I have been asked to forward this message by Sharon Ruston of Keele so please do reply to her directly: [log in to unmask]

Dr. Paul Long
Senior Lecturer/BA Course Director
Department of Media & Communication
University of Central England in Birmingham
Perry Barr
B42 2SU
tel: 0121-331-5468
fax:0121-331-6501
 
Find out about the programme at www.mediacourses.com
Visit the Philip Donnellan website at www.philipdonnellan.co.
 

Keele University is looking for a teaching fellow for the Media,
Communications and Culture Programme because one of our (two) media
teaching staff has just accepted another lectureship elsewhere. We would
need someone who could teach in the coming semester and are looking to
cover the following: someone to convene a module called 'Making the News'
which is taught in a TV news studio at Keele and for the assessment of
which the students do a live broadcast at the end of 12 weeks; and to do
‘lab supervision’ (ie respond to students’ queries about their work) on a
module called 'Communication Contexts I' where the students use Adobe
Photoshop to create a photomontage around notions of cultural identity.
For this latter module the main skill necessary is a good knowledge of
digital image manipulation and compositing using Adobe Photoshop. In all
cases the work is produced on macs, so we need someone who is mac
literate. And then there's first and second marking on these and similar
modules. (I've pasted the module descriptions in below and a list of the
skills needed to run Making the News.) As you can see, we would need
someone who could teach both practical skills and who has some theoretical
knowledge.

If you or anyone you can think of is interested, we might be able to do
this on a part-time basis and get all the teaching into one or two days
perhaps, but we couldn’t promise this without checking with the central
timetable unit. Or, we might be able to offer a one-semester contract
depending on the quality of the candidate. We are expecting to advertise
and interview for a permanent replacement for my colleague to be begin in
January 2008 so this does have the potential for a longer-term role.

If you could pass this on to people who might be interested, or send me
names, I can contact them myself.

Best wishes,

Dr Sharon Ruston
Programme Director, Media, Communications and Culture
School of Humanities
Keele University
Keele
Staffordshire ST5 5BG
[log in to unmask]
01782 584576 / 584579

MDS-10003 Communication Contexts I

This practical module MDS-10003 places emphasis on the production of
practical work, which will be informed by texts and debates. This module
will introduce you to mainly photographic methods of image production and
reproduction in the broadest sense. The module will deal with the practice
of photomontage based around notions of cultural identity.

The purpose of this module is to enable first year students to explore
contemporary modes of digital image production, reproduction and
manipulation with specific use of Adobe Photoshop software.  There will
also be an introduction to video and video editing techniques.

Assessment will be by a visual project photomontage (50%) and a workbook
and presentation (50%).

MDS-20009 MAKING THE NEWS

Recent growth in the popularity of commercial digital channels and
internet broadcasting have made the news more accessible than ever before.
It could be argued that it has never been so easy to become informed - but
what does the news tell us about world affairs and events, about local
issues and politics, about society? Who owns and makes the news? What is
the news?
        In order to gain a balanced understanding of the news and its
impact on
society we first need to analyse its forms, motives, methods and
conventions. This module is designed to introduce a broad range of
theoretical debates and issues involved in the making of contemporary TV
news items. You will also be introduced to the television studio and edit
suite where you will gain practical skills in programme making and will
produce your own news item video.

Module aims and objectives:
To demonstrate ways in which the news is used as a medium to inform,
educate, entertain and persuade.
To introduce theoretical debate and to provide a broad awareness of forms,
motives, methods and conventions involved in journalism and the
construction of news items.
To apply these theories of news making and journalism in the form of an
audiovisual piece.
To gain a range of practical skills needed in the operation of a modern TV
studio.

Assessment: will be by a practical project (50%) and development workbook
+ 1,000 word essay (50%)

Making the News – skills needed

Knowledge of news history and theories of news production / consumption
Awareness of public service broadcasting
Awareness of history and context of TV news
Awareness of current debates around news production and consumption
Ability to train and provide support for digital video production (camera
techniques / lighting / sound) - in particular interviews and location
work
Ability to train and support students to create a live news programme
working in a television studio
Knowledge of TV studio programme making and appropriate studio equipment
Ability to train and support students in digital video editing and
broadcast graphic production using Final Cut Pro, After Effects and
Photoshop