Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module aims to prepare you for opportunities for freelancing and collaboration work within an expanding sector, with short-term contracts prevalent across the media and communications industry. This could cover a range of activities such as brand promotion, freelance writing, video or photography, content production, influencer marketing, social media management or PR consultancy. By focusing specifically on freelancing, collaborations, networking and entrepreneurship within media and communications, the module aims to develop skills, knowledge and reflecttive understanding that will help prepare you for this competitive sector by identifying opportunities, enhancing their employability skills, identifying individual goals and developing your own personal action plan.

Outline Of Syllabus

- Outline of the freelance and collaborative sector within media and communications
- Setting up your reflective blog
- Identifying opportunities within the sector
- Personal branding and positioning
- Collaborations and partnerships
- Managing well-being
- Ethical and legal considerations
- Financial planning
- Identifying individual goals
- Developing a Personal Action Plan
- Enhancing employability skills

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

A student successfully completing the module will have acquired knowledge and understanding of:
K1 - Key practices and processes relating to operating independently and collaboratively in the media and communications sector
K2 - The value and use of professional networks
K3 - How a variety of traditional and digital media are used to profile a project
K4 - The range of freelance practice in the media and communications sector
K5 - How an idea is developed and resourced into a project
K6 - How a sustainable working practice is developed towards a fulfilling career

Intended Skill Outcomes

A student successfully completing the module will have:
S1 - Undertaken a personal skills audit
S2 - Developed key skills of planning and communication
S3 - Written a reflective blog

In addition, they will have further developed skills related to operating as an independent practitioner in the cultural sector which may include:
- Basic financial planning
- Promotion and marketing
- Working in a team
- Finding opportunities and pitching
- Collaborating with organisations
- Critical thinking and reflection

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The online non-synchronous learning materials will relate to syllabus materials for freelancing in media and communications. These will present an overview of the key practices for the sector and will be expanded upon within scheduled weekly lectures.
The workshop sessions will be held on campus, allowing students to discuss their practice in relation to syllabus materials and prepare for assessment.
Weekly lectures are held on campus. Students will engage with the lecturer to consolidate key learnings, participate in the key debates, as a class, and student contributions will be encouraged.
It is expected that all students will contribute to on-campus and online discussions.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

In this module students are looking at their individual skills, knowledge and expertise within the context of freelancing and collaborative working within the media and communications sector. (K1-K6 and S1-S3)

The Personal Action Plan aims to outline students' vision of where they want to be as a freelancer and how they plan to make that happen, with an evaluation which demonstrates their understanding of key knowledge outcomes. The reflective blog will be written by students weekly (approx. 100 words per week) to demonstrate their understanding built up as the module progresses.(S3)

General Notes

N/A