
Specialist Reporting
Advanced International
Journalism: Feature Writing
20
FI2004 Popular Music and
Communication.
20
JN2200 Law for Journalists 20
JN1014
Compulsory modules
Reporting skills
20
JN1015 Broadcast Journalism skills 20
JN1016 Creating content 20
JN1017 Multiplatform Journalism 20 Requires 120 credits at level 4
and above
FI1400 Popular Music and the
Media
20
Optional modules
Either
JN1005 Shorthand 20
Or
JN1033 The Business of Media 20
15. Personal Development Planning
PDP is a part of all modules within the course and helps define a student’s progress,
professional direction and goals. The concept in part is to focus the student’s opportunities to
maximize engagement with the learning opportunities especially as they relate to career goals.
It gives them a framework to record their activities and actions which form the basis for
professional development of skills and experiences that are sought by employers and will lead
to advancement in the workplace. It is also tracking learning tasks and to reflect on what you
learned and how, what the consequences are and ways they could be better accomplished.
16. Admissions criteria
The University’s minimum standard entry requirements for degree level study is a 12 unit
profile, made up from one of the following:
At least two A2 level subjects including
One A2 level subject plus one single award Advanced VCE
One double or two single award(s) Advanced VCE
Specific entry requirements for this course are:
BCC/CCC at A2 level/ DMM/MMM – BTEC. English GCSE at grade C or above.
Overseas Admission Criteria: Applicants should demonstrate academic levels, interests or journalism experience equivalent to the UK. Additionally, they must have an English standard at IELTS 7.
Other acceptable qualifications include:
Scottish Certificate of Education Higher Grade
Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Grade
International Baccalaureate
BTEC National Certificate/Diploma
Kite marked Access Course
17. Key sources of information about the programme
www.uclan.ac.uk
BA Music Journalism factsheet.
UCLan prospectus
18. Curriculum Skills Map
Please tick in the relevant boxes where individual Programme Learning Outcomes are being assessed
Level
Module
Code Module Title
Core (C),
Compulsory
(COMP) or
Option (O)
Programme Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and
understanding
Subject-specific
Skills Thinking Skills
Other skills relevant
to employability and
personal
development
A1 A2 A3 A4 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 C4 D1 D2 D3 D4
LE
VE
L 6
JN 3025 Ethics and Regulation. Comp x x
x x x x x
FI3020
British Popular Music
Since 1955 Comp x x
x x x x x
FI3009
The Visual Culture of
Popular Music Comp x x
x x x x x
JN3112 Broadcast Newsroom O x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
JN3110
Newspaper and Magazine
Production O x x x x
x X
x x x x x x x x
TE3069
Enterprise and
Development O x x
x x x x x x x x
JN3029 Community Journalism O x x x x x X
x x x x x x x x
JN3703 Social Media O x x
x x x x
JN3076 Specialist Writing O x x x X
x x x x
JN3062 Photojournalism O x x X
x x x x
JN3111 Data journalism O x x x X
x x x x
JN3024 Journalism Research O
x x x x x x
JN3991 Dissertation O x x x
x x x x x x
JN3992 Dissertation O x x x
x x x x x x
JN3046 Work Placement O x x x x X
x x x x x x
LE
VE
L 5
JN2043 Specialist Reporting Comp x x x x
x x x x
JN2049
Advanced International
Journalism: Feature
Writing Comp x x x
x
x x x x x
JN2065 Broadcast Journalism Comp x x x x x X
x x x x x x x x
JN2050 The Digital Landscape Comp x x x x x X
x x x x x x x x
JN2200 Law for Journalists Comp x
x x x x x x x
JN2043 Specialist Reporting Comp x x x x x x X
x x x x x x
FI2004
Popular Music and
Communication Comp x
x x x x x x
LE
VE
L 4
JN1014 Reporting skills Comp x x x x x
x
x x x x x x
JN1016 Creating Content Comp x x x x x x X
x x x x x
JN1015 Broadcast Skills Comp x x x x x
x X
x x x x x
FI1400
Popular Music and the
Media Comp x
x x x x x x
JN1005 Shorthand. Opt x X
JN1017 Multiplatform Journalism Comp x x x x x x
x x x x x x x
JN1033 The Business of Media Opt x
x x x x
Note: Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks
Grade Percentage
Mark
Description Honours Degree
Equivalent
85 - 100 Outstanding
75 - 84 Excellent First
70 - 74 Very Good
67 - 69 Good +
64 - 66 Good Upper Second
60 - 63 Good -
57 -59 Average +
54 - 56 Average Lower Second
50 - 53 Average -
45 - 49 Satisfactory +
41 -44 Satisfactory - Third
40 Bare Minimal Pass
0 -39* Fail Fail
The above table is provided as a general guide to performance. In arriving at a final degree classification decision, Assessment Boards will consider a student’s overall profile and performance in core elements of the course of study.
8.2 Equipment Loans and Technical Support The Technical Services Support Office is based in Harrington Building, room 201. You will find the technical support staff based there very helpful. If you need advice about a particular piece of equipment or if equipment is not working properly, you should contact them. The office
provides equipment for all students within the school. Specific to Journalism students and staff, the office provide specialist support services for the department’s radio, television, print and online facilities. These include the radio and television studios, the digital audio and play-out network, digital video workstations and the online IT network.
Equipment Loan service
The office also provides an equipment loan service to support your course requirement. If you wish to loan equipment, you must first complete a risk/hazard assessment form, which can be obtained from the Administration Hub (see section 1.5 for contact details) or from the plastic holder on the wall to the right of Deborah Robinson’s office door GR234. A copy will also be posted on eLearn ‘Blackboard’. Once you have carefully assessed the risks of filming/recording/photographing your story, you must write on the form how you can minimise these risks to stay safe. The form must then be signed off by a tutor. Forms for broadcast equipment must be signed off by a broadcast tutor. An example of a risky job is filming on a building site. There are many hazards you must avoid and actions you must take to keep safe, for example wearing a hard hat and high visibility clothing. Please note that tutors will not sign off any forms which are incorrectly filled in and will inform Technical Services staff not to release equipment to you. The university has a duty of care towards all students undertaking journalism projects both on and off campus and for this reason health and safety requirements are taken very seriously.
Once you have had your risk/hazard assessment form signed off, you can go to Harrington 201, produce your Student ID card and request your equipment. Equipment will not be released to you without production of your student ID card.
The loans service gets very busy, especially during peak periods, so whenever possible you should plan ahead your equipment requirement. Equipment currently available to Journalism students include:
Sony PD175 and Panasonic DVX100 mini DV camcorders, including tripods etc- suitable for recording TV interviews and pictures.
Olympus LS11 recorder- suitable for radio interviews.
Olympus Dictaphones – suitable for print students gathering online audio material
‘Flip’ cameras- suitable for basic video footage and for online video content.
Canon 550D and Fugi digital cameras- suitable for still photography for print and online.
A range of microphones for TV and radio
Lighting kits for TV (note that you will be required to attend an induction course before using the mains powered kit)
Comrex radio outside broadcast kit- suitable for live location radio interviews and reports.
Please note that the office does not provide consumables with loan equipment e.g. DV tapes. These can be purchased at the Students’ Union.
You are responsible for equipment loaned to you, and for its safe return. It should not be passed on to anyone else.
If you lose equipment you will be liable for the cost of replacing it.
Equipment must be returned by 4.45pm (3.30pm Friday) on the day it is due to be returned
If you do not return equipment by the required date, you will be subject to the penalty payments shown below. ( Please note these penalties are currently under review and may be amended. If they are you will be notified via email and the new penalties will be posted on eLearn ‘Blackboard’);
Loan Type Up to 1 hour After 1st Hour Day 2 -7
Equipment £5 £5 per hour to a
maximum of £20
£5 per day after
first 24 hours
Key £5 £5 per hour to a
maximum of £40
£10 per day after
first 24 hours
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If you do not return your overdue items within 7 days your network and library account will be locked. You will also incur replacement items costs and administrative charges in addition to any fines.
How to Pay Fines
at the Ground Floor Service point in the UCLan library
at any of the issue machines in the Library (using coins)
If the fine is over £5, then via the payment hotline on 01772 892485 Opening Hours for equipment collection and returns are 9am to 4.45pm (3.30pm Friday) Useful Contacts:
Brian Moss (Broadcast Supervisor) ext: (89)4340
Equipment loans and Reception counter ext: (89)4342
8.3
Press Complaints Commission Code of Practice All members of the press have a duty to maintain the highest professional standards. The Code, which includes this pre-amble and the public interest exceptions below, sets the benchmark for those ethical standards, protecting both the rights of the individual and the public’s right to know. It is the cornerstone of the system of self-regulation to which the industry has made a binding commitment. It is essential that an agreed code be honoured not only to the letter, but in the full spirit. It should not be interpreted so narrowly as to compromise its commitment to respect the rights of the individual, nor so broadly that it constitutes an unnecessary interference with freedom of expression or prevents publication in the public interest.
It is the responsibility of editors and publishers to apply the Code to the editorial material in both printed and online versions of publications. They should take care to ensure it is observed rigorously by all editorial staff and external contributors, including non-journalists.
Editors should co-operate swiftly with the PCC in the resolution of complaints. Any publication judged to have breached the Code must print the adjudication in full and with due prominence, including headline reference to the PCC.
Accuracy
i)The press should take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted material including pictures. ii) Whenever it is recognised that a significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distorted report has been published, it should be corrected promptly and with due prominence and where appropriate – an apology published. iii) The press, while free to be partisan, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact v) A publication must report fairly and accurately the outcome of an action for defamation to which it has been a party, unless an agreed settlement states otherwise, or an agreed statement is published.
Opportunity to reply
A fair opportunity for reply to inaccuracies must be given to individuals or organisations when
reasonably called for.
Privacy
i) Everyone is entitled to respect for his or her private and family life, home, health and correspondence, including digital communications. A publication will be expected to justify intrusions into any individual's private life without consent. ii) It is unacceptable to photograph individuals in private places without their consent.
Note - Private places are public or private property where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Harassment
i) Journalists and photographers must not engage in intimidation, harassment or persistent pursuit ii) They must not persist in telephoning, questioning, pursuing or photographing individuals after having been asked to desist; must not remain on their property after having been asked to leave and must not follow them. iii) Editors must ensure that those working for them comply with these requirements and must not publish material from other sources which does not meet these requirements.
Intrusion into grief or shock
i) In cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries should be carried out and approaches made with sympathy and discretion. Publication must be handled sensitively at such times but this should not be interpreted as restricting the right to report legal proceedings such as inquests.
ii) When reporting details of suicide, care must be taken to avoid excessive detail about the method
used
Children
i) Young people should be free to complete their time at school without unnecessary intrusion. ii) Journalists must not interview or photograph a child under the age of 16 on subjects involving the welfare of the child or any other child in the absence of or without the consent of a parent or other adult who is responsible for the children. iii) Pupils must not be approached or photographed while at school without the permission of the school authorities. iv) There must be no payment to minors for material involving the welfare of children nor payments to parents or guardians for material about their children or wards unless it is demonstrably in the child's interest. v) Editors must not use the fame, notoriety or position of his or her parents or guardian as sole justification of publishing details of a child’s private life.
Children in sex cases
1. The press must not, even where the law does not prohibit it, identify children under the age of 16 who are involved in cases concerning sexual offences, whether as victims or as witnesses. 2. In any press report of a case involving a sexual offence against a child - i) The child must not be identified. ii) The adult may be identified. iii) The word "incest" must not be used where a child victim might be identified. iv) Care must be taken that nothing in the report implies the relationship between the accused and the child.
Hospitals
i) Journalists or photographers making enquiries at hospitals or similar institutions should identify themselves to a responsible executive and obtain permission before entering non-public areas. ii) The restrictions on intruding into privacy are particularly relevant to enquiries about individuals in hospitals or similar institutions.
Reporting of crime.
(i) Relatives or friends of persons convicted or accused of crime should not generally be identified
without their consent, unless they are genuinely relevant to the story. (ii) Particular regard should be paid to the potentially vulnerable position of children who are witnesses to, or victims of, crime. This should not be interpreted as restricting the right to report judicial proceedings.
Clandestine devices and subterfuge.
i) The press must not seek to obtain or publish material acquired by using hidden cameras or clandestine listening devices; or by intercepting private or mobile telephone calls, messages or e-mails; or by unauthorised removal of documents or photographs or by accessing digitally held private information without consent.
ii) Engaging in misrepresentation or subterfuge, including by agents or intermediaries, can generally be justified only in the public interest and then only when the material cannot be obtained by other means.
Victims of sexual assault
The press must not identify victims of sexual assault or publish material likely to contribute to such identification unless there is adequate justification and, by law, they are free to do so.
Discrimination
i) The press must avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to a person's race, colour, religion, sex or sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or disability. ii) It must avoid publishing details of a person's race, colour, religion, sexual orientation, physical
or mental illness or disability unless these are genuinely relevant to the story.
Financial journalism
i) Even where the law does not prohibit it, journalists must not use for their own profit financial
information they receive in advance of its general publication, nor should they pass such information to others. ii) They must not write about shares or securities in whose performance they know that they or their close families have a significant financial interest without disclosing the interest to the editor or financial editor. iii) They must not buy or sell, either directly or through nominees or agents, shares or securities about which they have written recently or about which they intend to write in the near future.
Confidential sources
Journalists have a moral obligation to protect confidential sources of information.
Witness payment in criminal trials
i)No payment or offer of payment to a witness - or any person who may reasonably be expected
to be called as a witness - should be made in any case once proceedings are active as defined
by the Contempt of Court Act 1981. This prohibition lasts until the suspect has been freed unconditionally by police without charge or bail or the proceedings are otherwise discontinued; or has entered a guilty plea to the court; or, in the event of a not guilty plea, the court has announced its verdict. *ii) Where proceedings are not yet active but are likely and foreseeable, editors must not make or offer payment to any person who may reasonably be expected to be called as a witness, unless the information concerned ought demonstrably to be published in the public interest and there is an over-riding need to make or promise payment for this to be done; and all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure no financial dealings influence the evidence those witnesses give. In no circumstances should such payment be conditional on the outcome of a trial. *iii) Any payment or offer of payment made to a person later cited to give evidence in proceedings must be disclosed to the prosecution and defence. The witness must be advised of this requirement.
Payment to criminals
i) Payment or offers of payment for stories, pictures or information, which seek to exploit a particular crime or to glorify or glamorise crime in general, must not be made directly or via agents to convicted or confessed criminals or to their associates – who may include family, friends and colleagues.
ii) Editors invoking the public interest to justify payment or offers would need to demonstrate that there was good reason to believe the public interest would be served. If despite payment, no public interest emerged, then the material should not be published.
The Public Interest.
There may be exceptions to the clauses marked* where they can be demonstrated to be in the public interest.
1. The public interest includes, but is not confined to: i) Detecting or exposing crime or serious impropriety. ii) Protecting health and safety. iii) Preventing the public from being misled by an action or statement of an individual or
organisation. 2. There is a public interest in the freedom of expression itself. 3. Whenever the public interest is invoked, the PCC will require editors to demonstrate fully
how the public interest was served. 4. The PCC will consider the extent to which material is already in the public domain, or will
become so. 5. In cases involving children under 16, editors must demonstrate an exceptional public
interest to over-ride the normally paramount interests of the child.
9. Fee Information Tuition fees:
Your tuition fees include:
Scheduled course tuition, academic, technical and administrative support, use of
course equipment and facilities.
Course related induction activities.
Placement year academic support (where the course includes a placement year).
Course assessment and awards.
Access to the university’s library and online resources, including on-campus wifi,
networked and remote access to the university’s virtual learning environment,
Use of the university’s estate and resources for scheduled activities and learning
support
Dissertation, project and/or thesis printing and binding where the submission of
printed and bound documents is a requirement for assessment of the module.
Use of the university’s technical equipment and materials identified by the course
teaching team as essential for the completion of the course.
The extra items listed against your course in Table One below.
Table One Course
Additional items included in the tuition fees for your course
BA (Hons) Screenwriting BA (Hons) Film and Media
Printing and binding costs for final year dissertation/project
BA (Hons) Journalism Foundation entry/ BA (Hons) Journalism
Headphones for editing/studio work. NCTJ diploma examinations years 1, 2 & 3. Shorthand workbook final year Placement costs final year Printing costs for newspaper/magazine projects final year. SD camera card final two years Dissertation printing/binding costs final year
BSc (Hons) Media Production BSc (Hons) Web Design and Development
Printing and material costs for assessed Portfolios Virtual Servers year 2 Printing and binding costs Final Year Projects Share in student companies year 3 Headphones for editing/studio work year 2
BA (Hons) TV Production
Printing and material costs for Portfolios Printing and binding costs Final Year Projects Share in Student companies Storage media for high end production, equivalent to Tapes. Headphones for editing/studio work.
BA (Hons) Film Production
Feature Film Storage media for high end production, equivalent to Tapes. Printing and binding costs for assessed final year Dissertation/projects
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism
Shorthand workbook first year Placement costs final year Printing costs for newspaper/magazine projects final year. SD camera card years 2 and 3
Headphones for editing/studio work. Year 2
BA (Hons) Photography PH3011 Professional Portfolio - Printing of images year 3 Ph3991/2 Dissertation 2 Printed copies year 3 Ph2010/ Visit to galleries Northwest based. Year 2 PH1020 / Visits and trips for Experimental Practice year 1 Photography and Narrative Photobooks year 1 Ph1003 Everyday Ass 2 Photographic prints x 3 year 1
BA (Hons) International Journalism
Shorthand workbook year 1 Placement costs - module JN3048 Work Experience Photo portfolio printing costs year 3 SD camera card year 2 and 3 Headphones for editing/studio work year 2 Dissertation printing/binding costs year 3
The items listed in Table Two are optional and the costs are not included in your
tuition fees.
Table Two Course
Optional items which may be offered and which are NOT included in the tuition fees for your course. Places may be limited
Estimated costs
BA (Hons) Screenwriting
Attendance at events - for example, film / screenwriting festivals Entry Fee for RTS award Total
£50 per year £30 £180
BA (Hons) Journalism Foundation entry BA (Hons) Journalism
Travel expenses to industry study visits foundation year Placement costs second year Total
£20 £100 £120
BA (Hons) Film Production Entry Fee for RTS award Group Film entries/attendance at Berlin Film Festival Total
£30 £150 year 2 and 3 £330
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism
Attendance at sporting events for match reporting. NCTJ shorthand and law exams Total
£50 per year £68 £218
BA (Hons) Photography Photography Trip £200
BA (Hons) International Journalism
Placement costs Visit to Media City, Salford Total
£100 £30 £130
Living costs:
Living costs are not included in your tuition fees. You will need to budget for these
separately. Below is an indication of some typical living costs, but everyone is
different and you are strongly advised to plan your own budget.
Typical items Estimated weekly costs lower range
Estimated weekly costs higher range
Accommodation: University Halls of Residence based on a 42 week contract. Private Halls of Residence
£79.03 £70
£107.83 £110
(Living at home may reduce your accommodation costs) (£0)
Food £20 £30
Internet connection (free wifi on campus, in university halls of residence and in some private accommodation)
£0 £12
Toiletries/Laundry £5 £15
Gas/electricity/water (included within university halls of residence costs and some private accommodation – check your contract)
£0 £20
Printing, copying, stationery. £2.50 £10
Travel expenses (varies by method & distance travelled e.g. on foot, bicycle, bus, train or car. If using bus or train check travel card / season ticket rates for savings). University halls of residence and a good selection of private accommodation are situated on campus or a short walk from campus.
£0 £40
Mobile phone or landline £2.50 £10
Books £5 £10
Leisure £5 £25
Total per week £110 £282
Total for 42 weeks (typical halls of residence contract)
£4,620 £11,844
Total for 52 weeks £5,720 £14,664
You will also need to budget for ‘one off’ or irregular costs
Typical items Notes
Bedding From £20
Clothes Costs vary depending on your needs
TV licence £145.50 per year
Insurances Costs vary depending on your needs.
Computer/laptop/telephone You will have access to University computers or laptops for your studies or you may have your own you wish to bring. If you are acquiring one to come to university the cost varies depending on model and whether it is new or refurbished.
Furniture, crockery etc. Furnished accommodation may include all your needs. Check your accommodation to see what is included.
Additional costs.
The costs below are incurred by some but not all students and are not included within
the Tuition Fees.
Optional items – all courses Estimated costs
Travel to course related work placements, work experience, voluntary work, or site visits (for example costs of petrol, business level motor insurance cover, taxis, train fares, bus fares etc.).
Variable depending on the distance travelled and the method of transport chosen.
Library fines & charges Avoid these by returning on time or renewing books!
On time £0.00 0-8 days overdue £0.10-0.50 per day 9+ days overdue £0.50-£1.00 per day 40+ days replacement cost and administrative charges/account suspension
Costs of obtaining medical or other evidence to support applications for extenuating
For example a medical certificate may cost from £10.
circumstance applications relating to assessments.
Fees for arranging and invigilating course examination(s) off campus are payable by the student (Note this only applies where permitted by course regulations and approved by course leaders)
£300
Printing of electronic books, journals etc. You are strongly recommended to access these electronically.
Estimated £0.10 per copy sheet
Printing of reports, course materials and other course documents, which have been supplied or are available electronically or in hard copy in the library.
Estimated £0.10 per copy sheet