JOURNALISM
We see their faces emblazoned across our television screens, listen to their clipped reporter’s inflection on the radio, or vaguely notice their names printed above the online article we happen to be scrolling through.
But seldom do we stop to contemplate the endless late nights (or early mornings), relentless deadlines, joys and frustrations (not to mention, the copious cups of coffee!) that have informed the news content we consume on any given day.
Journalism is an industry like no other. From research to writing, tweeting to blogging, generating soundbites and video clips, to on-the-spot field reporting, there’s never a dull moment. Forget forging round a racetrack at top speed, or bungee-jumping off a cliff: adrenaline junkies ain’t got nothing on the heart-pumping thrill that encapsulates this fast-paced career.
Whether you’re a natural-born political news hound who hopes to one day rival the likes of Christiane Amanpour, a gadget geek whose interests lie in the realm of multimedia, or a good ol’ fashioned ‘word warrior’ who dreams of winning the Pulitzer Prize, developing the necessary skillset that will position you on your path to journalistic success is crucial.
The role of the reporter has always been a vital one, particularly in terms of holding those in power to account and acting as a ‘voice’ for the voiceless. In this increasingly digitised and global media universe, the newsperson’s duty has become ever more complex. The Boston Media House journalism course offers graduates a glimpse into the real-world, multimedia working environment of the modern journalist and provides a perspective on what it will take to reach the top of the journalism field.
From ‘the basics’ of how to research, compile and write articles for a broad range of publications and platforms, to honing your expertise in terms of investigative journalism, research, internet journalism, sub-editing, photography, how to use social media for effective coverage, broadcast reporting and much more, the journalism specialisation will ensure you’re completely up to date with the latest journalistic trends.
And if it’s more the glitz and glamour element you’re after, best you believe that even ‘red carpet reporters’ require a firm grasp of the fundamental principles that underpin the journalistic environment. Well, assuming you aim to be a credible spotlight journalist, that is, whose career spans longer than that of Kim Kardashian’s marriage to Kris Humphries!
Besides, even if the world of ‘bright lights and big names’ is more your calling, it’s best to have a firm grounding in journalism in general. Take it from this former Entertainment Editor: dealing with celebrities on a daily is not always as prestigious as one might imagine – but at least you’ll always have interesting stories to share at pizza parties!
- Reporter/ Writer (print/ online/ radio/ television)
- Multimedia journalist
- Content Creator
- Social Media Manager
- Content Manager
- Editor (print/ online/ radio/ television)
- Sub-Editor (print/ online/ radio/ television)
- Photojournalist
You will learn all the foundational Journalism skills as well as multimedia skills such as collecting information for journalistic purposes, presenting story ideas, interviewing, interviewing for sound quality, reporting, writing, shaping stories for online readers, basic sub-editing, media law and ethics.
Journalism at level 2 will cover the following areas of study: why the media matters; inside the newsroom; exploring the nature of news; the reporter’s toolbox; the process of reporting and writing news; identifying story ideas and locating stories; collecting information and interviews.
The subject coverage further includes: crafting feature stories; successful freelance writing; editing; the publicist at work; brand journalism; publication planning and design; ethics and the responsible journalist; press theories; and globalisation. This subject also includes a practical workshop module, Covering the News 1, where you will learn about reporting on different topics and you will be required to produce original written content on these topics.
Journalism 3 will cover the following areas of study: the media landscape; digital-first developments: social media trends; Twitter and journalism in the newsroom; producing feature articles from the perspective of a freelancer; where do journalism graduates go; the news programme; radio news coverage; current affairs radio; radio interviews; writing the script; global news, global challenges; and press conferences. This subject also includes a practical workshop module, Covering the News 2, where you will learn about reporting on different topics and you will be required to produce original multimedia content on these topics.