Module Convenor - Dr Gayathry Venkiteswaran
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
About this module
IGNITE is UNM’s online student media platform, operated by students under the guidance of academic staff from the School Humanities. Students from any faculty who are interested in contributing as writers, editors, photographers, public relations officers and advertising managers are invited to join the IGNITE family and contribute to the official Student Media at the UNM, while gaining NAA credit in the process.
Ignite focuses mainly on events, projects and issues that involve the UNM student and staff community. We are keen on working with (1) aspiring journalists who are invested in long-form, serious reporting, (2) those with a keen insight on creating fun, humorous and entertainment-oriented content and (3) self-motivated, independent and creative individuals keen on putting their skills in service of furthering student media on (perhaps even off) campus.
Students who are interested in participating as a public relations officer can contribute by managing’s Ignite various social media profiles (Instagram, TikTok), and through live events targeting the UNM student body.
We are also looking for individuals who are interested in the business/commercial aspect of digital media operations, and who are motivated to generate revenue for Ignite via hosting advertisements, sponsored articles, etc. Aims and objectivesThe module's aims to provide:
- Promote media literacy among all participants;
- Provide an active platform for aspiring writers and photographers to hone and showcase their talents, as well as to amass a creative portfolio;
- Develop communication skills and the ability to frame, analyse and contextualise current issues for the UNM audience;
- By working for an organisation that has readership demands, news cycles and intra-organisation mobility; students will pick up transferable skills that can help them in their future endeavours within and outside the realms of media.
Target students
Interested students from any faculty and year are encouraged to apply. Those who are self-motivated, passionate and able to work under tight deadlines will make the most out of this module. Module detailsThis will be a semester long module. Participating students (writers/ photographers) are required to attend a minimum of three (3) Editorial meetings. According to their skill and interest as indicated in the application form, they will be assigned to a Section and a respective Editor at the discretion of the IGNITE management team. Photography candidates are automatically placed under the Head Photographer(s).
Throughout the module, participants are given assignment(s) and feedback by their assigned member of the Editorial Team. All content has to be approved by the Head Photographer/Editor before publication. Through correspondence and Editorial meetings candidates are guided and trained by the Editorial team and media professionals/School of Humanities staff.
Assessment
- Writers and Photographers' Portfolio of Published Content (75%): Writers must publish an article (with the approval of their Editor) once a month, throughout the semester, i.e. a minimum of 3 articles over the academic semester. Writers must aim to complete at least two of their articles before the last three weeks of the semester. In a similar framework, photographers must publish at least 3 images in 3 separate Ignite articles.
- Reflection (25%): A short essay (minimum 500 words) that critically reflects on their involvement/ interaction with the IGNITE team, event coverage assignments, the writing/ photography/ editorial process, challenges faced and overcome, what they learned and how they contributed to student media in general as well as links to the articles written/ photographed for/ relevant material.
To apply for this module, click https://moodle.nottingham.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=162733 on 1 October 2025, 09:00 GMT+8.