My intro to Broadcast Journalism – online

The thought of investing money in a course can be daunting, especially if the pay-off isn't immediate. One goal of mine for 2021 was to complete a Broadcast Journalism course. The industry just fascinates me and after appearing on the radio a handful of times, I wanted to learn more.

Online courses have seen a surge in popularity over the last year, with people choosing to upskill from the comfort of their own homes.

I chose the 10-week Introduction to Broadcast Journalism course at City, University of London. They run degree programs in Journalism so I felt I was in good hands from the start.

Was this short course worth it in the end? Here are some excerpts from those ten glorious weeks!

The week before my broadcast journalism course

I officially have my City, University of London credentials, access to Microsoft Teams and ironed out tech issues ahead of starting. It feels great to be a student again albeit for 10 weeks. I'm definitely feeling nervous about who else will be on the course and know it's going to be quite interactive. Overall, I'm excited to be finally learning about an area I've wanted to delve into for a very long time.

Week one: Introductions

Remember the feeling of starting a new school? Or walking into a class for the first time at university? The first week was very reminiscent of that. Paired off, our first task was to learn more about our partner and report back our findings to the main group. It was nostalgic to cover some of the foundations of journalism but also interesting to see the differences between print and broadcast.

Week three: The legal bits

We start each lesson by scripting a three-line bulletin and yes, I volunteered to present. As scary as it was, I wanted to get as much feedback as possible and this was definitely one way to get that.

I was fascinated with media law at uni and as a journalist, you need to know how to cover yourself! I remember being glued to McNae's Essential Law for Journalists, so this week was a great refresher. Just like print journalism, it's important to understand contempt of court, defamation and how to report sensitive issues within broadcast journalism.

The rise of bloggers and content creators can blur the lines of what is considered journalism too. If I'm honest, it irks me. However, the inner workings of media law are one skill set that distinguishes people in this profession.

Week six: The art of radio

At this point, I can draft a short bulletin using the three-step method our tutor taught us. Our assignment this week is to prepare either a bulletin or a report. What's the difference? A radio bulletin consists of multiple stories that are told succinctly, whereas a radio report dives a little more in-depth into one topic. I opted for the report, given that I hadn't done one before, the result of that is below.

Week seven: Will I make it as a reporter?

It is safe to say I'm an over-preparer. This week's task involved preparing questions for our buddy to ask as the 'news presenter', which we as the 'reporter' would answer. This would be recorded as if it were a live broadcast. That meant we had to keep persevering even if we messed up or if there were distractions. Paired off in breakout rooms, I had the perfect practice run. Tell me why when we recorded there were distractions! Nevertheless, I persisted and grew comfortable as the report went on.

Was this broadcast journalism course – and online learning – worth it?

In short, yes. For a course that’s best delivered in person, the virtual aspect was just as interactive and spoke to the current state of broadcast journalism. Zoom interviews currently replace in-person appearances and I walked away with good knowledge on specifics to this industry; common equipment, interviewing for broadcast and the use of different multimedia.

The course definitely ignited an interest in continuing my pursuit of broadcast journalism. Ideas I have almost seem feasible given the positive feedback and skillset I've picked up. While I may not be ready reporter-ready, I'm more comfortable undertaking the journey there - tech glitches and all.

I signed up for the Introduction to Broadcast Journalism course with City, University of London.