Journalism + Creative writing course

petitevache · 26th August 2006, 7:50am

Hi all... me again, with my annoying inquiries.

Is anyone here doing the Journalism + Creative writing course, or has done it? I'm curious about how good you think it is and what does it look like in some kind of detail. How much is there of journalism and how much of creative writing, what do you do in classes generally, the amount and nature of the assignements... I can imagine most of this, but just want to hear it from people who have actually experienced it.

Thanks a lot

**djtoast** · 26th August 2006, 8:08am

I'm always curious about these courses, my father's been a journalist his whole life but everyone he's worked with had studied languages (and politics), the journalism side of things was pretty much taken care of by training at his company, as I understand it—the trainees didn't have specific journalism qualifications when they started.

I'm sure it's by no means a hinderance, but I wonder how much of a help it really is?

GoddamnElectric · 26th August 2006, 10:12am

While certainly not as helpful as finding someone here who has already done the course, there is a webpage for it - here. It should give you a broad idea of how the course works, and the links down the side of the page show you what subjects are involved and where the course can lead to. I didn't spot any email contacts there, but I'm sure if you look around the site you'd find someone you can ask anything more specific to

petitevache · 26th August 2006, 8:10pm

Djtoast, that's pretty interesting. Though my Dad had something similar--he studied Hungarian philology at university, and now is doing something completely unrelated to it and which makes no use of it whatsoever.
Personally, though, it's the Creative Writing that interests me most, the Journalism is sort of thrown in there because I've looked and I haven't found any other university in Scotland which offers creative writing! I've no particular ambition of becoming a journalist, but I like writing, and I think it'll be a good experience.

GooddamnElectric, thanks : ) That certainly casts some light on things! No email addresses, but I'm sure I can poke aound and come up with one.

I wonder how many subjects you can study additionally. Is it only one, or can it be more? English Studies would be good, but if I'd like to do history as well, would that be possible?

Devastator · 26th August 2006, 9:57pm

At the start you're just admitted into the Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, with that as one of your subjects. First year you pick 5 subjects, then you take 2 in second year.

So in first year you could do Journalism, English, History and 2 others. You can mix and match a few from the Business School as well but I think they're quite picky about what ones.

I'm starting the LASS course this year, but I won't be doing Journalism. Iknow a few folk that are though, so I can keep you posted

Poison#X · 26th August 2006, 11:36pm

well my dad's the Scottish Organiser of the NUJ, or something like that, and he tells me about these courses all of the time - pretty much the problem with a lot of journalists is that they don't know simple writing techniques and many other basics needed to become successful at the job

[it's late im tired so i'm not going into too much detail]

so to help with this the NUJ [National Union of Journalists] has helped a lot of institutions develop these courses to provide the skills needed by journalists , but you're not really interested in journalism anyway. so yeah.

also my dad didnt do journalism either - he was a printer, did a bit of freelance then got hired and now he's a union bigwig.

cheeky.

guess which one....

petitevache · 27th August 2006, 8:34am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devastator

At the start you're just admitted into the Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, with that as one of your subjects. First year you pick 5 subjects, then you take 2 in second year.

So in first year you could do Journalism, English, History and 2 others. You can mix and match a few from the Business School as well but I think they're quite picky about what ones.

I'm starting the LASS course this year, but I won't be doing Journalism. I know a few folk that are though, so I can keep you posted

Thank you! I love that I can have five subjects, that is perfect. Everyone seems to be talking about the Journalism aspect of the course, so is it more centered on Journalism rather than Creative Writing?

What is the LASS course?

And I shall worship you forever if you keep me posted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poison#X

well my dad's the Scottish Organiser of the NUJ, or something like that, and he tells me about these courses all of the time - pretty much the problem with a lot of journalists is that they don't know simple writing techniques and many other basics needed to become successful at the job

[it's late im tired so i'm not going into too much detail]

so to help with this the NUJ [National Union of Journalists] has helped a lot of institutions develop these courses to provide the skills needed by journalists , but you're not really interested in journalism anyway. so yeah.

also my dad didnt do journalism either - he was a printer, did a bit of freelance then got hired and now he's a union bigwig.

cheeky.

guess which one....

...the one holding the diploma?

And even though I'm not all that interested in journalim, I do like the sound of the NUJ making sure students are taught skills needed by journalists. I might not be interested now but who knows what I'm thinking in four years time. ; )

GoddamnElectric · 27th August 2006, 11:38am

Quote:

Originally Posted by petitevache

What is the LASS course?

It's a course Strathclyde run which is intended to allow students to take a wide range of 'social' subjects in first year before picking something more specific in second year. So in first year you might do English, History, Journalism etc etc and (assuming you pass your exams) in second year you might think 'I mostly enjoyed English, so I'm going to focus on that now' and you'd narrow down to English subjects. The idea is that everyone in first year does a spread of subjects so they can try a lot of different things before choosing one or two areas to study on later. It's a good idea, especially for new students who aren't quite sure what they want to do. You get a 'taste' of lots of areas then pick a couple of them to follow on with

Devastator · 27th August 2006, 12:56pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by petitevache

Everyone seems to be talking about the Journalism aspect of the course, so is it more centered on Journalism rather than Creative Writing?

What is the LASS course?

I just can't be bothered typing 'Journalism and Creative Writing' and 'Law, Arts and Social Sciences' every time.

petitevache · 28th August 2006, 5:10pm

LASS sounds very, very awesome.

Could one do Creative Writing in the LASS course? and are there any requirements apart from grades?

erithromycin · 31st August 2006, 1:05am

Hello!

I am, for certain values, on the course, so ought to be able to answer some of your questions.

The course is Journalism & Creative writing, and there are components for each section, including a more generic section called "Communication". For starters it buys you an exemption from the "mandatory" IT course.

Entrance to the course is by direct application only, either through UCAS or clearing. There's a portfolio that you have to submit, if memory serves it includes a brief interview, a piece of writing (usually fiction), and a piece on the topic "why write?". At least, it did when I did it.

The coursework is evenly split - you work in a group to create a newsletter/publicationg, and individually you'll be submitting I think 5 or 6 pieces total through the year. There's a take-home exam in Creative Writing, and all this is in addition to your other three courses. I say three because while you have five choices you must take English with it. It's effectively the groundwork for a joint honours degree.

Second year carries on much the same, with a greater focus on Journalism. At least, it did. The J&CW unit has recently seen some staff changes, and the course appears to be revised every year. It is highly recommended that if you do get join the course you also get involved in media, either at Strathclyde or elsewhere. Submitting reviews to altnation would be a good place to start.

I've certainly enjoyed some of the course, and other parts have been quite annoying, but that may be as much because of my expectations as anything else, if I'm to be honest. I don't know if anyone else on altnation is on the course, but most of my classmates seem to enjoy it. Because there's only thirty or so on the course each year's intake is quite close-knit, especially in comparison to monster classes like English, Law, or Politics. If you've any questions, feel free to PM me.

twisted_angel · 31st August 2006, 6:02pm

I did professional writing.

Why do people who cannot punctuate insist on joining these courses?

I spent the best part of two years having to listen to oiks who couldn't comprehend the difference between paraphrasing and a paragraph.

Gah

endless psych · 31st August 2006, 6:04pm

Five subjects in first year - which University is this??? As far as I recall its one (or perhaps two for joint courses) in England and Three initially in Scotland.

erithromycin · 1st September 2006, 10:21am

Quote:

Originally Posted by twisted_angel

I did professional writing.

Why do people who cannot punctuate insist on joining these courses?

I spent the best part of two years having to listen to oiks who couldn't comprehend the difference between paraphrasing and a paragraph.

I know people who are astonishingly good writers who have trouble with punctuation. It's simply not taught well enough in schools. The real bugbear as far as I am concerned is prospective writers who appear to know nothing about the world, and here I do not refer to 'life experience' or 'transferable skills' but basic parts of knowledge. I have a fellow student who believed Wales was an island.

Devastator · 1st September 2006, 11:03am

Quote:

Originally Posted by endless psych

Five subjects in first year - which University is this??? As far as I recall its one (or perhaps two for joint courses) in England and Three initially in Scotland.

It's at Strathclyde, to prevent the whole "Oh my god, I don't want to do this subject, what the hell have I done" element.