Subjects at A level

Communication Skills
Computer Studies

Learning Resources

Research Writing

Academic Writing

Choosing & Applying for University

CV Writing

Navigating Career Path Options

Business School

Interviews

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Description:

Introduction to degree course was developed in response to high dropout and failure rates of university students. The program fully supports successful progression of students from high school to undergraduate study and beyond. This course introduces students to a degree, giving students a frame work and direction in their area of study. We are well aware that if students fail to understand the foundation of the subject they are likely to lose interest in the subject that is why this course was designed to make it easier for students. The course is equipped with most of the learning materials required by students to understand their degree program.

This course was developed in consultation with universities at global. The course is designed to give students a deeper knowledge and understanding of the degree. The course is designed to enhance the creativity and critical thinking skills that are needed by students to develop their own ideas at University standard. Taking students step by step, to simplify and to explain the degree.

The course equips students with the knowledge needed to make an informed decision before starting and during your studies enabling students to plan ahead, minimizing student failure rates. The process makes knowledge transfer easier between students, universities, professionals, employers and research institutes The aim of this course is not just to make learning easier, but also to help put qualification in to use. We understand that most students at Universities fail not because they are “dumb” but, because they don’t get to understand what they are required to do.

Key Modules:

1: Media in Zimbabwe

The history of print media and broadcasting in Zimbabwe, The Ministry of Information and the Mass Media Trust. Zimbabwe Community Newspaper, Zimpapers and the Private Press. Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Radio and Television, Film in Zimbabwe, Music in Zimbabwe, Public Service broadcasting and the Media in Zimbabwe. Traditional and emerging ownership patterns and implications on the institutional role of the Media. Media training institutions. The legal, political, technological, economic and cultural context of the media in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe images on the Internet.

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2: Foundation Skills for Journalists

This module focuses on developing the fundamental skills required for journalism. Students learn about news writing, interviewing techniques, research skills, fact-checking, and the basics of news reporting. The module emphasizes accuracy, clarity, and ethical considerations in journalistic practice.

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3: Information Technology for Journalists

This module explores the use of technology in journalism. Students learn about digital tools and platforms for news gathering, content creation, and distribution. They acquire skills in data journalism, online research, social media management, and multimedia production. The module also covers legal and ethical issues related to digital journalism.

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4: Radio Production

This module provides hands-on training in radio journalism and production. Students learn about radio news writing, voice presentation, audio recording, editing, and producing radio programs. The module often includes practical exercises in creating news bulletins, feature stories, and radio documentaries.

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5: Introduction to Communication Theories

This module introduces students to key theories and concepts in communication studies. Students explore theories of mass communication, media effects, audience reception, and cultural studies. The module examines how communication theories can be applied to analyze and understand media practices and their societal impact.

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6: Media Production

This module provides hands-on experience in media production processes. Students learn about camera operation, video editing, audio recording, and graphic design. They develop practical skills in producing media content for different platforms, such as television, radio, online, and social media.

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7: Media Law & Ethics

Media laws in Zimbabwe, Legal requirements versus moral and ethical considerations media practices in Zimbabwe. Ethics regarding the use of sources, objectivity and fairness in reporting. Law and ethics in relation to economic and political interests in the Media. Comparative analysis of laws pertaining to the freedom of speech, privacy, confidentiality, libel, copyright and obscenity. Freedom of expression and the role and practice of censorship seen in an historical and comparative perspective in Zimbabwe. The operations of MISA, the Press Council and the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists.

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8: Communication, Culture & the Media

This module places communication in the realm of culture and the following themes will be explored:- Communication as culture, possible communication patterns in pre-colonial Zimbabwe, orality versus literacy, defining culture, cultural policies and the practice of communication; media, culture and communication phenomenon in Zimbabwe; media products as cultural products ; the ideology of cultural production and products. Media products as expressions of lived experiences and/or national consciousness. Local cultures versus cultural imperialism. New information technologies and culture.

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9: Media and Society

This module explores the dynamic relationship between media and society from a critical perspective. Students examine the social, cultural, and political dimensions of media, including media ownership, media representations, media effects, and media influence on social change. The module encourages students to analyze and discuss the role of media in shaping public opinion, power dynamics, and social inequalities.

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10: Introduction to Television Production

This module provides an introduction to the principles and practices of television production. Students learn about scriptwriting for television, camera operation, lighting techniques, sound design, and video editing. They gain hands-on experience in producing television content, such as news segments, interviews, and short programs.

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11: News Writing

This module focuses on developing advanced news writing skills for various media platforms. Students learn how to craft clear, concise, and engaging news stories. They study news values, news structure, headline writing, and the importance of accuracy and objectivity in news reporting. The module often includes practical exercises in writing news articles, headlines, and news scripts.

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12: Gender, Class, Race and the Media

This module critically examines the representation of gender, class, and race in the media. Students explore how media shape and reinforce societal perceptions and stereotypes related to these social categories. They analyze various media forms, such as advertising, film, television, and news, to understand how gender, class, and race intersect with media representations, power dynamics, and social inequalities.

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13: Media Economics and Management

Introduction to Media economics, media organizations as business organizations; the concept and role of the market and the market place. Consumer choices and market responses. The Media goods/services market (i) media content as an informational and entertainment product for sell- (ii) the advertisement market and the audience as a commodity. Geographic market for media products; intermedia and intermedia competition; strengths and limitations of different media for advertisement competition, market structures and market power; media ownership, their funding patterns implications on performance. Monopoly and competition in the market. Media labour and the market.

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14: Reporting and Writing

This module focuses on advanced reporting and writing skills for journalism. Students learn investigative reporting techniques, feature writing, narrative storytelling, and news analysis. They develop the ability to gather information from various sources, critically evaluate it, and present it effectively in journalistic formats.

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15: Media, Human Rights and Democracy

This module examines the intersection of media, human rights, and democratic processes. Students explore the role of media in promoting human rights, freedom of expression, and the functioning of democratic societies. They analyze case studies and debates related to media censorship, media activism, and the challenges faced by journalists in reporting on human rights issues.

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16: Public Relations

Definition of terms; the history and evolution of public relations. (PR); PR and related disciplines (marketing, advertising; journalism and propaganda); PR as planned communication; Principles; Principles of effective communication; Public opinion; PR ethics; Research in PR; Publicity techniques; the place of PR in management; PR and the mass media, Theory and practice of political PR; advocacy and PR, PR campaign criteria and approaches and crisis management.

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17: Media Texts and Reception

This module explores the ways in which media texts are produced, disseminated, and received by audiences. Students study theories of media reception, audience research methods, and media consumption patterns. They analyze media texts across different platforms, such as film, television, advertising, and digital media, to understand how audiences interpret and engage with them.

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18: Online Journalism

This module focuses on the skills and strategies required for journalism in the digital age. Students learn about online news writing, multimedia storytelling, social media management, search engine optimization (SEO), and data visualization. They explore the unique characteristics and challenges of online journalism, including audience engagement and ethical considerations in the digital realm.

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19: Media in Africa

This module examines the role and characteristics of media in Africa. Students study the historical, social, and political contexts that shape media practices and dynamics in African countries. They explore topics such as media ownership, representation, cultural diversity, and the role of media in development and social change within the African context.

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20: Health Communication

This module explores the role of media in health communication and public health campaigns. Students examine how media influences health behaviors, health literacy, and the dissemination of health information. They learn about strategies for effectively communicating health-related messages to diverse audiences and the ethical considerations in health journalism.

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21: Investigative Journalism

This module provides advanced training in investigative journalism techniques. Students learn how to conduct in-depth research, analyze data, cultivate sources, and write investigative reports. They explore ethical and legal considerations specific to investigative journalism, such as protecting sources and managing information security.

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22: Advanced Film and Video Production

This module focuses on advanced techniques in film and video production. Students develop skills in cinematography, video editing, sound design, and storytelling for film and video projects. They work on producing short films, documentaries, or other video content, applying professional-grade production techniques.

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23: Politics and the Media

This module examines the complex relationship between media and politics. Students explore the role of media in political communication, election coverage, and the shaping of public opinion. They analyze the influence of media on political processes, political ideologies, and the construction of political narratives.

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24: Political Communication

The following aspects will be studied: Dimensions of political communication, the nature and uses of political communication. Origins of political marketing, an American case study. Politics in the age of mediation, the media as political actors, the media and rigging of public opinion, the political media, party political communication, political public relations, pressure group politics and publicity, politics, democracy and the media, international political communication.

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25: Communication Policies and Media Management

Definitions of policy of public policy, the link between organizational mission statements, rational legislature and regulatory bodies and the articulation of media policy and management, the relationship between publicy policy formulation and communication and media policy formulation; media policy and media management practices; influence of different types of media ownership organizations and institutions.

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26: Political Economy & the media

At a broader level the module shall provide students with a deep understanding of the relationship and inter-relationship between politics and the economy; an examination of the effect of political economy of the media utilizing an Historical and serial approach with the aim of providing of demonstrate link between the media and its political and economic environment. Major areas shall include: Defining political economy its aims; brief history of the field up to current status; political economy and the media; survey of selected media organizations since 1891 to present.

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27: Violence & the Media

This module focuses on defining violence, media and imagination, and imagining violence in the media; violence and representation of violence in the media; violence and children; violence in cartoons; violence and gender, race and stereotyping, the power of the media in fueling violence, criticism of media violence.

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28: Media Entertainment & Social Control

Media products, recorded music and the recording industry. The promotion of art/culture: recorded music and performing artists and sculpture. Art and mass production. Politics of selecting of media products for mass consumption. The operations of recording companies, music promotion, culture and influence; local versus foreign music; the law and Art. Music and the broadcasting industry.

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29: The Internet & Cyber Publishing

This is a practical module. Students are expected to grasp principles that explain the Internet and be able to navigate cyber space extracting research material and also publishing their own information. This includes partaking in the different discourses on the Internet and authoring own web sites. Other practical skills include design and layout of products for cyber publishing, and writing and editing for the Internet.

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30: Principles of Social Marketing

The course focuses on principles and practice of social marketing as a distinct form of planned communication; definition of terms; elements and products of social marketing; principles of persuasion and communication by objectives; the concept and principles of opinion building; Social Marketing Research processes; Andresen?s new paradigm of social marketing; Ethics issue; impact assessment; Evaluation of case studies in different media and critics of social marketing.

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31: Media and Globalization

This module examines the impact of globalization on media systems and practices. Students explore topics such as media imperialism, cultural globalization, transnational media flows, and the role of social media in global communication. The module often includes case studies on media representations and cultural diversity.

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