Essential Public Affairs
Andy Martin, Public Affairs tutor: "You need to know about politics and government so that you can do your job and hold decision-makers to account."
It doesn’t matter what kind of journalist you become, you will need to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the political context in which you are working.
At Up To Speed, you will study public affairs with a working journalist, the Bournemouth Daily Echo’s News Editor Andy Martin.
You will not only learn how Britain’s political system works, but also discuss how you would tackle stories with a political dimension and what questions you would put to those in power.
Assessment:
Exam – 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Practical Assignment: to be submitted in ONE of the following formats.
Print: 800-1,000 words news feature.
Online: web page 800 to 1,000 words covering a political issue.
Audio: a package of 3-4 minutes.
Video: a package of 1-2 minutes.
The key text for this unit is Public Affairs for Journalists by James Morrison.
Syllabus:
The NCTJ Essential Public Affairs syllabus covers six key areas.
- CONTROLLING POWER
a) The structure and operation of local government in England and Wales. You will learn how to cover everything from parish council planning rows to Boris Johnson’s ban on bendy buses. You will find out how decisions are made and how taxes are spent in villages, towns and cities.
b) The Constitution, Monarchy and Devolution. You will learn how the country is run, how much power and influence the Queen has and how devolution has affected people living in different parts of the United Kingdom.
c) The Executive. You will realise who really wields power in Downing Street by studying the roles and responsibilities of the Prime Minister, Government Ministers, spin doctors and ‘spads’. Watching a few episodes of In The Thick Of It would be good preparation for this part of the course.
d) The Legislature. The secrets of Westminster are laid bare as you find out how MPs operate and how laws pass through both Houses of Parliament.
e) Europe. You will understand how membership of the European Union affects your rights, your working life and the power of the pound in your pocket next time you go on holiday. You will study the European Parliament, the Commission of the European Union, Council of Ministers of the European Union, European Court of Justice and European Central Bank.
- HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT, CONTROLLING INFORMATION AND THE RIGHT TO KNOW
a) Is there a Watergate scandal brewing in your Town Hall or has your MP been submitting colourful expenses claims? You will learn how to investigate these stories and the role of ombudsmen in central and local government. You can also find out how local councils are rated by Government inspectors.
b) Elections. Just how did we end up with a Hung Parliament and how far should electoral reform go? You will look at the way people are elected as councillors, AMs, MSPs, MPs and MEPs and consider some of the alternatives. You will also examine how parliamentary parties are monitored and financed.
c) Access to Information. You will be told how you can use the Freedom of Information Act to dig up stories and what rights you have to attend council meetings.
- CONTROLLING MONEY
a) Local Government Finance. Who controls the purse strings at your town or county hall and what do they do with all the council taxes and parking fees we pay them? You will also find out what caused the poll tax riots that prompted some of Margaret Thatcher’s allies to turn on the iron lady who was famously “not for turning”.
b) The Treasury and Economics. As Whitehall mandarins prepare to wield the axe and the country grapples with the biggest budget cuts in a generation, you will discover why Government Ministers will soon be quaking in their boots at the thought of a session in the Star Chamber.
c) Business and Industry. You can find out how Branson made his billions even though he kicked the FTSE in to touch and learn to report on everything from bankers’ bumper bonuses to pay protests in the public sector.
- FRONTLINE SERVICES
a) Education. You will cover everything from kindergarten to student loan repayments to ensure that you are able to report on a range of stories affecting students and school pupils.
b) Children and Adult Social Services. You will learn to cover stories such as the Baby Peter case in Haringey by examining who is responsible for the care of children, elderly people and other vulnerable groups in society.
c) NHS. You will find out who monitors the health of our hospitals and find out what protection frontline staff can rely on in a period of austerity and spending cuts.
- THE ENVIRONMENT
a) Planning, environmental protection and conservation. “Not In My Back Yard” is a phrase you will often come across when reporting on planning stories. You will need to learn how the whole process works to cover those “Nimby” stories about new homes, highways and airport runways.
b) Environmental health and licensing. Noisy neighbours, boozy bars and rat-infested restaurants can be an endless source of good stories once you have understood how to cover them.
c) Regulatory, Consumer Bodies and Utilities. You will find out which watchdog to turn to for a good quote when covering stories about gas, phone, water or electricity companies.
d) Highways and Transport. Bus fares, toll roads and level crossings may well crop up on your journey through journalism and so it is important to understand who controls our railways, highways and double-deckers.
- PROTECTING THE CITIZEN
a) Emergency services. You will find out who runs our 999 services, how Asbos are used and what plans your local council is making for World War Three.
b) The Home Office. You will learn about the role of the Home Office, which covers some of the most politically sensitive stories including immigration, crime reduction and counter-terrorism.
c) Ministry of Justice. You will discover the Government’s role in drawing up and implementing policies on prison, parole and probation.