FIMPS COURSE DETAILS

1. Broadcast Journalism

4. Newspaper Reporting

PART A

Main Topics of Study
News Gathering What is Journalism
What is news? What makes a good journalist?
News sources The skills of a good journalist
Getting the story Role in journalism
Categories of written publication
Writing for Broadcast
What is News
Conversational writing
News writing News ideas
Broadcast style book Assessing news value
Good news and bad
Interviewing
Gathering News
The interview
Setting up the interview News room
Contacts and news leads
The News Programme Investigative reporting
Developing story ideas
Presenting the news Chasing facts
Duties and dilemmas Making inquiries
Taking notes

PART B – Radio

Dealing with people
Being fair and thorough
BBC World Service Pictures
Sources of background information
Radio News Coverage
Interviewing
Story treatment
Preparation
Equipment Establishing confidence
Coaxing answers
Principles of recording Checking back
Using sound recorders Telephone interviews
Editing Controversial interviews
Future of radio Failed interviews
Vetting copy

PART C – Television

Local Reporting
Television News
The district reporter
Getting the news Developing contacts
Studio roles Local organisations
Fieldwork People in the know
Chasing the story The local angle
Chasing pictures Diary jobs
Piece to camera
Compiling the report News Writing
Fieldwork
The right angle
TV Scriptwriting Style
Opening sentence
Writing the script Grabbing the reader
Order of facts
Compiling the Report Quotes
Presentation
Editing the image Helping the reader
Visuals Complaints
Summarising
News Studio
Writing for the national, local and other news markets
The set
Control room Newspaper Language
Fieldwork
Newspaper english
News Media Journalese
Sequence and structure
Satellite TV Storytelling techniques
Cable TV Bad habits
Digital TV Style
Teletext Punctuation
Internet journalism Quotes
Computerised Grammar
Newsroom
News Reporting

2. Media Law & Ethics

Courts
Main Topics of Study Government
Politics
The Legal System Business and industry
Religion
Sources of law Sport
The legal profession
Court system Specialist Writing
Court Restrictions Feature writing
Arts reviews
Open court rule
Reporting restrictions in court Newspaper Structure
Industrial tribunals
Access to information Roles
Gaining access Copy input
Challenging court decisions on access Page production
Press and post press
Breach of Confidence
Ethics
Obligation of confidence
What is confidential? Press complaints
Defences Accountability
Informants
Contempt of Court People in the news
Strict liability rule

5. Freelance & Feature Writing

Defences
Injunctions Main Topics of Study
Libel Feature Articles
Principle of libel What are feature articles?
Libel and slander Checklist for success
Libel and malicious falsehood
Defamation Dealing with Editors
Plantiff’s case
Defences against libel claims Stages in article writing
Procedure, injunctions and damages From idea to market
Studying markets
Criminal Libel Commissioning policies
Approaching editors
Distinction between civil and criminal libel Organising the assignment
Criminal libel in newspapers Research methods
Defending criminal libel actions
Penalties Writing Process
Blasphemous libel and seditious libel
Outlines
Copyright Writing up methods
Presentation
Copyright works Dealing with rejection
Who owns copyright
Infringement Identifying Ideas
Duration
Remedies What makes a good idea
Finding the angle
Journalist Sources
Article Type and Markets
Legal implications and restraints
Types in demand
Obscenity, Indecent Displays and Racial Hatred Finding a theme
Linking an idea to the market
Definition of obscenity National and local newspaper markets
Deprave and corrupt Magazines
Search, seizure and forfeiture
Public good defence Getting Organised
Indecent displays
Incitement of racial hatred Working routine
Organising the information
Elections and Parliament Organising for business
Broadcasting controls Planning Your Assignment
Statements about candidates
Parliamentary privilege and contempt The argument
Freedom of speech Outline
Analysis
Professional Regulatory Bodies Title
Introduction
Regulatory systems and roles Ending
Body
Right to Privacy Anecdotes and quotes
Basic propositions Research

3. Sub-editing

News value
Developing contacts
Main Topics of Study Interview sources
Quark Illustrations
What is Quark? Subjects
Technology and the sub Which markets
Working with a photographer
Editorial Production Taking your own pictures
Picture research
Creating news Graphics
Newsroom Captions
Copytaster Preparation and submission
Measuring the news
News patterns Developing Writing Techniques
Production
Production start up Good writing skills
Making words work
Design and Typography Sentences and paragraphs
Description and narration
Format Argument
Balance of contents House style
Roles Developing your style
Designing the pages
Typography Profile and Interview Features
Using type
Design workshop Choosing interviewees
Background
Pictures Preparing questions
Debating style
Role of pictures Making notes
Sources Editing the transcript
Photo briefing Writing up
Choosing pictures Aim of profiles
Editing pictures
Design Writing a Column
Text Becoming a columnist
Content and topicality
Editing Styles
Checking sources Specialist columns
Making it fit
Editing the page Reviewing
Order and shape
Introduction Role of the reviewer
Delayed drop Types of reviewing
Story sequence Language of compression
Quotes
Geography Features Department
Time
Set-up
Language Departmental output
Backgrounders and situationers
Sentence Follow ups and spin offs
Paragraphs Interpretations
Punctuation Leaders and opinion pieces
Right word Investigations
Cliches Show business and ghosting
Vogue words Serialisations
Misused words Women and family matters
House style Reader involvement
Journalese
Expanding Your Market
Writing Headlines
Fillers
Words Writing for business organisations
Symbols Overseas markets
Accuracy Syndication
Headline punctuation
Abbreviations Openings in Advertising and Publicity
Content
Scope for journalists
Headline Typography Advertising copywriting
Direct mail
Shape Press release
Arrangement Feature articles and advertorials
Type style
Character counts Writing as a Specialist
Spacing
Creativity Marketing strategy
Alternative words Content
Caption writing Right language
Contents bills Shape
Research and fact checking
Rewriting
World of Publishing
When to rewrite
Revising and editionising Newspapers
Magazines
Planning ahead
Deadlines
Editing and presentation
Writing into the Future
New technology

BACK TO MAIN PAGE