JRN1902 - Newsroom Practice and Theory

Leader: Usha Manchanda Rodrigues

Offered

Berwick First semester 2008 (Day)
Caulfield First semester 2008 (Day)
Gippsland First semester 2008 (Day)
Gippsland First semester 2008 (Off-campus)
Sunway First semester 2008 (Day)
Singapore First semester 2008 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit aims to introduce students to key practices in journalism. At the same time, the unit will familiarize students with the various historical, technological, political, social, cultural and institutional conditions that influence journalism. The basic objective of this unit is to foster critical enquiry by developing specific news writing and reporting skills, and a comprehensive knowledge of the networks of power journalists are engaged with. Students in this unit will also participate in discourses surrounding the current issues and debates in journalism, particularly focused on media laws and codes of ethics and, their impact on professional practice.

Objectives

This unit aims to enable students to:

1. develop knowledge of news writing and reporting skills;

2. develop knowledge of newsroom practices and the pressures that working journalists experience;

3. obtain an introduction to the legal aspects of journalism including the impact of defamation legislation, contempt of court, and other legal issues;

4. gain a comprehensive understanding of the cultural and historical forces acting on Australian journalism to create its particular character;

5. be aware of the ethical implications of journalistic work and of the responsibilities journalists have to the various communities they report on and that make up a culturally diverse population;

6. produce (write and report) relevant, commercially viable copy for print media. Publication will be encouraged but is not an essential requirement for this subject, and

7. understand and participate in discourses about the current issues and debates in journalism, including the impact of new technologies on journalism.

Assessment

Writing Two News Stories (900 words): 20%
Reporting One News Story (1000 words): 25%
Discussion/Debate participation (for on-campus students participation will be about 7-8 minutes of presentation in class and for off-campus students participation will be about 700 words discussion in writing on an issue): 15%
News Writing Exam (1900 words): 40%

Contact hours

3 hours (1 x 1 hour lecture and 1 x 2 hour tutorial) per week

Prohibitions

GSC1902, GSC2901