Documentary Journalism - MA / PGDip

• Documentary Journalism Skills and Digital Production (60 credit points) - This is a practical module which provides the essential skills you need to work in documentary journalism. These include research, interviewing, scripting and writing for different platforms. You will learn techniques of recording and editing audio and video, working with stills, online and multimedia. The module culminates in making a long-form video documentary.

• Documentary Practice (20 credit points) - This module introduces you to the key concepts and genres of documentary journalism. It will provide you with the knowledge and understanding to critically evaluate documentaries across a range of genres and emerging platforms and will explore some of the ethical issues of documentary making. The module also examines the business of documentary production, looking at pitching and commissioning as well as new forms of funding and distribution. Part of this may be through our own production company.

• Visual Journalism (20 credit points) - This module addresses the changing role of visual storytelling through an exploration of documentary photography and new forms of visual multimedia. You will be exposed to a range of multidisciplinary material and developing communication technologies, computing and software which enable an extraordinary range of visual stories to diverse audiences globally. You will be encouraged to find your own creative voice through critical analysis, research and practice-based skills. David Severn, Paul Hill (MBE), Maria Falconer, and Stuart Freedman are visiting lecturers on this module.are visiting lecturers on this module.

• Media Law (20 credit points) - You will acquire a full understanding of the scope and effect of media law. You will be taught to recognise the danger areas in publication, evaluating risk and amending or eliminating content. You will gain an appreciation of the impact of reporting restrictions on the work of journalists as well as the legal considerations involved in investigative and covert filming.

Students taking the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) route follow the same modules as those on the full MA with the exception of the 60 credit MA Multiplatform Project.

• Multiplatform Project (MA route only) - This year-long project brings together skills and understanding gained over the entire course. It involves researching a topical issue and producing a 3,000 word research essay which feeds into an online multi media feature in radio (12-15 minutes) or television (8-10 minutes). Work produced for this module in the past has gone on to win awards in student media competitions.