Overview of courses

Journalism courses (CPUT) 2017 - 2023

Media Law (NQF 5)

This course examines the various media law, policy and regulatory frameworks in South Africa that affect media establishments and how they enhance or constrain media institutions. It will also examine the media regulatory frameworks of internationally. The course will examine the success or failure of existing media policy and regulations in a technologically dynamic media environment.

Court and Crime Reporting (NQF 5)

This course introduces students to the introductory concepts and skills needed to be able to report on matters related to South African court cases and crime for the purposes of hard news stories.  While touching on matters related to the law, the main emphasis will be to equip students on how to report on these from the perspective of a journalist, not primarily to explore the intricacies from a legal studies perspective.  

Audio-visual Production 1 (NQF 5)

This course prepares students for work in a radio newsroom. It teaches them to write short, sharp copy for radio news bulletins from various sources. Students are taught how to conduct interviews using recording equipment and then to identify sound clips from those interviews that can be used in radio news bulletins. They’re also taught to put together radio sound packages which incorporate sound clips and narration.

Mass Communication and Culture 1 (NQF 5)

This course introduces students to media and communication as a field of study with a focus on media and society, media effects theories and journalism in the South African context. Through the course, students gain an understanding of how journalism impacts society and how society impact journalism.

Audio-visual Production 2 (NQF 6)

This course helps students to develop basic audio visual reporting skills, knowledge and attitudes, with the focus being on television.  By the end of the module students should be able to research, write, and package TV journalism narratives aimed at online broadcast.  They will be introduced to the processes and techniques of preparing, writing and producing news items for television.  The course has a dual focus: theory and practice.

Audio-visual Production 3 (NQF 7)

This course provides a practical understanding of general TV production techniques and the ability to put them into practice in a variety of genres, with an emphasis on television news production and a mini documentary. Although some students may proceed from this course to becomes specialists in specific fields of production, it is designed primarily to produce multi-skilled professionals. The outcomes of the course include high-level journalism, Technical and creative skills and the ability to integrate theory and practice. Students also gain extensive experience in interviewing and structuring a story. The course provides some theoretical grounding in the principles of television journalism.

Seminars/Courses taught at other institutions

Public Argumentation (NQF 8) 

UCT Honours in Political Communication (Feb 2019 - May 2019)

This course introduces students to elements of argument theory applied to contemporary public deliberation, the process of constructing and evaluating speeches, and provides fundamentals for interpreting or intervening in public life, from the standpoint of persuasion. The course is not a practical-professional course, but a course in intelligently transferable skills. It is unique in South Africa.