Model curricula for journalism education for developing countries ...

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Class 2: A one-hour open-book exam, where students are expected to write short
notes (50 – 100 words each) on 10 questions (there will be scope for choosing these
10 out of 20 questions or thereabouts) based on the class lecture notes, based on
lectures presented between Weeks 9-15. Each answer carries 3 marks.
Grading and assessment protocol:
Attendance and class participation: 10 %
Two open-book exams: 30% + 30%: total 60 %
Analysis of texts: 30%
Comments
This syllabus is designed for the Bachelor’s degree level. In a syllabus for the
Master’s degree level, I would replace the text analysis classes with seminar
classes for smaller groups (8 – 10 students each), looking at diverse topics and
specialisations related to the course. For a pre-University diploma course, I would
replace the text analysis classes with a weekly news and general knowledge quiz
that students would have to pass to get credit for the course. All the questions each
week would be based on that week’s news (and the general knowledge information
the news assumes or provides). Another way would be to assign each student or
group of students an online newspaper from somewhere. The instructor would find a
way for students to share with each other the knowledge they gained.
(Contributed by Nalini Rajan, Dean of Studies, Asian College of Journalism,
Chennai, India)
Reporting and Writing/Tier 1: Basic news and features
Level of the course: Bachelor’s program: first year, three year-degree; second year,
four-year degree
Course description: This course takes a skills oriented approach to train students
in the basics of reporting and news writing. The main objective is to help develop
a clear, concise writing style and a passion for thorough, accurate reporting. The
content is organized to build professionalism and self-confidence in journalistic
skills.
Many of the assignments will be done outside the classroom where students will
function as reporters writing for publication. Just as in any media operation, they
will be responsible to an editor — or in this case, a professor — who will coach