Class Journalistic Composition

This Subject intends to function as a theoretical and practical introduction to the exercise of journalism, providing an overview of the contexts (social and organizational) of the profession and the requirements (technical and human) required of professionals. Basic notions about the specificity of journalistic writing and its techniques, accompanied by the development of practical work throughout the semester. Students will also be motivated to perform a critical reading of media/information platforms, comparing the criteria of newsworthiness and the diversity or convergence of angles of approach to events, narrative structures, sources of information and respective attribution, titles, illustration (photographs, infographics), among other aspects.  

Not applicable

I. Introduction to the practice of the profession Being a journalist: the concepts of journalism and journalist The professional (and ethical) identity of the journalist as as a producer of information The reporter as a professional witness Professional constraints The stages of journalistic activity Working with personal sources: contact agenda; interview; media events and press conferences Documentary sources: press review; press release; news agency dispatches; archives and libraries blogs, wikis and other online resources and databases. Data journalism   II. Values and journalistic writing Journalistic genres: news and opinion News values and newsworthiness criteria The distinctive nature of journalistic language Techniques for constructing (formally and narratively) journalistic texts - the brief and the news report The relationship with readers: headlines, lead paragraphs, captions, highlights, photos; video; audio. Multimedia journalism

Practical writing exercise, simulating a real-life work context, organised into editorial sections. Work is carried out in groups, with results submitted throughout the classes.

Digital News Report 2026. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Acedido a 11 de setembro de 2026, em: https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2026    Gradim, A. (2000). Manual de Jornalismo. Estudos em Comunicação, Universidade da Beira Interior    Kovach, B. e Rosenstiel, T. (2004). Os Elementos do Jornalismo. O que os profissionais do jornalismo devem saber e o público deve exigir. Porto Editora   Mesquita, M. (2004), O Quarto Equívoco. O Poder dos Media na Sociedade Contemporânea (2ª edição). Minerva Coimbra   Mesquita, M., & Gomes. P. M. (2022). Introdução à Análise dos Títulos da Imprensa. Edições Universitárias Lusófonas   Público (1998). Livro de Estilo. Acedido a 11 de setembro de 2026, em: http://static.publico.pt/nos/livro_estilo/06-principios-n.html     Ricardo, D. (2003), Ainda Bem que me Pergunta. Manual de Escrita Jornalística. Editorial Notícias   Traquina (2007). Jornalismo (2ª edição). Quimera.