UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE

Programme Specification

This Programme Specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.

Sources of information on the programme can be found in Section 17

  1. Awarding Institution /Body
/ University of Central Lancashire
  1. Teaching Institution

  1. University Department/Centre
/ Journalism, Language and Communication
  1. External Accreditation
/ Broadcast Journalism Training Council
  1. Title of Final Award
/ PgDip Broadcast Journalism
  1. Modes of Attendance offered
/ Full time
  1. UCAS Code
/ Postgraduate course, no UCAS code.
  1. Relevant Subject Benchmarking Group(s)
/ Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies
  1. Other external influences
/ Broadcast Journalism
Training Council
  1. Date of production/revision of this form
/ October 18, 2010
September 2012 (Minor change)
  1. Aims of the Programme

  • To provide students with the key journalistic skills and knowledge required by professional broadcast journalists.
  • To promote self-awareness and self-confidence and the ability to communicate clearly.
  • To provide underpinning knowledge of relevant legal and ethical requirements.
  • To stimulate all-round development within a positive, supportive and creative learning environment.
  • To encourage students to develop the intellectual skills and creative insights necessary for their development as reflective practitioners.

12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods

A.Knowledge and Understanding

A1. Knowledge of the structure of the radio and television industry, patterns of ownership and audiences, multi-platform operation of news and current affairs services.
A2. Understanding of the style and content of news programmes, sources of news, effective production of stories, interviews, packages and programmes, technical knowledge.
A3. Knowledge of the law pertaining to journalists, ethical and regulatory issues.
A4. Knowledge of local and central government operation.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Most of the teaching is experiential, although there are also formal lectures, workshops and tutorials.
Assessment methods
The students’ professional competence, their ability to communicate and integrate skills and knowledge, their attitude and self-awareness are continuously assessed through a series of competences; law and public administration are assessed by course work and examination.

B.Subject-specific skills

B1. Researching.
B2. Reporting, writing, presenting and producing material for broadcast.
B3. Interviewing people in and out of the studio
B4. Digital editing, newsroom management, using radio and television equipment. Creating and maintaining an online presence.
Teaching and Learning Methods
The course work, workshops and exercises provide students with the core skills required by trainee broadcast journalists.
Assessment methods
The course culminates in the students producing their own radio and television programmes, in which all the outcomes are put into practice.

C.Thinking Skills

C1. Researching, selecting and interpreting information from a range of primary and secondary sources
C2. Critical analysis of source material.
C3. Relation of practical thinking to theoretical understanding.
C4. Effective communication, organisation and presentation skills, creative and lateral thinking.
Teaching and Learning Methods
The course work and role-playing exercises encourage students to become reflective practitioners, a theme bolstered by lectures and seminars.
Assessment methods
Continuous assessment in both Radio and TV tests the students’ growing abilities. There are formal examinations in both Law and Public Administration.

D.Other skills relevant to employability and personal development

D1. Self confidence and effective verbal and written communication.
D2. Independent thinking, persistence, focus, brevity.
D3. Team working.
D4. Project management, self analysis and self criticism.
Teaching and Learning Methods
The course work, workshops and exercises stress the need for independent, focused thought, while curiosity, common sense, brevity, self-confidence, self-analysis and effective verbal and written communication are fundamental skills required by a broadcast journalist.
Assessment methods
Team working, project management and criticism are displayed in the production of the radio and television programmes.
13. Programme Structures* / 14. Awards and Credits*
Level / Module Code / Module Title / Credit rating
Level 7 / JN4070
JN4071
JN4072
LA4913
PA4101 / Practical Journalism
Newsroom Practice
Digital Journalism
Law for Journalists
Investigating Public Administration: Central and Local Government / 20
40
20
20
20 / Target award
Post Graduate Diploma
Requires 120 credits at level 6 or above, with a minimum of 100 credits at level 7
Exit award
Post Graduate Certificate Requires 60 credits at level 6 or above with a minimum of 40 at level 7.
15. Personal Development Planning
Personal development planning and employability are at the heart of the course development. The modular programme allows for the development of transferrable skills in addition to subject-specific skills.
Students will be encouraged to reflect on their own practice. They will also develop a critical awareness of the changing media landscape and develop their own skills portfolio with the aim of exploiting the opportunities available.
Students work in a newsroom atmosphere to replicate conditions in the industry. They are encouraged to develop analytical skills and to work both individually and as part of a team. .
A work placement gives students a chance to put all they have learned into practice and to make industry contacts.
16. Admissions criteria
Programme Specifications include minimum entry requirements, including academic qualifications, together with appropriate experience and skills required for entry to study. These criteria may be expressed as a range rather than a specific grade. Amendments to entry requirements may have been made after these documents were published and you should consult the University’s website for the most up to date information.
Students will be informed of their personal minimum entry criteria in their offer letter.
Students will normally be expected to have an Upper Second or First classification for an honours degree from a British higher education institution, or an equivalent overseas qualification.
Mature students and candidates with non-standard qualifications are also considered, if they have substantial professional or other relevant experience.
17. Key sources of information about the programme
  • University website
  • Department website
  • BJTC website
  • UCLan course enquiries
  • Programme factsheet

18. Curriculum Skills Map
Please tick in the relevant boxes where individual Programme Learning Outcomes are being assessed
Programme Learning Outcomes
A1 / A2 / A3 / A4 / B1 / B2 / B3 / B4 / C1 / C2 / C3 / C4 / D1 / D2 / D3 / D4
Level 7 / JN4070 / Journalism Practice / Comp / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / X
JN4071 / Newsroom Practice / Comp / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x
JN4072 / Digital Journalism / Comp
LA4913 / Law for Journalists / Comp / x / X / X / X / X / X / X / X
PA4101 / Investigating Public Admin / Comp / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x

Note: Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks