Centre for Journalism
Combined Board of Studies/Learning & Teaching Committee/ Graduate Studies Committee
Notes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 27 March 2013
At 1pm in G2-21 Gillingham Building
PRESENT
Lesley PhippenLecturer in Journalism Law, Chair
Prof Geoff CraigDirector of Research
Richard PendryLecturer Broadcast and Online Journalism
Rob BaileyLecturer Reporting and Writing
Sarah LonsdaleLecturer Reporting
Jackie WrightAcademic Support Assistant, Drill Hall Library
David EvansAcademic Support Assistant, Drill Hall Library
Gerardo CaliaMultimedia Newsroom Technician
Anastasia BakowskiPA to Head of Centre,Centre Administrator, Secretary
STUDENT REPS
Michel’Le DonnellyStage 3 Student Representative
Huw JenkinsStage 3 Student Representative
Kieran WatkinsStage 2 Student Representative
Clarissa PlaceStage 2 Student Representative
Stine WanneboStage 1 Student Representative
Chris WallisMA Student Representative
Mark KwemoiMA StudentRepresentative
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Prof Tim LuckhurstHead of Centre
Ian ReevesDirector of Learning and Teaching
Kyra Harwood LucasStudent Administration Manager
Sarah MegsonCentral Administration Manager
Kelly PorterBOS Secretary
DID NOT ATTEND
SunthaiConstantiniGraduate Teaching Assistant
Ola OjukoStage 1 Student Representative
1.0MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
1.1The Minutes were agreed as being a true and accurate record.
2.0MATTERS ARISING
2.1NCTJ Exam Fees (3.8.1 refers)
2.1.1It was noted that students were now registering and paying for NCTJ exams within the appropriate deadlines.
2.2NCTJ Diploma (5.1 refers)
2.2.1It was noted that students could use the Summer term to sit outstanding NCTJ exams.
2.2.2It was noted that only one completed Portfolio had been submitted to date from the entire year 3 cohort. S Lonsdale expressed her disappointment at this and wondered whetherthe cost of the Portfolio might be a contributory factor. She suggested that consideration should be given to whether this cost could be absorbed in some way. It was agreed to discuss this issue at the next team meeting.
ACTION: Discuss above item at team meeting on 2 April
2.3Project Pitches (5.2)
2.3.1It was noted that current year 2 students would receive a briefing session in the Summer term on submitting project pitches and on the importance of doing so early in the academic session.
ACTION: Briefing session to be scheduled by relevant academic staff
2.4New Reading Lists (8.1 and 9.3 refers)
2.4.1J Wright requested the reading list for Communication & Humanitarianism.
ACTION: A Bakowski to request this from K Sommerville
2.5Videojournalism IT Issues (10.2.1 and 10.3.1 refers)
2.5.1Student reps reported that this problem was getting worse and that currently there was only one PC available to upload videos. This was causing unacceptable waiting times (up to 5 hours in one case) for individual students and creating anxiety and stress during an intense period of submission deadlines. It was reported that one student had spent an hour trying to open Elements. R Pendry apologised for this unacceptable situation and indicated that currently there was only one camera that could digitise as the majority of kit was out on loan. He also indicated that Gerardo had set up a videoplayer which would digitise to computer in an attempt to rectify this situation and was attempting to find out which computers were not working working properly in the UG newsroom. Students were encouraged to report any faults to Gerardo as they arose. Consideration was given to the introduction of a booking system but in the interim it was suggested that students should put their names on the whiteboard in the newsroom in order to reserve a PC; final year students would get priority in order to complete their project to deadline.
ACTION: R Pendry and G Calia to track down missing cameras. Student reps to encourage fellow students to return kit.
2.5.2Students asked if it would be possible to access the building over the Easter weekend in order to complete work for submission.
ACTION: A Bakowski to speak to Facilities Manager about access over the Easter bank Holiday.
2.5.3G Calia explained that the PCs in both the UG and the small newsroom would be replaced by MACS during the Summer vacation as the existing ones had come to the end of their contracted life.
2.6Drill Hall Library Group (11.3 refers)
2.6.1It was noted that K Watkins had attended the Drill Hall Library Group and found it a useful experience.
2.7PG Newsroom (12.2 refers)
2.7.1It was noted that this issue had been resolved.
3.0PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
3.1BA Hons Journalism and the News Industry
3.1.1Nothing to report.
3.2MA in Multimedia Journalism
3.2.1Nothing to report.
3.3MA in International Multimedia Journalism
3.3.1It was noted that the new MA in International Multimedia Journalism would come on stream in September 2013 and had been designed primarily for overseas students who did not wish to practise journalism in the UK although it was also open to Home/EU applicants. Students on this programme would study academic and multimedia subjects but not the NCTJ Diploma.
3.4Feedback from Periodic Programme Review (18/19 March)
3.4.1L Phippen advised members that the Review had taken place on 18 and 19 March and that the Review Panel had given Centre staff verbal feedback at the end of their visit. A written report, to which the Centre would be invited to respond, was expected in the near future. Feedback on the report would be given to members at the first available opportunity.
ACTION: Ongoing
4.0LEARNING AND TEACHING
4.1Members noted theapproval of the Sports Journalism module which would be available as an elective from September 2013.
4.2Members noted the approval of the Journalism and Free Expression module which was a core module of the new MA in International Multimedia Journalism starting in September 2013.
4.3Members noted that a new elective module, Political Reporting, was being developed by Prof G Craig for delivery in Spring 2014 to both UG and PG students. Current year 2 students had been informed about the module as part of their briefing on elective choices for 2013/14.
ACTION: G Craig to forward reading list and module specification when ready to
J Wright, DHL
5.0ASSESSMENT
5.1Members noted that contrary to what had previously been agreed, students would not now be able to sit JN502 exam on computer. The decision had been reversed by the University in the light of other departments having submitted similar requests and the lack of appropriate rooms. As a consequence the format and structure of the exam had been changed.
6.0RESOURCING, STAFFING AND ACCOMMODATION
6.1It was noted that a refit of the two newsrooms on the first floor would take place over the Summer when current PCs would be replaced by MACS. It was noted that there would be no University IT support for these new machines.
ACTION: Ongoing
7.0LIBRARY
7.1It was noted that there was an unspent budget of £8,000. Staff were invited to submit orders for texts by 28 April.
ACTION: Staff to send orders to J Wright in DHL as above
7.2It was noted that the Drill Hall Library opening hours from 15 April to 13 June Monday to Friday would be 08.30 – 03.00 and at weekends 11.00 – midnight. The library would be closed on the two May Bank Holidays.
7.3G Calia asked whether it would be possible to order technical books/guides for computers and was advised to let J Wright have a list of requirements. J Wright indicated that she would let G Calia know what had already been ordered for the School of Arts to avoid duplication.
ACTION: G Calia to supply J Wright with list of books as above. J Wright to supply G Calia with list of what had been ordered for School of Arts.
7.4It was noted that funding was available for a new microfilm reader which would facilitate better use of thecolelction of popular newspapers during the Second World War.
8.0STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES' COMMENTS
8.1Year 1
8.1.1S Wannebo asked if there were any computers which year 1 students could use during non-timetabled time if the UG newsroom was occupied. R Bailey suggested that the small newsroom could be made more accessible to year 1 and year 2 students. It was agreedto raise this at the next team meeting.
ACTION: Discuss above issue at team meeting on 2 April.
8.2Year 2
8.2.1K Watkins indicated that there was dissatisfaction among students with regard to editorial conference and the new system of pitching introduced at the beginning of the current academic session. Typical problems were: students not pitching did not attend; students who attended were not interested in other students' pitch and were distracted; students came unprepared and found pitch whilst in conference; the focus of conference was lost due to concentration on pitching. R Pendry indicated that attendance had dropped significantly over the previous few weeks. It was agreed that this issue would be discussed at the next team meeting.
ACTION: Discuss above issue at team meeting on 2 April
8.3Year 3
8.3.1Final year students asked if they could have more detailed briefing on the secondary piece for the project. R Pendry and S Lonsdale explained that the secondary piece was intended to target a specific print or programme outlet and be of an appropriate length for that outlet. It should 'feed off' the main piece. Students were advised to ask their supervisors for guidance. Students asked how the second piece was weighted and were advised that the two pieces were not weighted separately.
9.0ANY OTHER BUSINESS
9.1Online module questionnaires
9.1.1A Bakowski encouraged students to complete the online module questionnaires as soon as they received email reminders.
UG Student Representatives lef the meeting
10.0GRADUATE BOARD OF STUDIES
10.1There were no specific issues to raise with regard to postgraduate study.
11.0MA STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES' COMMENTS
11.1.1It was noted that the door of G3-19 had developed a fault and would not close properly. This had been reported to Medway Estate but the fault had not been rectified.
ACTION: A Bakowski/G Calia to pursue Estates regarding above
11.1.2C Wallis indicated that students had not been made aware until recently that a portfolio piece had to be produced for Practical Multimedia Journalism and had therefore found themselves with little time to complete the work. The piece counted towards 10% of the total mark. R Pendry offered to review radio and TV outputs with the students to assist them with this assignment.
11.1.3M Kwemoi thanked staff in the Centre on his and Tara Garcia's behalf for the help and support they had received as overseas students. He particularly thanked A Bakowski and G Calia whose support had been invaluable.
11.1.4The question of Sunday opening was raised and students were advised that the Periodic Programme Review Panel would be making a recommendation to the University for 24/7 access to the Centre's newsrooms.
ACTION: Ongoing
11.1.5M Kwemoi stressed that G Calia's presence in the Centre needed to be increased during the week as students relied heavily on his assistance.
11.1.6A request was made for students to be advised in advance about the extent of familiarity required with the OFCOM document in relation to the NCTJ Broadcast Journalism elective module. R Pendry advised that feedback to the NCJTwould indicate that this element of the exam was unfair since journalists would not normally be expected to know the document in such detail.
ACTION: R Pendry/L Phippen to give feedback to NCTJ as above
11.1.7Students indicated that more newsdays for online and production were required. R Pendry advised that more would be scheduled in the Summer term.
11.1.8M Kwemoi indicated that in view of the forthcoming cohort of overseas students on the new International MA, the University should liaise with students in a more timely fashion with regard to accommodation. The student referred to his personal experience of receiving confirmation of accommodation only two days before leaving his home country although his offer of a place had arrived much earlier. It was agreed that although Liberty Quays was the principal agent involved in the allocation of student accommodation, the University should play a role in facilitating communication with students. L Phippen offered to take this up with the Master at Medway and invited M Kwemoi to meet with her to discuss this issue further.
ACTION: M Kwemoi to meet with L Phippen as above
11.1.9M Kwemoi also suggested that a central point of contact for overseas students should be established as currently students were referred to a variety of people in the International Office, none of whom appeared to be briefed about individual students' issues. L Phippen suggested this was also an issue for discussion with the Master at Medway.
12.0DATE OF NEXT MEETING
tbc
ab/28.03.13
Centre for Journalism
Board of Studies 27.03.13Page 1