Editorial Production (Magazines)

Module leader

Rationale

The media industry expects fresh entrants to have practical competence in, and knowledge of a range of editorial practice, including sub-editing and layout skills. This unit seeks to teach students those skills, so meeting the requirements of the accrediting body, the Periodicals Training Council, and broaden students' understanding of the management skills and staff structure required to produce a print or online publication.

Students are taught to see that page/publication design and layout is the logical progression of research, reporting, interviewing, news and feature writing and sub-editing and that, properly handled, it will enable the reader to more readily appreciate the messages being communicated.

Module aims

To introduce you to the general principles governing the arrangement of stories on the page
To train you in the journalistic use of QuarkXpress, Photoshop and other relevant production software
To enable you to test a range of creative solutions to different design problems
To introduce you to typography and picture editing
To enable you to sub-edit news and features on page and on screen
To enable you to proof-read on page and on screen and to handle text on screen
To enable you to write and set up basic websites and understand the principles of sophisticated website design
To integrate all the journalistic techniques learned during the course and on industrial attachment in the production of a magazine

Indicative content

Editing copy for accuracy, style and length on paper, using traditional sub-editing marks; checking for facts and legal problems; using artwork, illustrations and pictures; writing headlines, captions and cross-heads; proof-reading; page make-up. Examining different magazine house styles and the rationale behind the design; introduction to City house style; typography; analysing pictures and cropping for maximum visual impact; picture editing. Selecting a grid, establishing a production schedule, designing pages, commissioning pictures and artwork, combining text and artwork; using colour in a spread.
Introduction to QuarkXpress; layout on screen; producing camera-ready artwork and preparing text and pictures for the printers; print production - the printing process; flat plans; introduction to Photoshop; scanning photographs and digital image manipulation; producing an online or print magazine.

Assessment and credit

20 credits

The module is compulsory for students on the Diploma/MA in Journalism (Magazine Journalism pathway only).

The module is assessed by coursework and examination.