Advanced Diploma in Journalism: VWR003

There are 8 modules to complete: 6 compulsory and 2 elective:

Compulsory Modules: Higher Advanced Diploma in Journalism: VWR003

1  Journalism Practice I

• Gain practical journalism experience. Develop your ability to write articles to specification and submit those articles for publication in a periodical (ie. Newspaper, Magazine or Ezine). By the end of this course, you will actually have something published. More….

2  Journalism Practice II

• Expand your practical journalism opportunities. Like Journalism Practice 1, this module gives you valuable experience in writing for a student publication, which will greatly enhance your resume. Publishers are more likely to employ writers who have already been published. More….

3  Creative Writing

• If you love writing and want to improve your skills, network with other writers, and get personal guidance, then, this course is for you. Tutors are exceptionally well qualified, with university degrees and more than five years experience in writing and publishing. More….

4  Efficient Writing

• Learn to write effectively. This course is particularly useful for people who wish to brush up on their writing skills, or to obtain basic skills which they should have, but did not develop properly while at school. It aims to provide an understanding of how to write clearly and efficiently, and to communicate thoughts in the minimum number of words, and without any ambiguity. More….

5  Freelance Writing

• Understand how to write as a freelancer and how publishers buy from freelance writers. Learn everything from good grammar, to planning and writing newspaper and magazine articles, advertisements, books and more. Emphasis is placed on things which are important to publishers who might buy your work. Tutors concentrate on your ability to properly structure an article, and to be both concise and clear in your use of words. More….

6  Research Project I

• Study Research online and learn to plan and conduct research relating to Journalism. Develop your ability to collect, collate and interpret data and prepare reports in ways relevant to the work environment. Monitor and evaluate your own work in order to develop a responsible attitude to workplace performance and quality assurance. Learn to explain research methods, including experimental techniques, commonly used in your discipline. More….

Elective Modules: Advanced Diploma in Journalism: VWR003 – Choose 2

1  Advanced Freelance Writing

• Enhance your freelance writing skills! This is a course for people who already have skills in freelance writing, who have perhaps had some minor work published, but need to improve their overall technique and develop a more “efficient” approach to their work. More….

2  Biographical Writing

• A biography is neither a diary nor a journal. It’s more than a collection of ‘she did this’ and ‘he did that’. Although biographies are writing about life, it’s more useful to think of them as a collection of writings about life events. i.e. What are the key events in your subject’s life? How do these tie around a central theme or purpose? More….

3  Dramatic Writing

• Write drama like a professional! There are many different types of writing – short stories, poems, novels, screen plays etc. Dramatic writing can fall into all of these. A short story usually takes place over a shorter period of time. Choose this course if you would like to report on the theatre or movies etc, to convey the excitement of the play or film to your audience. More….

4  Editing I

• Learn the basics of editing Editors work for publications both in house, and outside, as contractors. A good editor is always in demand; and with the internet, today’s editors can often work from virtually anywhere in the world. Alone, this course does not make you into a professional editor, but it can lead to valuable career opportunities when combined with other courses that develop your knowledge and skills in journalism. More….

5  Editing II

• Develop your editing skills. This course is designed for self-editors, aspiring professional editors and desktop publishers. Its aim is to develop the students understanding of the editing processes and acquire the capacity to edit a broad range of publishing material including both print and electronic media, text and graphics, commercial and non commercial material. More….

6  Technical Writing

• Learn to write successfully in your specialist area. Develop skills to write technical information for a variety of different purposes. Students taking this course should have a basic understanding of technical writing including referencing procedures. If the subject is totally new, you may need to undertake some additional reading before progressing beyond the first lesson. More….

7  Industry Project

• If you work in the industry that you have been studying; you may submit a reference from your employer, in an effort to satisfy this industry (ie. workplace project) requirement; on the basis of RPL (ie. recognition for prior learning.) This can be achieved through your current and past work experience. The reference must indicate that you have skills and an awareness of your industry, which is sufficient for you to work in a position of responsibility. If you do not work in the relevant industry, you will need to undertake a project. More….

Please see lesson titles for your learning goals.

(1) Source: Guardian Newspaper Editorial  Read More….

Being paid to write things is a dream shared by many. It can be an exciting profession, but before embarking on a substantial course of study whit us or anyone else; be sure you fully understand what is involved. Some people simply don’t succeed perhaps because the dream is not the same as the reality; or maybe they are simply not the right personality. This job is not just about writing well: it also requires you to be able to write fast, work under pressure. You also need to be prepared to write what an employer wants, which is not always the same as what you want. This is the reality of journalism. If you can get past these considerations, and with a bit of luck, you may be able to forge a serious career.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.

Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.

Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.

Qualifications

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?

A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.

Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.