Postgraduate - UnitAPG5642 - Investigative reporting

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

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Level	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	Journalism
Offered	Caulfield Second semester 2013 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	William Birnbauer

Notes

Previously coded JRM5915

Synopsis

This unit introduces students to a set of research and reporting approaches and techniques that enable in-depth investigation. The subject is designed to demonstrate a variety of practical research techniques, especially the use of public records and databases; to explore the relationship of investigative and news reporting; and to assist students to produce in-depth investigations of their own.

Outcomes

On satisfactory completion of this unit students will be able to:

Recognise what distinguishes investigative journalism from other journalism;
Develop their own ideas for investigative projects;
Utilize advanced skills in finding and interviewing a wide range of sources;
Employ a range of investigative research techniques;
Understand and utilise narrative and presentation techniques appropriate to in-depth journalism;
Demonstrate an understanding of the role of investigative journalism in a democratic society and an appreciation of its practical link to the concept of the 'public right to know';
Achieve all of the above objectives at a higher level appropriate to a Level 5 unit.

Assessment

Minor project 1(800 words plus 300 word reflection):10%
Minor project 2(1000 words plus 400 word reflection): 30%
Major project(2000 words plus 500 word relfection): 50%
Online contribution discussion(1000 words): 10%

Chief examiner(s)

William Birnbauer

Contact hours

One 2-hour seminar per week

Prohibitions

APG4642