Year 1 (national level 4):
- Introduction to Social Media (20 credits)
Realign your understanding of social media as a professional business tool, looking at best practice across a wide range of platforms from Twitch to Tik Tok. Learn introductory content skills in mobile video, live-streaming, copywriting, graphic design and photography, alongside introductory analytics skills which you will use to create content and analyse performance for a personal microblog of your choice. You’ll also look at how information spreads on social media, audience behaviour and algorithms, based on the latest industry and academic research.
- Community Engagement (20 credits)
Build your own online community and experiment with approaches to content creation, moderation, community events and activities and maintaining relationships with members. Learn about the history of digital communities and the role of digital community managers, develop case studies of existing online communities and examine current and future trends shaping the sector.
- Introduction to Digital Media Cultures (20 credits)
Study an introduction to digital media culture, historically referred to as the study of cyber culture or ‘new media’. Encounter an historical overview of pertinent technological developments ranging from the origins of the internet, the personal computer, video games and mobile media devices. Address various digital media phenomena such as cybercrime, piracy, digital publishing, online gaming and social networking.
- Essential Media Law and Regulation (20 credits)
Learn laws such as copyright, privacy and libel long with the ethical regulations which are essential for every professional journalist.
- Introduction to PR Theory and Practice (20 credits)
Learn how to manage reputation for a brand, business or organisation. Learn about the theory and practice of public relations through analysis of case studies and theoretical models. Develop key skills in planning, strategy, team working, news release writing and communication skills across a range of media.
- Essential Journalism (20 credits)
Learn how to communicate written information clearly and concisely to your audience, conduct research, generate story ideas, find an angle and conduct interviews, all skills which underpin many aspects of social media. Gain an understanding of the differences between journalism and other types of online content, and how social media is used in the industry. Work independently in the newsroom every week producing stories and features for your portfolio and websites.
Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.