Journalism Student Survey

1. What would you like to see dropped from your curriculum?

Response
Count

113

answered question 113

skipped question 31

Response Text
1 I'd like to see a greater flexibility and availability of choice. That means cutting May 11, 2009 7:00 AM
back on the core modules and allowing extra credit choice elsewhere - so I
can go and take a crash course in HTML/CSS if I want to.
2 RTVF1, or sound and image aesthetics, which has no journalism tie-in. All it is May 11, 2009 7:08 AM
is a repository for TV/film majors to play with cameras before actually learning
how to do anything. Recast the class for journalists.
3 Introductory courses that try too hard to ease students into our curriculum. May 11, 2009 7:23 AM
Maybe I'm being too much of a hardass, but I just don't think we have time for
hand-holding any more.
4 nothing. May 11, 2009 12:12 PM
5 Nothing, but it is run as an english program which is no longer enough in the May 11, 2009 12:51 PM
changing field
6 There's a mass media survey I've avoided taking. I eye with suspicion any May 11, 2009 2:18 PM
class that depends entirely on reading and listening to lectures.
7 Media culture studies are not so important for journalism May 11, 2009 2:48 PM
8 Nothing I think the course covers all aspects of journalism May 11, 2009 2:51 PM
9 mac 101, 201, 301 May 11, 2009 2:52 PM
often dont relate to the journalism and more often than not just common
sense.
10 News and Online writing - I'm taking a magazine route, not a new route! May 11, 2009 3:05 PM
11 ethics, it can easily be blended into the critical thinking module May 11, 2009 3:12 PM
12 Any multimedia session which does not give students a specific task May 11, 2009 3:12 PM
13 The "philosophy" modules May 11, 2009 3:12 PM
14 Ethics May 11, 2009 3:15 PM
15 Nothing. We can only learn more skills. May 11, 2009 3:17 PM
16 HTML May 11, 2009 3:17 PM
17 Mass Communication Research. May 11, 2009 3:19 PM
18 Shorthand. Waste of time. May 11, 2009 3:20 PM
19 perhaps a little less journalism theory/academic courses, however those May 11, 2009 3:28 PM
elements shouldn't be dropped altogether.
20 Nothing I guess, I just want more variety. May 11, 2009 3:45 PM
21 Less history about the web, less theory and more practice. May 11, 2009 3:45 PM
22 Nothing. May 11, 2009 5:02 PM
23 I have to admit even the tedious bits (ie. government!) are useful and May 11, 2009 5:28 PM
necessary - so, sadly, nothing!
24 shorthand and Public Administration May 11, 2009 6:03 PM
25 Maths/statistics quizes May 11, 2009 6:15 PM

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 Response Text
26 History. I can understand how important it is to have a working knowledge of May 11, 2009 6:15 PM
recent historical events, but two essays and an exam each year on Hitler's
rise to power probably holds very little relevance to our course.
27 Feature and Magazine Writing May 11, 2009 6:17 PM
28 Everything seems to be worthwhile. May 11, 2009 6:17 PM
29 Nothing. I want as much as they'll teach me. May 11, 2009 6:17 PM
30 Essay writing May 11, 2009 6:31 PM
31 n/a May 11, 2009 6:32 PM
32 Modules studying the future of journalism. May 11, 2009 6:39 PM
33 Too much emphasis on video, but without proper equipment. May 11, 2009 6:43 PM
34 Academic subjects! Over the years I feel like far too much emphasis has been May 11, 2009 7:10 PM
placed on analysing the future of journalism. Obviously it should be discussed
in one semester - but not three years.
35 Nothing really. May 11, 2009 8:39 PM
36 Compulsory shorthand tests. I think it should be there for people who want to May 11, 2009 8:53 PM
learn it and who still think that
37 I think the Public Admin part of the NCTJ curriculum is a waste of time for May 11, 2009 8:59 PM
many journalists. Many will not go into political reporting. It is something that
should be picked up, rather than taught at this level.
38 multimedia for journalists May 11, 2009 9:23 PM
39 The option for a print-only sequence. May 11, 2009 9:35 PM
40 politics May 11, 2009 10:07 PM
41 Some of our three courses of photography should transition into video May 11, 2009 10:51 PM
practice. Also, political reporting should not be required.
42 I think all of the modules I completed were useful. May 11, 2009 11:52 PM
43 Unimportant tasks given out during lesson May 12, 2009 8:16 AM
44 Unimportant tasks given out during lesson May 12, 2009 8:16 AM
45 Nothing May 12, 2009 8:18 AM
46 Essay and theory style writing. Should concentrate on news or magazine May 12, 2009 8:18 AM
writing.
47 Media studies. May 12, 2009 8:18 AM
48 Media studies. May 12, 2009 8:18 AM
49 Media Studies May 12, 2009 8:19 AM
Language of the media
50 Media Studies - pointless and time consuming May 12, 2009 8:20 AM
51 Academic research May 12, 2009 8:20 AM
52 I don't think anything should be dropped. Maybe a few things are more May 12, 2009 8:21 AM
important than others
53 difficult to say as i dont think amything should be dropped but certainly the May 12, 2009 9:37 AM
web module 'multimedia for journalists' needs some fine tuning.
54 Nothing May 12, 2009 10:48 AM
55 Less boring stories that nobody would ever want to read. May 12, 2009 10:52 AM
56 Not as much focus on news reporting writing. May 12, 2009 10:52 AM
57 Media/Cultural Studies modules. I do not think these type of modules benefit May 12, 2009 10:52 AM
me.
58 Modules that do not seem to have much relevance, particularly after the first May 12, 2009 10:53 AM
year such as media studies and media contexts.
59 Courses that repeat things that are already learnt in the first year and nothing May 12, 2009 10:53 AM
new is learnt in the second year.

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 Response Text
60 Classes which do not have any relevance to the degree and involve too many May 12, 2009 10:57 AM
essays and not enough practical work.
News and Online writing because I have no interest in news writing and I think
this should have been made an option. I am sure many other students who
are on the magazine option would agree.
61 Although it is a very important module, Media Law feels somewhat pointless May 12, 2009 10:58 AM
for those wishing to do magazine journalism, as court stories seem less likely
to appear in magazines as opposed to newspapers, so although I don't feel it
needs to be dropped from the curriculum, I feel that it's position in Magazine
Journalism should be re-assessed.
62 Media Studies modules that have an extremely tenous link to practical May 12, 2009 11:24 AM
journalism, and over theorise the concept behind news outlets. Just gets
frustrating.
63 nothing May 12, 2009 3:14 PM
64 Nothing. May 12, 2009 5:30 PM
65 Media ethics and media in society are a complete waste of time and get in the May 13, 2009 8:17 AM
way of the NCTJ qualifications
66 All kinds of non-essential theory, as well as overlapping theory. Being taught May 13, 2009 2:38 PM
the same thing in FIVE DIFFERENT MODULES isn't entirely necessary.
Interesting assessments, rather than critical evaluations, would also be handy.
67 Media ethics May 13, 2009 4:24 PM
68 Institutions of Government May 14, 2009 5:20 PM
69 nothing. i think everything we do is necessary May 14, 2009 5:27 PM
70 Nothing May 14, 2009 5:31 PM
71 shorthand!(dare i say it!) May 14, 2009 5:42 PM
72 Academic modules which branch closer to other departments (e.g modules May 14, 2009 5:43 PM
that consist of more Philosophiical arguments than Journalism/ media
arguments).
73 Many academic modules which are quite repetitive. May 14, 2009 5:50 PM
74 Public administration being a core module. May 14, 2009 5:54 PM
75 Shorthand! Although seriously I do think we need it. May 14, 2009 5:55 PM
76 Having to make a film. PA as an obligatory subject. May 14, 2009 6:03 PM
77 A bit less design. It's pretty unlikely any of will get design jobs straight away as May 14, 2009 6:12 PM
publications all want experienced designers or graphic designers.
78 the over emphasis on NCTJ public administration exams May 14, 2009 6:15 PM
79 I think there is too much focus on designing page lay-out which I didn't May 14, 2009 6:39 PM
particularly enjoy.
80 - May 14, 2009 6:47 PM
81 Public admin in 1st year. Although it's understandable to support the NCTJ May 14, 2009 6:53 PM
qualification.
82 Less academic modules in the first year. May 14, 2009 7:01 PM
83 I imagine a few people will say shorthand in this space but I strongly believe it May 14, 2009 7:03 PM
is still a fantastic skill to have in the digital age, especially for aspiring
newspaper reporters.
For me, I don't enjoy the more academic modules on the course and don't see
how they will be relevant to my future career, e.g. Free Speech and
Censorship (philosophical stuff), Tabloid Journalism (historical stuff), and
Language and Journalism (basically an extended grammar lesson). If anything
were to be dropped on the course, I'd say it should be those things.
84 Patch work in third year May 14, 2009 7:08 PM
85 Shorthand. May 14, 2009 7:50 PM
86 There is not anything I would drop. You need the traditional and multimedia May 14, 2009 8:09 PM
skills.
87 public admin May 14, 2009 8:20 PM
88 Personally I never enjoyed the local news stories we had to collect. May 14, 2009 8:43 PM

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 Response Text
89 Nothing, everything has been very useful...with the possible exception of local May 14, 2009 8:59 PM
government, but I wouldn't want to drop it. Even though I hate it.
90 Nothing, I am on a good course. I would like more added. May 14, 2009 9:19 PM
91 Everything we've done has been useful May 14, 2009 10:02 PM
92 - May 14, 2009 10:05 PM
93 Nothing - the work experience critical appraisal. May 14, 2009 10:56 PM
94 I found everything useful May 14, 2009 11:19 PM
95 At times, my Journalism course is far too vocational for my liking. May 14, 2009 11:42 PM
A greater focus on the philosophy and workings of journalism would be
interesting.
96 Our investigative journalism module. It doesn't work in its current format (not May 15, 2009 9:08 AM
for want of trying by the moduloe leader). Also some of the 'filler' modules like
Understandg the Media and Current Affairs in Broadcasting in first year could
be replaced by the afore mentioned inspiring modules on international or war
journalism.
97 The huge amount of news stories we have to write. But that's only because I May 15, 2009 9:46 AM
enjoy writing features a lot more!
98 Shorthand, but i suppose it is important. Just extremely boring. May 15, 2009 11:48 AM
99 See above. May 15, 2009 4:43 PM
100 Nothing. May 16, 2009 1:20 PM
101 Current debates in broadcasting - too boring and not needed. And going to May 16, 2009 2:23 PM
council and planning meetings definately put me off entering journalism.
102 academic subjects such as language of the media May 16, 2009 3:30 PM
103 Am really interested in the Cultural Studies side but think that possibly it could May 16, 2009 4:34 PM
be a 10 credit module with the other credits passed back to News Journalism
(or your own area).
104 The option modules, and instead introduce a module that concentrated on the May 17, 2009 5:57 PM
converged journalistic envrionment.
105 There's too much on gathering stories and writing stories and not enough on May 18, 2009 10:25 AM
ways of telling them (eg, through audio/video/pictures)
106 My school has one too many generic "editing" and only one that emphasizes May 19, 2009 12:12 AM
grammar and copy editing (sub-editing). Of the three I took, two were useless.
107 There should be fewer lectures and more hands-on sessions. I might even say May 19, 2009 10:31 AM
the approach of this course is a little too intellectual. See above.
108 Most of it. Although Media Law has obviously been useful as it's been the only May 19, 2009 3:07 PM
thing stopping me libelling everyone involved.
109 nothing really Jun 3, 2009 6:18 PM
110 academic courses Jun 12, 2009 9:04 PM
111 give the students more chances to go out to do some interview and speak to Jun 16, 2009 2:10 AM
people.
112 - Jun 20, 2009 11:10 AM
113 I will admit that NCTJ Law, and Public Admin, are necessary. Beyond that, Jun 20, 2009 1:20 PM
none of the modules I've done I would deem to be unecessary. It's a little
more about changing the modules as they, and what they teach, than getting
rid of them.

I know this is a confidential survery, but I'm perfectly happy to be contacted

about it, if there is some reason that I can't think of now as to why you would
want to. So: ********** (this doesn't give away my name so remains
confidential, in case it could, in theory, invalidate the survey!)

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