BACHELOR OF ARTS HONOURS IN JOURNALISM MEDIA AND BROADCASTING (HJMB)

Module Code	Module Name	Description
HJMB 104	Communication Media and Culture	Communication Media and Culture is a core course that investigates the evolving relationship between media, communication practices, and cultural contexts. It examines how cultural values, identities, and power dynamics shape media production, content, and audiences, with a particular focus on African and Zimbabwean perspectives. Students engage with important theories of communication and culture, analyze both traditional and digital media, and critically evaluate the media's role in shaping meaning, affecting social norms, and reflecting societal change. This course prepares journalism and broadcasting students with the cultural understanding and critical skills needed for ethical, inclusive, and context-aware media practices.
HJMB 105	Marketing & Advertising	This marketing course aligns with Education 5.0's core principles by integrating technology, innovation, and practical application through using,technology integration. The course incorporates digital marketing communication, equipping students with skills in modern marketing tools and platforms. Practical skills development is also integrated when students develop marketing and advertising campaigns for local products, services, and companies, applying theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios. Innovation and problem-solving is also included by encouraging students to develop campaigns, the course fosters creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Lastly there is community engagement where students engage with local businesses, promoting products and services, and contributing to the community's economic development.
HJMB 106	Public Relations	This module aims to equip students with the knowledge of tasks commonly associated with the practice of public relations. It introduces students to the principles and practices of public relations. Students should be able to discuss the key concepts of public relations, categorise the various types of publics, develop a comprehensive public relations plan, discuss crisis management techniques, demonstrate the knowledge of the role and practice of media relations, discuss ethics in public relations and interpret the role of corporate social responsibility and sponsorship in PR. Students will develop public relations plans.
HJMB 205	Feature Writing	This course introduces journalism students to the art and craft of feature writing, focusing on storytelling that goes beyond hard news. Students learn how to find compelling feature ideas, conduct in-depth interviews, and use narrative techniques to produce accurate, engaging, and human-centered stories. The course emphasizes structure, voice, scene-building, and ethical reporting, while strengthening research and fact-checking skills. Through close reading, writing workshops, and field assignments, students develop the ability to write features for print and digital platforms, including profiles, human-interest stories, investigative features, and explanatory pieces. By the end of the course, students will produce publishable-quality feature articles that combine journalistic rigor with creative storytelling.
HJMB 206	Newspaper Editing, Layout and Design	This is a practical module that enables students to edit news stories to ensure that they are publishable and to cast headlines on news stories using appropriate editing symbols and ensuring clean copies.
HJMB 207	Broadcasting: Television	This is a practical module that introduces students to the world of television broadcasting. It examines the history and contemporary forms of broadcast television and develops an understanding of the impact of digitization. It compares different models of broadcast media organisations by examining ownership and the range of audiences, styles, formats and the content typical of each institution. The module provides students with an opportunity for learning the three stages of production by taking them through different aspects and techniques involved in broadcasting, including reporting for television.
HJMB330	Project Monitoring and Evaluation	This course equips journalism students with practical knowledge and skills in project monitoring and evaluation (M&E), with an emphasis on evidence-based assessment, accountability, and impact reporting. Students learn how to design monitoring frameworks, develop indicators, collect and analyse qualitative and quantitative data, and assess project performance against objectives. The course introduces logical frameworks, theory of change, basic data collection tools, and ethical considerations in evaluation. Through case studies drawn from media, development, and social impact projects, students gain hands-on experience in tracking progress, measuring outcomes, and communicating findings clearly to diverse stakeholders. By the end of the course, students will be able to critically evaluate projects and produce clear, credible monitoring and evaluation reports that support decision-making and transparent storytelling.
HJMB 340	Crisis Communication Management	This course provides undergraduate journalism students with a comprehensive understanding of crisis communication principles and practices. It explores the role of journalists in reporting and disseminating information during crises, examining the ethical considerations, challenges, and strategies involved in effective crisis communication. Through theoretical insights and practical case studies, students will develop the skills necessary to navigate and communicate in high-pressure situations.
HJMB390	Work related report	This module is designed to integrate academic theory with practical workplace experience, enabling students to critically reflect on professional practice within a real organisational context. The module requires learners to document their placement environment, roles and responsibilities, and the skills and competencies developed during the attachment period. It emphasizes reflective learning, professional ethics, problem-solving, communication and the application of discipline-specific knowledge to real-world challenges. Through structured reporting and analysis, the module supports personal and professional development, enhances employability, and encourages students to evaluate how workplace learning informs their academic and career trajectories.
HJMB 405	Communication Development	This module examines the role of communication and media in social and economic development. It introduces key development communication theories and explores how journalism, media campaigns, and community communication support social change. The module focuses on development issues, participatory approaches, ethical considerations, and the use of digital media in development initiatives. Students gain skills to critically assess communication strategies used in development contexts.
HJMB 406	Gender, Race, Class and the Media (Sociology of Journalism)	This is an advanced undergraduate module within the B.A. (Hons) in Journalism, Media and Broadcasting program. This course critically examines how media productions and journalistic practices are shaped by, and in turn shape, social constructions of gender, race, and class. The module employs a gender-analytical lens to investigate the reproduction of inequality and stereotypes in media content, news hierarchies, language, and organizational structures. Key topics include the feminist movement, the "glass ceiling," media representation in politics, and the impact of both traditional and new media on identity and social roles. Through a combination of student presentations, class discussions, lectures, and practical projects, the course aims to equip students with the critical tools to interrogate media bias and to produce more inclusive, fair, and balanced media content. Assessment is based on class presentations, a practical project, and a final examination. The ultimate goal is to foster reflective media practitioners who can contribute to more equitable and representative media landscapes.
HJMB 470	Project	The module equips learners with the skills of carrying out the actual research and writing a research project through data collection. The students are given an opportunity to research on a topic of their choice. This module derives support from other fundamental modules in the degree programme with the guidance of an experienced faculty member.