Module Code and Title:        BRD201 Introduction to Broadcast Journalism

Programme:                          BA in Mass Communication

Credit Value:                         12

Module Tutor:                       Namkhai Norbu, New #3

General objective: This module explores the emergence of broadcasting as a powerful format for mass communications, the practice of broadcasting (particularly for journalism), and why it is relevant to the world today. The module will specifically analyse Bhutanese television and radio in relation to the rest of the world. The module also provides some introduction on practical broadcast journalism skills such as editing, writing and interviewing.

Learning outcomes – On completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Describe the medium and messages best suited to each type of broadcasting.
2. Write effective short segments for broadcast.
3. Analyse programming and research done by broadcasting companies and network television in the field of broadcasting.
4. Compare broadcasts from around the world based on funding, ideology and legal aspects
5. Discuss the theories on violence and impact of broadcasting on children, men and women.
6. Edit a written work for timed broadcast.
7. Perform a mock interview for broadcast.

Learning and Teaching Approach:

Assessment Approach:

A. Individual Broadcast analysis: Portion of Final Mark: 10%

Students will develop a paper of 1000-1250 words discussing a major topic from broadcasting that is instructor approved. They will characterize the major players, previous broadcasting methods and how they impact broadcasting today. Students will mention theories of mass media that they have learned to create an analytical piece of writing.

1%       Characterization of major players introduced

1%       Past broadcasting methods mentioned

3%       Explanation of evolution of broadcasting

1%       Analytical Capability

2%       Mechanics, Spelling and Grammar

B. Individual Editing for broadcast: Portion of Final Mark: 15%

Students will be asked to get a well written article from a reputed magazine or journal and they will have to edit the article for broadcast. Students should be able to bring out the crux of the article in a precise manner with clarity suited for broadcasting. The final edited work for broadcast should be a maximum two minutes long. The students will be required to do an audio recording of the edited work to play in class and submit the written work. Mobile recording will be accepted and the technicality of audio recording will not be assessed. They will be assessed on:

4%       Clarity and concision

3%       Specificity

4%       Logical order

2%       Simplicity and sentence structure

2%       Voice and intonation

C. Pair Interview for broadcast: Portion of Final Mark: 15%

Students will be expected to do a mock broadcast for which an actual interview will be conducted on a topic of their choosing related to gathering of opinions on a current affairs issue. The interview should be 2-3 minutes long. The recording can be done on any visual recording device such as a camcorder, camera with video clip function, or smartphone. The quality of the recording will not be assessed. A rubric will be given to the students before the assessment.

3%       Tone of voice, clarity and audibility

3%       Use of space

3%       Quality of questions

3%       Ability to adapt on the responses of the interviewee

3%       Time management

D. Midterm examination: Portion of Final Mark: 15%

Students will take a written exam of 1.5 hour duration covering topics up to the mid-point of the semester.

E. Small Group Case study: on the impact of broadcasting on children in Bhutan: 20%

Students will compose a research paper of 1250-1500 words in groups of 2-3 members. It will focus on how broadcasting impacts the minds of the children within Bhutan. They will analyse how broadcasting affects the children’s daily lives and their family’s lives. Students will work on their assigned portions and then work together as a team to create a well-researched and consistent project.

2%       Research done

3%       Ability to use broadcasting theories and their interpretation and understanding of these theories

3%       Consistency and content

2%       Responsibility among individuals

2%       Discussion on quality of execution

2%       Creativity and presentation of their work

1%       Grammar and language

They will receive 5% for their individual reflection on their portions of their work, their team work and overall critique their work on the portfolio via VLE. This individual reflection will be a 300-word analysis based on tutor guidelines.

1%       Quality of individual reflection

1%       Quality of group work

1%       Interpersonal communication analysis

2%       Overall portfolio analysis

Pre-requisites: CTH102 Introductory Theories of Mass Communication

Subject matter:

1. Unit I: Overview of broadcasting
   • Review of the history of broadcasting
   • Characteristics, functions, and audiences of broadcasting
   • Emergence, development, and evolution of radio and television broadcasting around the world
   • Impacts of broadcasting: immediacy, creation of new genres of entertainment, rapid spread of messages and news, changes in societal time use
   • Reference to impacts of violence in broadcasting on people
   • Brief reference to general ethical implications of broadcasting
2. Unit II: Broadcasting in Bhutan (Radio and Television)
   • Review of broadcasting history and its context in Bhutan and changes within the country
   • Target audiences for broadcasting in Bhutan
   • Basic ethical issues in broadcasting within the country
3. Unit III: Types of broadcast news programmes
   • Proximity to events
   • Captured footage; use of citizen work: right place, right time
   • Potential differences in relevance to audience vs, the broadcasting organization
   • Broadcast for immediacy or to generate ‘timeless’ pieces
   • Gauges of audience interest
   • Review of different types of news and their functions in society
   • News Sources

3.8.1 Call from citizens

3.8.2 Emergency Services

3.8.3 Politicians and political groups

3.8.4 Pressure groups

3.8.5 Staged events

3.8.6 News releases

3.8.7 Tip-offs and weighing out the legitimacy of the tips

3.8.8 Wire services and news agencies

3.8.9 Press releases and advertorials

4. Unit IV: Broadcast news programmes: relevance, style and length of news broadcasts
   • Segments: specialized, breaking or scheduled
   • 24-hour news: life cycle of recycled news
   • Documentaries: mini-series, exposes, or full-length films as news and current events in broadcast journalism
5. Unit V: Interviewing as a part of Broadcast journalism
   • The uses of interviews for broadcasting
   • Types of broadcast Interviews
   • Issues and ethics related to broadcast interviews
   • Important aspects of interviewing for broadcast news
   • Interviewing Skills
   • Asking the right questions
   • Choosing the right interviewee
   • Live interviews and choosing the right location
   • Coping with difficulties during an interview
6. Unit VI: Other basic broadcast skills (strategies and good practices)
   • Reduced language complexity vs. print media
   • Practices to avoid losing an audience
   • Writing and editing scripts for broadcast
     • The cue: lead or link
     • Keeping detail to a minimum
     • Layout and Scripting: directions for breathing, emphasis and tone
     • Phrasing Complications and unintentional tongue twisters
     • Repeat major details
   • Intonation and dictation
   • On screen gestures
   • Body language for camera
   • Use of microphone and props
   • Taking cues from cameraperson
   • Awareness of the stage/ room/ locality
   • Ad-libs and teleprompts

Reading List: (A course-pack of the shorter reading materials will be made available to students)

1. Essential Reading
   • Boyd, A. (2001). Broadcast journalism (5^th). Oxford: Focal Press.
   • Brown, M. (2017, June 23). Television Is Dead? Here's How Digital Streaming Is Actually Making It More Relevant. Forbes Magazine. Retrieved from www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2017/06/22/television-is-dead-heres-how-digital-streaming-is-actually-making-it-more-relevant/2/#7284e6a35322.
   • Chapman, J., & Kinsey, M. (2010).Broadcast journalism: a critical introduction. New York: McGraw Hill.
   • Cox, J. (2009).This day in network radio: a daily calendar of births, deaths, debuts, cancellations and other events in broadcasting history. Jefferson, NC: McFarland.
   • Critcher, C. (2003). Moral panics and the media. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
   • Fortunato, J. A. (2013).Making media content: the influence of constituency groups on mass media. London: Routledge.
   • Luckerson, V. (2016, May 6). How you watch TV is about to change forever. Time. Retrieved from http://time.com/4320941/online-television-tv-netflix-hulu/.
2. Additional Reading
   • Allan, S. (1999). News culture. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
   • Attkisson, S., & Vaughan, D. R. (2003). Writing right for broadcast and internet news. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
   • Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority. (2006). Code of Ethics for Journalists. Retrieved from http://www.bicma.gov.bt/paper/jcc.pdf
   • Hyde, S. W., & Ibrahim, D. A. (2004). Television and radio announcing. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
   • Itule, B. D., & Anderson, D. A. (2000). News writing and reporting for today’s media. New York: McGraw Hill.
   • Kalbfeld, B. (n.d.). Associated Press Broadcast News Handbook (Associated Press Handbooks). McGraw-Hill Education.
   • Matelski, M. J. (1991). TV news ethics. Boston: Focal Press.
   • Whitaker, W. R., Ramsey, J. E., & Smith, R. D. (2000). Mediawriting: print, broadcast, and public relations. New York: Routledge.
   • Wilstein, S. (2002). Associated Press sports writing handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill.
   • Winn, J. E., & Brinson, S. L. (2005). Transmitting the past: historical and cultural perspectives on broadcasting. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press.
   • Zettl, H. (2003). Television production handbook. Stamford: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Date:  May 14, 2018