Course Diary

Week 4 :- 13 Feb – 17 Feb

Monday morning with M45MC covered ethics. The afternoons M43MC again covered writing articles online (sort off).

Tuesday afternoon with M44MC we produced a video package of the Automotive students, and designed a cover page and Masthead (title) for the magazine which would also feature on the online publication of the magazine, and for the second student magazine.

Personal comment :- M45MC isn’t very good. I am going to ask the lecturer for a point by point plan as to what my assignment should contain. I am going to compare and contrast two (or more articles) on a story across different publications. I think I am going to choose something non car related, as I feel there will be more to comment and write on. M43MC didn’t cover much ground this week. But M44MC say the Automotive students put a video package together, though in practice only one student operated the camera and did the editing. So I’ve not learned a new skill there. But at least we have started to put the magazine together. Though in practice one person worked on the cover picture and another the masthead. Next week I will be putting my pages together on the In-design computer programme.

Course Diary

Week 3 :- 6 Feb – 10 Feb

Monday morning with Journalism themes and issues (M45MC) discuss news filters that stories are subjected to before they are deemed worthy of publication/broadcast. The afternoons Multiplatform Journalism 2 (M43MC) which gave a lecture on producing a news package for TV (video journalism).

Tuesday afternoon with Specialist Professional Practice (M44MC) where we again planned for the second student magazine. We were also given a lecture on the aspects on test driving.

Personal comment :- Journalistic themes and issues (M45MC) covered news filters. If a story does not follow the dedired angle and appears to support radical groups or e.g. communism doesn’t make its way through the news filters. If a story impacts negatively on news networks sponsors/investors, it may also not be published or broadcast. The news therefore can be polarised. But the task is to compare two articles on the same topic (from two different publications). I’m not sure how useful the information will be in this module when analysing and comparing. Multiplatform Journalism 2 (M43MC) and Specialist Professional Practice (M44MC) covered subjects important for our specialist journalism field.

Course Diary

Week 2 :- 30 Jan – 3 Feb

Monday started in the morning with Journalism themes and issues (M45MC) with an introduction to the module. Then in the afternoon we had Multiplatform Journalism 2 (M43MC) which gave a lecture on digging for sources of information, followed by photography related to taking pictures of cars.

Tuesday afternoon with Specialist Professional Practice (M44MC) where we again planned for the second student magazine. We were also tought about Digital SLR cameras and how to use  them to take various kinds of photos effects.

Personal comment :- Journalistic themes and issues (M45MC) left us a bit confussed as to the module. But the assignment seems be be to compare two articles from two different publications (and thats it). Multiplatform Journalism 2 (M43MC) was eye opening to the types of techniques used to photograph cars (try and search for ‘clamp shot’ on google). Tuesday’s Specialist Professional Practice (M44MC) saw important discussions of the articles to go into the magazine product. Learning how to use a DSLR camera will be important if I go and test drive any cars for articles. On Tuesday I also went for a tutorial session with the lecturer to discuss my project dissertation for Term 3. Again, I am thinking of a 6,000 words dissertation on how journalism effects Alfa Romeo design and development and sales. And a small magazine on Alfa Romeo.

Course Diary

Week 1 :- 23 Jan – 27 Jan (First teaching week of Term 2)

Monday started in the afternoon with Multiplatform Journalism 2 (M43MC) with an introduction to the jargon used in journalism. We were also introduced to the assignment brief for a second Portfolio of work.

Tuesday started in the afternoon with Specialist Professional Practice (M44MC) where we would have to produce a second student magazine. The associated course work 1 for this module was also given.

Personal comment :- Multiplatform Journalism 2 (M43MC) aim is to produce a portfolio of articles similar to last term. Next Monday we also start the module Journalism Themes and Issues (M45MC). Tuesday’s Specialist Professional Practice (M44MC) will be the magazine production module, but the first course work will be the analysis on another magazine said to inspire our magazine. I’ve picked Autocar. I’ll have to run this past my lecturer. I rather dislike having to analyse written material. I’ve rather get on with producing my own. At noon on Tuesday I had a tutorial session with the lecturer to discuss my project dissertation for Term 3. I am either thinking of a 12,000 – 13,000 word investigation on journalism’s effect on car sales. Or do the same but limit it to Alfa Romeo and produce 6,000 words and a small magazine on Alfa Romeo.

Course Diary

Week 11 :- 12 Dec – 16 Dec (Last teaching week of Term 1)

Monday morning saw (M42MC) devoted to more preparation of the Law exam in January and giving advice on the Radio packages (for those who hadn’t done them yet). The students were given back their marks for the Central Government presentations. Again there was no T-line lecture. I’m not sure anyone is  bothered about it any more. The afternoon’s (M41MC) saw the students busy themselves putting their magazine articles together.

Tuesday (M136ID) saw a guest lecture talk and answer questions on the automotive industry and car production. He also discuss future trends and developments within the industry.

Personal comment :- As the M42MC lecturer ties p any loose ends and focused on the fourth coming Law exam. For M41MC some of the articles were finalized. But its doubtful that the magazine will actually be put together, even though this version was never to be printed out anyway. The guest lecture discussing global automotive markets and production was useful, providing material for part of my Alfa Romeo blog. The Christmas break is now for compiling a portfolio of articles and writing a reflective essay of the content for M41MC and revision and study for the M42MC Law exam.

Course Diary

Week 9 :- 5 Dec – 9 Dec

Monday morning saw (M42MC) cancelled again because of the lecturer being off ill. Again there was no T-line lecture. The afternoon’s (M41MC) saw the students produce a “Flat plan” and “Content plan” layouts for magazines, and decide on the articles to be included.

Tuesday (M136ID) saw all the Auto journalists and Transport designers take the university’s coach to visit the Morgan car factory in Malvern.

Personal comment :- As the M42MC lecturer was off ill, the students started to work on articles for the magazine. I spent the whole day being annoyed because up until then no one had written any article by this point except me, but wanted to sub edit my material. In the afternoon we finally set into stone the Flat plan and Content plan for magazine content. I was not happy with the quality of the sub editing of my work. It was a welcome change to go a visit a car factory. I should perhaps have blogged about it. After some frustrated e-mail exchanges over sub editing of material (a task we all have to do to each others work), most of use met up during the week to start placing articles into the magazine and for those who had not written an article, to now start. I probably over reacted over the sub editing. The results were okay. I spent the rest of the week (when I wasn’t taking a couple of days off) to write an interview article for M41MC grading and the weekend sub editing other students work. 

Course Diary

Week 9 :- 28 Nov – 2 Nov

Monday saw (M42MC) filled totally by student presentations on Central Government. It overran into the afternoon lecture. There was no time for a T-line lecture. The afternoon’s (M41MC) introduced the students to computer based ”Flat plan” and “Content plan” layouts for magazines. The students also yet again discuss the Automotive magazine we’d have to but together.

Tuesday (M136ID) saw a lecture on Automotive news and the media. This was quite short and a bit pointless.

Personal comment :- The presentations for M42MC were each 15 minutes long. I don’t think mine went that well and I had to truncate portions to fit the alloted time period. As for the Flat plan and Content plan for magazine content. Nobody got round to actually implementing it as nobody had done articles for the magazine, except me – the Automotive Porn article, that nobody thought suitable. I’ve since done an appropriate features article on James Bond villains pursuit vehicles. The M136ID lecture lacked any real substance. Now I have to make more posts for the Alfa Romeo Blog when I’ve covered almost every grading criteria in the half a dozen blog posts. The rest of the week was used to write the James Bond inspired article, a 500 word review of my radio package for M42MC and yet another news story for my blog.

Course Diary

Week 8 :- 21 Nov – 25 Nov

Monday saw (M42MC) become a self-study session as the lecturer was off sick. There was always the T-line lecture. The afternoon’s (M41MC) introduced the students to pictures and photography used to produce a news article of feature story. The students also again discuss the Automotive magazine we’d have to but together.

Tuesday (M136ID) saw a lecture on alternative power and fuel sources for transport and their pros and cons. We did not do the presentation for the group exercise on “Reinventing the Saab brand”, as to few people turned up. This may be done next week.

Personal comment :- The absence of a lecture for (M42MC) enable some students to get on with the task of preparing for next week’s presentation on central government.(M41MC) lecture on feature photographing and sourcing pictures was useful. There was more to it than I expected. (M136ID) lecture on alternative fuels and power sources was again informative. But I knew most of the content topic. The Saab re-branding exercise using a Powerpoint presentation did not go ahead. Were people deliberately not turning up for it because of a lack of effort on their part. If this is the case they are also missing the lecture material to. I spent the rest of the week on a variety of study related tasks. I recorded a Councillor on radio package assignment for M42MC. I spent 5.5 hours editing it down until the early hours of the morning. I then produced my first article for the magazine in M41MC. I’ve also updated my blog with an article on an Automotive news story from this past week. A task I like to do every weekend. I may study my T-line shorthand today.

Course Diary

Week 7 :- 14 Nov – 19 Nov

Monday started with (M42MC), in which the students went through the appropriate answers for last weeks mock examination on questions relating to defemation and contempt. The lecture this week continued on the theme of Central Government. The students then had a T-line shorthand lecture. The afternoon’s (M41MC) introduced the students to how to write feature stories. The students also discuss the Automotive magazine we’d have to but together.

Tuesday saw a lecture on engine emissions (pollutants) and how they are caused, for (M136ID). We then had a group exercise on “Reinventing the Saab brand”, and put together a presentation for next week.

Personal comment :- The lecture for (M42MC) was on central government. It was useful to take the students through the most appropriate answers to give for the Defemation and Contempt test. Apparently many failed it last year. (M41MC) lecture on feature writing structure was useful. But I have a criticism of the course. For a course on journalism, there isn’t much teaching people how to write. It’s just assumed that everyone can write well and so was allowed on the course. We could all perhaps benefit from more advice on how to structure and word our reports. (M136ID) lecture on causes of engine pollution was informative. But how useful will it be. I spent Wednesday on the Saab re-branding exercise, producing a Powerpoint presentation (with imput of material from other group members). This material will be adapted and placed on the blog during the coming week. I also spent the rest of the week paying more attention to my Alfa Romeo project – future models, and making more effort with T-line shorthand.

Course Diary

Week 6 :- 7 Nov – 11 Nov

Monday started with (M42MC), in which the students sat an informal mock examination on questions relating to deformation and contempt. The lecture session didn’t cover much ground. Then the students had a T-line shorthand lecture. The afternoon’s (M41MC) introduced the students to how to research and compare/contrast circulations and readership figures.

Tuesday saw a short lecture on how cars are made in (M136ID), which looked at how production methods and strategies have changed, e.g. The Toyota Production System. This also involved looking at video’s of car factories for Honda and Bentley to see how they compare.

Personal comment :- The lectures for (M42MC) don’t have enough structure and content. Any important information is disseminated as little snippets. There is too little information given. The whole module so far could be condensed into half the number of weeks. I know we are Masters students, and we should go and read up around the topic. But much more of the material from private reading could be covered in these lectures. I did get some one to one time with the lecturer to show and discuss my radio package. I could submit it now. Or I could wait and tweak it a bit. I am still awaiting to here from Coventry City Council as regards to interviewing someone over my story topic. It has even made regional BBC news during this week. But still no word from the council. I am beginning to think they are avoiding me. I made a start on the presentation work on an area of central government. (M41MC) information on how to research and compare/contrast circulations and readership figures introduced us to a couple of important web sites. This information is useful when trying to write and target for particular demographics. (M136ID) lecture was brief, but it did remind me that my Alfa Romeo Project should cover the same topics as covered in the lectures. I need to accelerate on this project. I’ve done very little this week, but then I’ve been ill for most of it.