NMD2005 Digital News Production Bahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs NEW MEDIAGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
NEW MEDIA
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
NMD2005 Digital News Production Fall 2 2 3 6

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Must Course
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Dr. Öğr. Üyesi TİRŞE ERBAYSAL FİLİBELİ
Course Lecturer(s): Prof. Dr. HASAN KEMAL SUHER
Recommended Optional Program Components: None
Course Objectives: This course aims to introduce the basic concepts, principles and practices of digital journalism to students. The course is therefore designed to contribute to the students’ storytelling, news writing, research and reporting skills as well as introduce them to new techniques of journalism in digital sphere. By the end of the semester, students will be able to produce news across various digital platforms.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
- demonstrate an understanding of the history and future of digital journalism
- understand the “news value” and find stories and leads
- improve basic skills of news writing and interviewing
- learn about the basic usability criteria of digital news platforms
- share the news stories effectively on a digital platform

Course Content

Digital journalism requires the practice of basic traditional journalistic skills as well as the capacity to perform storytelling across various media with multimedia tools. The students are expected to perform basic tasks of research and reporting in universal journalistic standards and learn how to present them to readers/viewers/audiences using multimedia tools. The class not only consists of lectures and readings but also short writing and reporting assignments and hands on media projects.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Overview of the course, the syllabus and the textbook
2) History and Future of Digital Journalism BRADSHAW, P. (2018) The Online Journalism Handbook, London: Routledge. P. 10-27
3) The limitations of journalism / What is news? Randall, D. (2011), The Universal Journalist, New York: Pluto Press. P. 16-24 ; 25-35
4) Finding stories, leads, sources online BRADSHAW, P. (2018) The Online Journalism Handbook, London: Routledge. P. 51-72. Randall, D. (2011), The Universal Journalist, New York: Pluto Press. P. 50-62.
5) News writing basics & interviewing people BRADSHAW, P. (2018) The Online Journalism Handbook, London: Routledge. P. 72-83 Reuters Handbook: A Reporter’s Guide to TV News Production: P.41-50 Randall, D. (2011), The Universal Journalist, New York: Pluto Press. Pp: 73-90
6) Reporting numbers, statistics & coping with data Randall, D. (2011), The Universal Journalist, New York: Pluto Press. Pp: 91-107
7) Discussion of the midterm project / Writing a pitch & “So what?” approach Reuters Handbook: A Reporter’s Guide to TV News Production: P.15-17
8) Introduction to Wordpress blogs, Medium etc.
9) Usability 101 and website reading, web design basics Krug, S. (2005), Don’t Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, California: New Riders Publishing.
10) Usability 101 and website reading, web design basics Krug, S. (2005), Don’t Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, California: New Riders Publishing.
11) Visual storytelling basics
12) Presentation of projects
13) Presentation of projects
14) Review of the term before final

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: BRADSHAW, P. (2018) The Online Journalism Handbook, London: Routledge.

Randall, D. (2011), The Universal Journalist, New York: Pluto Press.

Krug, S. (2005), Don’t Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, California: New Riders Publishing.
References:

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 10
Homework Assignments 1 % 10
Project 1 % 40
Final 1 % 40
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 20
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 80
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours 14 4 56
Application 10 2 20
Study Hours Out of Class 14 3 42
Project 1 20 20
Final 1 3 3
Total Workload 141

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) To be able to critically interpret and discuss the theories, the concepts, the traditions, and the developments in the history of thought which are fundamental for the field of new media, journalism and communication.
2) To be able to attain written, oral and visual knowledge about technical equipment and software used in the process of news and the content production in new media, and to be able to acquire effective abilities to use them on a professional level. 5
3) To be able to get information about the institutional agents and generally about the sector operating in the field of new media, journalism and communication, and to be able to critically evaluate them. 4
4) To be able to comprehend the reactions of the readers, the listeners, the audiences and the users to the changing roles of media environments, and to be able to provide and circulate an original contents for them and to predict future trends. 3
5) To be able to apprehend the basic theories, the concepts and the thoughts related to neighbouring fields of new media and journalism in a critical manner.
6) To be able to grasp global and technological changes in the field of communication, and the relations due to with their effects on the local agents.
7) To be able to develop skills on gathering necessary data by using scientific methods, analyzing and circulating them in order to produce content. 3
8) To be able to develop acquired knowledge, skills and competence upon social aims by being legally and ethically responsible for a lifetime, and to be able to use them in order to provide social benefit. 4
9) To be able to operate collaborative projects with national/international colleagues in the field of new media, journalism and communication. 4
10) To be able to improve skills on creating works in various formats and which are qualified to be published on the prestigious national and international channels. 4