Module manager: Layla Painter
Email: l.painter@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
Parts of COMM2410: Journalism Practice
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module gives students an insight into the world of investigative journalism and introduces the skills involved in successful investigations. Students will learn about the history of investigative journalism, analyse real-world examples and examine techniques. Through a series of exercises, students will develop the skills that will be required to undertake their own journalism investigation.
The module aims to teach students research and investigation skills and to consider how they would use them effectively to develop their own factual news report.
Lectures will introduce key concepts and techniques, and these will be developed in production practical sessions.
Students will:
Learn about the role and history of investigative journalism and analyse real word examples.
Consider the challenges and concerns, including the legal and ethical frameworks around working on journalism investigations.
Learn to recognise and critically reflect on different types of journalism and storytelling.
Develop their research skills, through practice and use various techniques and tools used in journalism investigations, including Freedom of Information requests, AI tools and verification techniques.
Build on journalism skills such as finding sources, interviewing, storytelling.
Learn how to access and interpret data for use in news reporting.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Identify and describe investigative journalism and its role in the media landscape and society.
2. Apply accurately appropriate techniques of investigative journalism, including data journalism, public documents, and sources and verification.
3. Situate these journalism techniques within a legal and ethical framework.
4. Reflect on and interpret their experience of professional investigative journalism practice.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
5. Apply effectively a range of journalism practices such as ethical awareness, data interpretation and validation, interview techniques, and use of research tools.
6. Effectively communicate their ideas in written form
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Practical | 11 | 2 | 22 |
| Independent online learning hours | 22 | ||
| Private study hours | 150 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 28 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will be set tasks within their practicals and workshops relating to the skills and understanding they have been taught. Some activities will be completed in their private study time and, in all cases, students will receive formative verbal or written feedback on areas of achievement and improvement.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | portfolio | 70 |
| Written Work | written work | 30 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team