Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module aims to introduce students to the professional world of print publishing and provides an insight into all aspects of the process, both creatively and from a business perspective. The module will provide experience on a ‘live’ working title and students will work in teams to complete the tasks for the magazine and its launch.

The module aims to provide the opportunity for students to relate knowledge, understanding and skills gained in other modules and apply it to work on a magazine which will be read by prospective undergraduates. This is also a magazine which will be looked at by parents, but also by members of the existing student cohort.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module will be taught in four interwoven strands:
Strand 1: An overview of the magazine market and the way an individual publication fits into the market and addresses a target readership.
Strand 2: The management, organisation and running of a magazine.
Strand 3: Writing content for magazines – consumer and corporate.
Strand 4: An introduction to magazine design including theory and practical.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students successfully completing the module will be able to:
K1: Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of magazine production process.
K2: Understand how magazines through their attendant technologies make possible different kinds of aesthetic effects and forms.
K3: Develop and realise creative work within the context of a magazine either through content, distribution, research or marketing initiatives.
K4: Understand the material conditions of magazine production and consumption and the various cultural contexts in which people appropriate, use and make sense of magazines.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students successfully completing the module will be able to:
S1. Develop editorial and creative skills necessary for the production of a magazine publication.
S2. Work to varying deadlines through adaption and in response to external activities.
S3. Develop enhanced skills in collaboration and group communication.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students produce a printed publication containing coordinated stories, articles, features and associated advertising elements with teaching of creative, design and writing techniques, its association to the magazine industry and adverting practice feeding in to this learning as appropriate.

The reflective assessment is designed to allow students to demonstrate collective creativity, sense the importance of magazine content elements and to reflect on their own learning.

Learning and teaching supports students through iterative and informed assessment, which guides the learning experience.

In addition to the formative assessment, student-led practical work and small-group teaching is structured to feedback and feed-forward personal learning through the sharing of content with peers.

The combination of all these activities allows for students to negotiate their project plans within their allocated groups and provides valuable student autonomy in the formation of team relationships and the building of professional motivation essential for successful completion of their magazines.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The formative group pitch presentation assessment is a convenient way to assess the theoretical understanding of the magazine industry, the difficulties of team project work and the professional delivery of a team presentation under time-constraint as required by industry.

The group project work enables the application of subject knowledge and skills in providing appropriate content and the practical implementation to be assessed. The successful completion of the end-product (the magazine) provides the means to assess problem-solving skills through choices made in identifying and acquiring the skills needed.

The written reflective report provides a final opportunity for students to critically reflect and provide evidence that they have met the aims of the module and have understood the intended knowledge and skills outcomes.

General Notes

N/A