Why Study This Course?
What is news? Where does it come from?
Would you like to discuss current affairs while unpicking the ways that events and opinions are presented in the media?
This course will provide an opportunity for in depth exploration of current topics in the news and will help deepen your understanding of journalism, bias and how we communicate and present ourselves and our stories, in and out of the media. Course Content (Plain English, short sentences, bullet points: details of main content) This aim is to encourage attendees to try different sources, including those they don’t necessarily agree with. Looking at varied approaches and choice of content will make it easier to apply critical thinking and awareness. During guided hours, we’ll concentrate on practical exercises and discussion. Those who want to can try producing their own material. We’ll then review the exercises in a non-judgemental way.
This aim is to encourage attendees to try different sources, including those they don't necessarily agree with. Looking at varied approaches and choice of content will make it easier to apply critical thinking and awareness. During guided hours, we'll concentrate on practical exercises and discussion. Those who want to can try producing their own material. We'll then review the exercises in a non-judgemental way. We hope to have some guests from journalism and PR to give some different perspectives on what they do and why.
1, Discussion on what is news and where it comes from. Perceptions of bias and how to counter it. A brief look at how things have changed over the years. A simple exercise writing a short item or two from the day?s events.
2, How to go about putting together a news bulletin or programme. We look at how different organisations might cover it. What influences those choices. We discuss the privileges and dangers of being a journalist.
3, Presentation and presenters. How journalists and we ourselves communicate. We look at the style and messages that come across. We play at being presenters
4, The importance and effect of different kinds of newsy interview. We look at some triumphs and a few toe curling disasters. Those brave enough can put each other in the hot seat. We?ll play nice.
5, We write our own bulletins and then talk about the results. We take a deeper look at how news has developed, the current situation and where it might be heading - including social media.
No formal requirements or experience are necessary other than an interest in knowing what's going on in the world. We should be able to get that information in as honest and balanced a way as possible. And we all what to spot when we are being deliberately mislead by fake news.
