Curriculum Outline

TERM I - FALL TERM An introduction to journalism. An overview on what is journalism. General principles, concepts, processes and practices of journalism.

Course I - News writing

• Reporting: A foundation course in news reporting. Learn basic principles and tools of good reporting, writing conventions, different types of writing. Includes reporting assignments in live news time situations.
• Editing: A foundation course in newspaper editing. Learn the craft and conventions of copy-editing. Includes writing the lead, punctuation, accuracy, headlines, intros etc.

Course II - The Technical Workshop

• Learn computer skills including Quark Express, Newswrap, Photoshop. Basic software packages used in journalism.

Course III - Media Lab

• Photojournalism: A foundation workshop to teach students the fundamentals of newspaper/print photojournalism as opposed to photography. Learn how to use a camera, compose and frame photographs, types of photojournalism, shooting the news.
• Design: An introduction to newspaper design. Learn page-making, layouts, fonts, page preparation, choosing and using typefaces, artwork skills and production issues, use of photographs.

Course IV - Specials

• Idea Exchange Programme - attend interactive sessions with important leaders from different fields – politics, business, the arts etc.
• Guest Lectures – Leading experts in various areas share their ideas
• Quizzes – test students' G.K. and knowledge of current affairs
• One full term research project

Course V - A History of the Media

TERM II - WINTER TERM

Course I - News writing

• Reporting: Reporting will be more intensive, out of the classroom and into the field. Students will be out on assignments in the city. Introduced to beats like municipality, education, health, Delhi government.
• Editing: A continuation of the foundation course with an emphasis on editing long copy and rewriting, learning to fact check, use the web for tracking the news and gathering supplementary information.
• Students News Paper: Students will be expected to write, edit, design a weekend newspaper.

Course II - Multi-media

• Train students in the fundamentals of using new media for online journalism. How to create a news website, design a news website, writing and editing will be taught during the course.

Course III - The Business of Media

• An introduction to the other side of media: circulation, marketing, space selling, advertising, creating brands and public relations. It is important for students to appreciate that as much as journalism is a profession it is also a trade and requires a business model that is unique to it.

Course IV - Media Law and Media Ethics

TERM III - SPRING TERM

Course I - Specials

Areas of specialisation for in-depth knowledge

The topics include -

• Politics & Governance
• Economics & Business
• The Social Sector
• Sports
• Science & Technology
• Strategic Affairs

Course II - News writing

• Reporting: Students will do beat reporting, Parliament reporting and other specialized reporting. Will be sent out of station to report from other cities.
• Editing: Write, edit and design a weekly paper
• Opinion Writing: Learn to write edits, and opinion pieces and reviews

Course III - Internship

• Students will be attached to different departments of The Indian Express or Financial Express and will be trained on the job.

Course IV - Broadcast Journalism

• Students will be attached to a broadcast school and taught the fundamental principles, processes and practices of broadcast journalism.

Course V - On-line

• Students will be familiarised with emerging new media.