Learning Outcomes
The realisation of the close relationship between the various principles, criteria and values underlying news selection and presentation, on the one hand, and their linguistic expression, on the other.
The development of language sensitivity resulting into conscious “selection” and focussing on the appropriate affective, social, power, cognitive and performance domains of Language Awareness.
The development of the skill of writing in a journalistic “conversational” style (normal variety of English).
The development of the awareness of the distinction and differences between writing for quality newspapers and tabloids.
Course Content (Syllabus)
This advanced English course focuses on news and feature story writing for the print media. By combining theory and practice it introduces students to headline language, story format, leads, the Associated Press stylebook and news writing techniques. Students become familiar with journalistic guidelines and techniques in relation to story structure(s), writing style(s), news values/criteria, cohesive devices, coherence. Lectures, analyses and classroom activities and/or tasks are based on authentic data from American and British newspapers.
Additional bibliography for study
The Associated Press Stylebook (2015). Associated Press.
Bagnall, Nicholas (1993). Newspaper Language. Focal Press.
Dominick, J.R. (2010). The Dynamics of Mass Communications: Media in the Digital Age. NJ: Mac-Graw Hill Education.
Harris, G. & D. Spark (1995), 2nd edition. Practical Newspaper Reporting, Focal Press.
Itule, B. D. and D. A. Anderson (1989), 2nd edition. News Writing and Reporting for Today's Media. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Keeble, R. (1994). The Newspapers Handbook. London and New York: Routledge.
Mencher, M. (1994), 6th edition. News Reporting and Writing. Wm. C. Brown Publishers.
Metzler, K. (1997). Creative Interviewing. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Stovall, J. G. (2009), 7th edition. Writing for the Mass Media. Boston: Pearson