Video and radio journalist DIKS-CMS-SL>VidRad

The course provides a practical and analytical introduction to contemporary video, radio, and digital journalism. Its main objective is to familiarise students with the ways in which journalistic stories are selected, researched, structured, produced, and adapted for different media platforms.

Students examine the fundamental principles of news production, including news values, editorial judgment, source selection, accuracy, impartiality, and journalistic responsibility. They learn how the characteristics of a particular medium influence both the form and content of a journalistic story. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the differences between writing for print and online media, writing for the ear, and telling stories through images and sound.

The radio journalism component introduces students to broadcast writing, radio scripts, soundbites, interviews, voice-over, natural and ambient sound, and basic principles of audio storytelling. Students learn how to produce concise and accessible radio content and how to use sound to establish context, atmosphere, and a sense of place.

The video journalism component focuses on visual storytelling and the relationship between image, sound, and narration. Students become familiar with basic shot types, B-roll, sequences, pieces to camera, stand-ups, interviews, and the structure of short video news reports. Practical activities encourage students to consider what information should be communicated verbally and what can be conveyed through images.

The course also addresses the changing nature of journalism in the digital environment. Students analyse the structure of online news stories, headlines, leads, hyperlinks, embedded content, multimedia elements, and social media formats. Mobile journalism and short-form vertical video are discussed as examples of contemporary journalistic practices.

An important element of the course is the comparison of different media formats. Students learn how to adapt the same journalistic story for radio, video, online publication, and social media and critically reflect on how the choice of medium influences selection, emphasis, language, structure, and audience reception.

The course additionally introduces key contemporary challenges facing journalists, including misinformation and disinformation, verification of online sources and user-generated content, manipulated and AI-generated media, journalistic ethics, and the tension between speed and accuracy in digital news production.

Classes combine theoretical input with analysis of authentic journalistic materials, practical workshops, interviewing exercises, editorial discussions, newsroom simulations, and individual and group assignments. Students are encouraged to use professional English throughout the course, particularly when pitching stories, conducting interviews, discussing editorial decisions, and providing feedback.

The overall approach of the course is based on learning journalism through practice. By the end of the course, students should be able not only to analyse journalistic content critically but also to plan, produce, edit, and evaluate short journalistic materials for different media platforms.

Students are expected to:

participate actively in workshops, discussions, newsroom simulations, and practical exercises;

prepare assigned journalistic tasks, including written, audio, video, and analytical assignments;

submit all required assignments by the deadlines specified by the instructor;

demonstrate the ability to apply the principles and professional vocabulary introduced during the course;

complete the required final assignment/project.

Timely submission of assignments is an important component of the course assessment. An assignment submitted after the specified deadline will receive a grade reduced by 0.5 (half a grade). Students are therefore expected to organise their work appropriately and observe all submission deadlines.

Assignments should demonstrate not only appropriate use of English but also journalistic quality, accuracy, structure, editorial judgment, adaptation to the selected medium, and awareness of professional and ethical standards.

The final grade will be based on the quality and timely completion of assignments, active participation in class activities, and successful completion of the final course requirements.