master’s in convergent journalism - central university of · pdf file ·...

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Master’s in Convergent Journalism COURSE DETAIL OF SEMESTERS

Course Code Courses Credits

SEMESTER I

MCJ-C101 Introduction to Convergent Journalism 4 Credits

MCJ-C102 Media History and Development 4 Credits

MCJ-C103 Communication Studies 4 Credits

MCJ-C104 Development of Personality & Language Skills 4 Credits

SS Soft Skills Elective 4 Credits

SEMESTER II

MCJ-C201 Media Laws & Ethics 4 Credits

MCJ-C202 Media Research 4 Credits

MCJ-C203 Writing for Media 4 Credits

MCJ-C204 Digital Photography & Image Editing 4 Credits

S0 Social Orientation Elective 4 Credits

SEMESTER III

MCJ-C301 Reporting, Writing and Editing for Print Media 4 Credits

MCJ-C302 Online Journalism and Multimedia 4 Credits

MCJ-C303 Media and Society 4 Credits

MCJ-C304 Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations 4 Credits

MCJ-C305 Dissertation on any topic related to Media Studies 4 Credits

SEMESTER IV

MCJ-C401 Specialization 1: TV Production 8 Credits

MCJ-C402 Specialization 2: Radio & Audio Production 8 Credits

MCJ-C403 Option 1. Film Appreciation/ Option 2. Documentary Production 4 Credits

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C: Core E: Elective

SS: Soft Skill SO: Social Orientation

Soft Skill Electives: SS-E101 - I T Skills ( Not available to MSc. I.T students.)

SS-E102 - Communication Skills ( Not available to MA English students.)

SS-E103- Management Skills ( Not available to MBA students.)

Social Orientation Electives: SO-E201 - Environment and sustainable Development

SO-E202 - Disaster Management

SO-E203 - Human Rights

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MCJ-C101

SEMESTER I

Max Marks: 100 – Continuous Internal Assessment: 40, End-

Semester Assessment: 60

Introduction to Convergent Journalism

Objective: Introduction to convergence of Journalism and major

landmarks in the online journalism.

UNIT I

Definition of convergent journalism, evolution of convergent

journalism, Technology and convergence, scope of convergent

journalism, newssite and newsprint—the difference between the

virtual and real, The Web–and a converged multimedia news

environment

UNIT II

The elements of digital storytelling, Specialized news sites: an

evaluation and analysis, Bloggers vs. Journalists, What bloggers can

learn from journalists, What journalists can learn from bloggers,

Blogging evolving as a form of journalism

UNIT III

Social Utility Networks (SUN): Facebook, Twitter; Video tubes:

Youtube, Metacafe, Linking, framing, sharing, tagging, grouping,

restricting. SUN: A sociological study.

Role of Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube) as alternative

media in the contemporary world, Samizdat, Tamizdat and the

postmodern "Anonymous

UNIT IV

Age of Infojournalism or Information Journalism, SUN—A boon or

bane, We Media: How audiences are shaping the future of news and

4 Credits

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information, Online news reaching and its Potential?

Select Read

Convergent Journalism: An Introduction By Stephen Quinn and

Vincent Falk, Focal Press

Convergence Journalism: Writing and Reporting across the

News Media By Janet Kolodzy,

Understanding Media Convergence By August E Grant, Oxford

University Press

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MCJ-C102 Max Marks: 100 – Continuous Internal Assessment: 40, End-


Media History and Development

Objective: Introduction to major landmarks in the origins and

evolution of the media.

UNIT I

Evolution and developments in print.

UNIT II

Evolution and developments in electronic media and film.

UNIT III

Development in content, technology, audience, circulation,

management.

UNIT IV

Social, political and economic development of Media.

Select Read

Journalism in India By Rangasawami Parthsarthy Sage

Publications, New Delhi.

Broadcasting in India By P C Chatterjee, Sage Publication

Satellite Over South Asia By D Page & W Crawley, Sage

Publication

India on TV By Nalin Mehta, Harper Collins

Mass Communication in India By Keval J Kumar

4 Credits

6



Communication Studies

Objective: Introduction to the concepts, models and theories of

development Communication.

UNIT I

Communication: definition – process – functions

Types of Communication: Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication-

Intrapersonal and

Interpersonal Communication - Group Communication

Concept of “mass” – Basic theories and models of Mass

Communication

Semiotics and Language - mass media and modern society -

functions - mass media and democracy.

UNIT II

All theories and models of Development Communication,

Modernisation, Dependency, and alternative models of development

UNIT III

Indian Society: Social, political and economic aspects.

UNIT IV

Role of legislature, Bureaucracy and Judiciary in India in

development.

Role of Government, NGO’s and national and global agencies in

development.

Development Communication through print, electronic/broadcast

media and internet.

Select Read

India’s Communication Revolution By Arvind Singhal, Sage

Publications, Second Edition.

Everybody loves a good drought By P Sainath

4 Credits

7

Communication and Development in the Third World: Theory

and Practice By Srinivas Melkote, Sage, 2000, Second edition.

Designing Messages for Development Communication By Bella

Mody, Sage Publications, 1996.

Mass Communication Theory: An Introduction By Denis Mc

Quail

Understanding Media By Marshall Mc Luhan

Understanding Media Theory By Kevin Williams

The process and Effects of Mass Communication By Wilbur

Schramm

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Development of Personality and Language Skills

Objective: To improve and hone language usage skills among

students, develop their personality and writing abilities.

UNIT I

Historical background of writing - elements of language - writing as

coding of contents - language for mediated communication.

UNIT II

Reading Skills: Scanning, skimming, analyzing, taking notes, words-

usage, building vocabulary.

Speaking Skills: Pronunciation, enunciation, intonation, narration,

non-verbal clues, and body language.

UNIT III

Principles and methods of effective writing, rules of grammar,

punctuation, spelling, sentence construction; paragraphing, narration;

adjectives and adverbs, tenses, sequence, logic.

UNIT IV

Creativity in writing - features, articles, profiles, interview stories -

business writing, technical writing, letters, CVs.

UNIT V

Writing short stories, novels, plays, scripts, book and film reviews-

Writing for target groups special interest audiences

UNIT VI

Translation techniques: Urdu-English, English-Urdu.

4 Credits

9

Practical exercises applicable to all units.

Select Read

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Creative Writing By Laurie E.

Rozakis

A Writer's Roadmap By Wendell Wellman

Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills: Activity Book

By Suzanne Carreker & Judith Birsh

http://www.amazon.com/Writers-Roadmap-Wendell-Wellman/dp/1403387524/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1

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SEMESTER II MCJ-C201 Max Marks: 100 – Continuous Internal Assessment: 40, End-


Media Laws and Ethics

Objective: To introduce students to the laws & ethics applicable to

practices in different media professions.

UNIT I

Freedom of speech and expression; reasonable restrictions.

UNIT II

Laws of defamation, Contempt of Court, Official Secrets Act,

Copyright Act, Press and Books Registration Act, Intellectual

Property Rights.

UNIT III

Press Commission Reports, Working Journalists Act, Wage Boards,

Code of Conduct for Journalists and Media Professionals,

Convergence Bill, Cyber Law.

UNIT IV

Broadcasting Code for AIR and Doordarshan, Advertising and Public

Relations Codes, Cable Television Regulations Act, Film Censorship,

Reports of Committees on Broadcasting.

UNIT V

Media and Judiciary, PCI, Federal Communication Commission

(FCC) in USA, Multinational media and their respective comparative

laws and ethics. Various reactions and responses to Indian media

laws and ethics due to the societal heterogeneity and diversity in

India.

Select Read

Laws of the Press in India By D.D. Basu

4 Credits

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Media Research

Objective: To introduce students to media research methods.

UNIT I

Literature Review, Research Design.

UNIT II

Probability and Non-Probability Sampling, Qualitative research

(Interviews, End-Depth Interviews, Case Studies, Ethnography,

Discourse Analysis).

UNIT III

Quantitative research (Market Research, Ratings, Readership,

Circulation, Surveys, Content Analysis).

UNIT IV

Statistical Analysis; Audience surveys, content analysis, production

and policy research. Formative and Summative Research. Report

Writing.

UNIT V

Research Agencies: National and International.

Select Read

Media Research Methods By Wimmer & Dominick, Wadsmorth

Publications

Mass communication Research Methods By Anders Hansen et al

4 Credits

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Writing for Media

Objective: Introduction to various types and styles of writing.

UNIT I

Writing for print and broadcast.

UNIT II

Writing for Internet.

UNIT III

Writing for films.

UNIT IV

Writing for stage plays.

UNIT V

Writing for research and thesis.

Select Read

Writing and Reporting News By Carole Rich, Wadsworth Press.

Granta Books of Reporting (All Volumes)

4 Credits

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Digital Photography & Image Editing

Objective: Introduction to digital photography and improvements in

image production induced by technological advancement.

UNIT I

Production of Image:

Digital photography - elements and principles - visual language -

meaning – photographers’ jargon; composition of photography -

subject and light.

UNIT II

Technology and Operations:

Digital Photographic equipment - cameras - types - formats - lens -

their types and functions - types and functions – accessories

UNIT III

Techniques:

Shots - focus – shutter-speed - selection of subject - different types

of photographs - action - photo editing – Using different software in

image editing, procedure - pictures for newspapers and magazines

UNIT IV

Aspects of photography:

Photographing people; portrait and still, wildlife; environment; sports;

landscape; industrial disasters; photography for advertising; conflicts

- war - political and social photography – lifestyle and fashion

photography – photography for education

4 Credits

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UNIT V

Photojournalism:

News values for pictures - photo-essays - photo features; qualities

essential for photojournalism; picture magazines - colour

photography; impact of technology. Practical, field assignments and

their evaluation.

Select Read

David Pogue's Digital Photography: The Missing Manual By

David Pogue

Build a Better Photograph: A Disciplined Approach to Creativity

By Michael Stern

http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/au/347

http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/au/3539

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SEMESTER III MCJ-C301 Max Marks: 100 – Continuous Internal Assessment: 40, End-


Reporting, Writing and Editing for Print Media

UNIT I

Reporting: Principles of reporting, functions and responsibilities,

writing news - lead - types of leads; body - techniques of re-writing -

techniques of re-writing news agency copy.

UNIT II

Reporting - crime, courts, society, culture, politics, commerce and

business, education, features other beats, interpretative and

investigative reporting, interviews

Reporting: practicals.

UNIT III

Civic reporting: reporting functions - social, cultural, political,

seminars, workshop, symposia, civic problems (such as sanitation,

health, education, law and order, police, hospitals, etc.), rural areas

UNIT IV

Headlining - principles, types and techniques.

UNIT V

Advanced exercises in editing, re-writing, page make-up and layout,

rewriting the copy of correspondent, editing political and foreign copy.

UNIT VI

On-line editing, word processing, spell-check, grammar-check, page

4 Credits

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make-up on computers.

UNIT VII

Photo editing, cropping, caption writing, placement of photographs,

photo features.

Select Read

The Media Students’ Handbook By Branston Gand Stafford R.

News By Jackie Harrison

News Reporting By K Srivastava

Editors on Editing By H Y Sharda Prasad

Subediting By F W Hodgson

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Online Journalism and Multimedia

UNIT I

Technology use in journalism, Technology and media convergence

Computer networks: LAN, WAN, MAN

WWW, Search engines

Basics of Web casting, Tools and services on internet (FTP, EMAIL,

CHAT, NEWS GROUPS)

UNIT II

Gather digital audio and upload

Create audio slide shows

Podcasting

UNIT III

Writing styles for on line media

Conduct research online, determine reliability of sources found

Online Entertainment media

E publishing, E Paper, E zines

UNIT IV

Live blogging

Using social media for effective news gathering

Introduction to Multimedia story telling

4 Credits

18

Blogging: Print Blogging, Video Blogging, Audio Blogging

PRACTICAL: Create story packages that integrate text, visuals and

sound

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Media and Society

UNIT I

Media as institutions

Media and politics: news and reality,

‘Opinion Leaders’,

Agenda-setting,

New media and society

UNIT II

Priming, Framing and, ‘Spiral of Silence’

Media and the Public: Public opinion

UNIT III

Media and culture

Media and behavior: media effects, media and children

Producing identities: reality, representation and social/cultural

construction

UNIT IV

Media and money

Profit, competition and economy

Media consumption

Media Globalization: International communication (milestones,

important documents and current debates), hegemony and

globalization

Select Read

Media and Society: The Production of Culture in the Mass Media

By John Ryan; William M. Wentworth

Media Society: Industries, Images and Audiences By David

Croteau, William Hoynes

4 Credits

20



Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations

UNIT I

Advertising: Concept and definition, Historical development, Society

and advertising- Ethics and Social Responsibility,

Types of advertising- Consumer, Corporate, Industrial, Retail,

National, Trade, Professional, Social.

UNIT II

Advertising Agencies-structure and function of different departments,

Advertising and Marketing, Marketing Mix, Consumer Behaviour

Advertising Models: AIDA, Hierarchy of Effects, Diffusion of

Innovation Model, A. H. Maslow’s Human Needs Structure

Advertising Appeals: Rational, Emotional, and Moral Appeal,

Consumer behaviour

UNIT III

Media Planning, Creativity- Media selection, Visualization-Idea

Generation Techniques, Elements of copy-headlines, sub-head, Body

Copy, Slogan, Logo, Principles of Design and Layout

UNIT IV

Public Relations: Concept and definition, Evolution and growth of

Public Relation, PR in India, PRSA and IPRA

Tools of PR: Press release, House Journals, Exhibitions, Brochures,

Audio Visual presentations, Public Relations and Advertising, Public

Relations and Propaganda

4 Credits

21

Select Read

Contemporary advertising by William F Arens

Introduction to Advertising and Marketing by R B Evans

Advertising theory and Practice by S A Chunawalla

MCJ-C305 Max Marks: 100 – Dissertation: 80, Viva Voce: 20

Dissertation on any topic related to Media Studies

Students shall be divided in groups and each group would be

supervised by a faculty member during their research. Each student

shall work individually on a topic related to Media Studies and

agreed on equally by both the faculty incharge and the student.

4 Credits

22

SEMESTER IV


Semester Examination Theory: 60, End-Semester Examination

Practical: 60

Specialization 1. : TV Production

(Note: The orientation of this Course is almost entirely based on

practical work)

UNIT I

The news channel set-up and operations, News gathering process –

planning, gathering, selection and presentation. The input and output

desks, ENG, SNG and OB operations.

The Television News story – types and its ingredients

UNIT II

The reporter at work – news gathering techniques, covering the spot

news, generating, ideas for stories, working through sources,

coordinating and lining-up, pitching.

Researching the story, Filming the story, compiling the details,

getting the interviews / sound bytes, doing, the PTC, writing the voice

over.

Filing the package, Reporting live / OB reports

UNIT III

Broadcast writing style – use of the spoken word in the broadcast

copy. Writing headlines, leads, lead-ins, promos, voice-overs and

PTCs

Lighting: Lighting in video, nature of light, light intensity, colour,

colour theory, clour temperature, techniques of lighting, IV point

8 Credits

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lighting, colour correction

UNIT IV

Planning: Proposals, treatment, budgeting, synopsis, features of a

proposal, narration-basics, styles of narration, script purpose, visuals,

pace, style, assimilation, visual grammar, idea, style.

Speaking to the mike and the camera – basic rules and

requirements, the physical delivery, the vocal delivery and the

content delivery. Anchoring and moderating the news programmes.

TV news, features, talks, commercials, interviews, dramas,

documentaries, shows, soaps, sitcoms, reality shows, panel

discussions.

Select Read

Today’s Video: Equipment, Production and Setup By Peter Utz

Working With Video: Acomprehensive Guide to the World of

Video Production By Brian Winston and Julia Keydal

Video Production Handbook By Millerson Gerald

TV Production Handbook By Zettle Herbert

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Semester Examination Theory: 60, End-Semester Examination

Practical: 60

Specialization 2. : Radio & Audio Production

(Note: The orientation of this Course is almost entirely based on

practical work)

The main aim of the course is to gain a functional and hands-on

knowledge of professional audio/radio production equipment and

software.

By the end of the course the students shall acquire a basic

understanding of professional radio procedures and practices.

The above goals shall be achieved through the following:

UNIT I

Learning the fundamentals of sound

UNIT II

This includes sound and hearing; waveform, frequency and amplitude

UNIT III

Familiarity with professional audio equipment

This includes microphones, editing consoles, mixers, amplifiers,

monitors, loudspeakers, and digital audio recorders.

UNIT IV

Familiarity with professional audio editing software

This includes both open source and proprietary software. The student

shall learn and practice multi-track non-linear audio recording and

editing. She shall also learn about different digital audio formats and

8 Credits

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their conversion into other formats.

By the end of the course a student shall be able to record audio,

perform basic editing on it and create a final product on a CD/DVD.

UNIT V

Familiarity with studio set-ups

This includes acoustics, sound-proofing, recording rooms/booths, and

signal flow (signal processing?)

Radio production – practical exercises

This includes script-writing, voice recording, audio editing, producing

30second PSAs, producing 2-3 minute radio features, producing

radio documentaries, radio plays, outdoor recording, giving voice-

overs, narration, doing radio interviews, anchoring and news casting.

Select Read

Broadcasting and the People By Mehra Masani

Broadcasting in India By G C Awasthy

This is all India Radio By U L Baruah

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Option 1: Film Appreciation

UNIT I

Film: Definition, philosophy and ideology, Great filmmakers of world.

UNIT II

Films: Films - nature, historical, background, technical aspects of film

production, film industry in India, status issues, problems, regional

cinema, future prospects, film language and grammar; impact of new

technology on films.

UNIT III

Period Films, Silent Era, Commercial films, Art films, Films famous

for music and lighting angle, Films famous for particular actors,

Genre film

UNIT V

Film appreciation—techniques of film criticism: conceptual and

technical, Best films ever, Comparative Cinema

Students shall do a dissertation on any topic related to Films.

Select Read

Film as Film: Understanding and Judging Movies (Penguin

Books 1972) By Victor Perkins

Understanding the Film: An Introduction to Film Appreciation

(NTC Publishing Group; 5th edition (February 12, 2001) By Jan

Bone and Ron Johnson

4 Credits

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Option 2: Documentary Production

UNIT I

Introduction to Documentary Film Genre: Beginning and evolution,

Philosophy of documentary film making. Difference between film and

documentary; Introduction to documentary styles- Classical Cinema,

Cinéma Vérité / Direct Cinema, Documentary Drama

UNIT II

Research: Research for documentary film making, Curiosity, Quantity

Vs Quality, Strategy, Print Research, Field Research, Interview,

recce, on location research, meeting subject, knowing topics, Filming

the story, compiling the details, getting the interviews/sound bites,

writing the voice over.

Famous Documentary Films Preview: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004),

Bowling for Columbine (2002), Super-Size Me (2004), Winged

Migration (2003), Hoop Dreams (1994), Spellbound (2003), Touching

the Void (2004), The Fog of War (2003), Paris is Burning (1991),

Baraka, Qyanis Katsi, Chunking Express

UNIT III

The Pre-shoot or Shooting Script; Script Elements:- Visual Elements,

The Sequence, Colour Symbolism, Sound Elements, Story Elements;

The Three ‘C’s- Character, Conflict and Change; Writing Visually for

Documentary; Writing Narration/commentary; Script formats

UNIT IV

Documentary project and planning: Proposals, treatment, working

hypothesis and interpretation, budgeting, synopsis, features of a

proposal, pace, style, assimilation, visual grammar, idea, style,

4 Credits

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budget and logistics

Note: By the end of the semester, students are required to

produce a 30-minute duration documentary film on any topic or

issue.

Select Read

James Monaco “How to read a film: Movies, Media, Multimedia”

Oxford University Press (2000) 3rd Edition. USA.

Sheila Curran Bernard “Documentary Storytelling for Video and

Filmmakers” Focal Press Publications (2004). USA

Dwight V. Swain with Joye R. Swain “Scriptwriting; A Practical

Manual” Focal Press Publications (1988). USA

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