Digital Journalism

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Dr Imke Henkel
• Assessment: a 1200-word outline of a planned website/blog (20%), digital journalism portfolio (30%) and web publication (50%)

In this module we aim to develop your critical understanding of how digitisation has affected journalism along with your skills across digital media practices at which journalists and other media practitioners are expected to be adept. We will cover everything from the rise of digital journalism since the 1990s, the transformation of the profession and the industry of journalism, the impact of automation and artificial intelligence, as well as practical skills such as the distinctive writing styles of online journalism, and the use of multimedia content and of interactive and social media.

You will be expected to develop an effective overall strategy for presenting yourself online and doing so in a way that demonstrates critical engagement with a fast-changing media environment and awareness of the needs and interests of digital media users.

Indicative syllabus

• Lessons from three decades of digital journalism
• Post-industrial journalism: the effects of digitisation
• TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and co: impact and responsibilities of platforms
• Online content strategies
• Audience interaction and engagement
• Online feature formats
• Blogging and the content mix
• Linking, sources and netiquette
• Imagery: photos, infographics and more
• Social media and crowdsourcing
• Strategic business planning