Journalism for New Media, TV & Radio: Pre-University

Course description

Duration:
This is a Full time one year course, which runs from September to May, 4 days a week.

Overview:
This practical course gives students the skills, knowledge and confidence to start their career in the exciting world of Journalism for online, video, podcasting, TV, radio and print.

This course will explore the world of digital journalism which will include smartphone recording and editing, digital radio news production and the basics of journalism – such as researching, writing and legal procedures.

Entry Requirements:
One of the following:

• Leaving Certificate (LC Established, LCVP, LCA) or equivalent
• A Full Level 4 QQI Award (or equivalent)
• For mature applicants (aged 21 or over) – appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please contact the college.

Course Modules:

• Research Skills for Journalism
• Writing Skills for Journalism
• Technical Skills for Journalism
• Media Analysis
• Desktop Publishing
• Communications
• Work Experience
• Digital Movie Processing
• Radio Programme Production

Certification:
Level 5 QQI Award Journalism (5M2464)

Special Features:
This course is supported by FIT, which offers students the opportunity to acquire essential skills to gain employment. Students are given training in job interview techniques and CV preparation.

Free Full Suit of Adobe Creative Cloud Software for all students on this course for one year to facilitate portfolio and assessment work.

Work Experience:
Students will be required to undertake a period work placement in an organisation connected to their vocational area during the academic year.  Work Experience is mandatory for all of our full-time Level 5 courses. Students are required to source their own work placement but will be assisted in this by the work experience teacher.  The work placement is usually for a period of 10 days or a minimum of 60 hours.  Students usually find the work experience element of the course to be invaluable and should bear in mind that a successful work placement can sometimes lead to further opportunities.

Additional Information:
Assessment:
Assessment techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:

• Student Record
• Portfolio/Collection of Work
• Assignments
• Examination – Written or Practical
• Project
• Skills Demonstration

Progression Opportunities:

DFEi: Graduates may progress to the Level 6 QQI Advanced Certificate in Television and Digital Film at DFEi.

Elsewhere: Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to year one of a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 major award. Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria.  It is the students’ responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process and any specific entry requirements. Students may also refer to the individual HEI prospectus or may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website. www.cao.ie

This course has a strong record of progression with graduates going on to study Media at DCU, TU Dublin and IADT.

Examples of CAO progression opportunities are listed below.

Progression Examples:

BA New Media Studies (DL837)

IADT, Dún Laoghaire – www.iadt.ie

BA Arts (DN520)

BA Humanities (DN530)

BA Social Policy and Sociology (DN750)

University College Dublin – www.ucd.ie

BA Arts (CK101)

BA Government and Political Science (CK122)

University College Cork – www.ucc.ie

BA Arts (Journalism) (GY119)

Galway University – www.nuigalway.ie

BA Arts (MH101)

BA Media Studies (MH109)

Maynooth University – www.nuimaynooth.ie

BA Journalism (TU985)

Technological University Dublin – www.tud.ie

BA Communication Studies (DC131)

BA Journalism (DC132)

Dublin City University – www.dcu.ie

Bachelor of Law (TR004)

Trinity College Dublin – www.tcd.ie

Career Paths

Graduates usually choose to advance to further studies, while others have gained employment as freelance or staff journalists, writing or editing content for online and print publications. They may also pursue careers as content creators for website and social media clients.