Editorial Production (Newspapers)

Module leader

Jonathan Hewett

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 units seeks to teach students those skills and broaden students' understanding of the management skills and staff structure required to produce a newspaper.


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

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 newspaper house styles and the rationale behind the design; 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 publication.

Assessment and credit

20 credits

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

The module is assessed by coursework and examination.