Media Foundation

Media Research and Development This module will introduce you to the foundational elements of journalism and media studies. For journalism, the aim is to explore the daily practices of journalists, the values and principles by which they work and the basic structures of news stories. For media, the emphasis will be to understand how different (new) media platforms and producers generate their content, engage with new technology and impact society. You will learn how to find news-worthy stories, interview newsmakers and find the right narrative framework and structure their stories. Image Analysis and Production This module provides you with important visual literacy, helping you to explore the basic elements of images such as colour, foreground/background, angles, framing and representation. Students will learn how to analyse and critique the work of important photographers such as Bresson, Bailey, Adams, Arbus, Leibovitz and Man Ray, and using appropriate language, will relate these ideas to specific practices, and techniques. In practical terms, you will gain hands-on experience of creating, manipulating and distorting images using a range of relevant photographic hardware and editing software. Film Theory and Practice This module serves as an introduction to film history and to the tradition of critique in Western cinema. The module examines key figures in European and American film history in relation to concepts such as mise en scène, cinematography, narrative and genre. You will develop appropriate language to discuss important movements in film such as the French New Wave, German Expressionism, Dogme95, and New Queer Cinema. You will also gain an insight into a number of key practices used to develop, pitch, and present your ideas for practical assignments, before working on a short production of your own. Audio News and Audiences This module examines contemporary patterns of news consumption in radio, and the practical techniques used to research, gather, interview, and produce audio news packages. You will learn about the different radio audiences, their preferred platform for news consumption, the common trending topics they follow and their perceptions of politics and societal issues. Content Creation and Management Online This module will provide you with the skills to create content for various online platforms. You will learn where to source ideas for their content, how to write a blog and/or narrative, as well as the selection of visual materials (photographs, graphics and videos). You will explore copyright issues and ways to verify sources and learn how to manage your online content and how to communicate with potential users such as followers, journalists, and advertisers. Students will also be expected to engage with specific analytical tools to monitor, review, and direct content to maximize the potential reach and advertising revenue of these media. Creative Portfolio This module will guide you through the process of developing a portfolio of evidence as the final product of the programme. The Creative portfolio will represent the best of your work during the course, featuring a collection of outputs, which may include written pieces, posters, audio clips and short videos on a topic you will choose. Students will demonstrate their understanding of how sight and sound can be used to create emotional and intellectual value for their viewers, and develop this portfolio as part of the prospective entry requirements of continuing education or employment. Our creative culture encourages you to achieve your full potential. You will be taught through practical sessions, with access to subject specialists and pastoral tuition. Practical classes will provide you with hands-on experience of creating rich media content, which is supported with underpinning theories of media production, audiences, and research techniques. Assessments will include regular pitches and presentations of your work for peer and tutor review. You will produce your own showreel of professional standard work, ready for progression onto an undergraduate degree or entry to the industry.