Undergraduate - UnitATS1330 - Newsroom practice and theory

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	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	School of Applied Media and Social Sciences, Gippsland
Offered	Berwick First semester 2013 (Day) Gippsland First semester 2013 (Day) Gippsland First semester 2013 (Off-campus)
Coordinator(s)	Elizabeth Hart

Notes

Previously coded JRN1902

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.

Outcomes

To assist students in attaining:

skills in research, writing and production of news and feature stories.
an awareness of the impact of changing technologies on journalism practice
an understanding of the current issues and debates in journalism and the changing media landscape
an understanding of journalism's role as the Fourth Estate
an ability to conduct interviews
an understanding of journalism ethics
a knowledge of basic legal issues as they impact on working journalists
Literacy skills
investigative, communication and negotiations skills
Informational management skills

Assessment

On campus students:
Report one news story (900 words): 20%
Report one profile story (1400 words): 25%
Class presentation and report (600 words): 15%
Exam (2 hours): 40%

OCL students:
Report one news story (900 words): 20%
Report one profile story (1400 words): 25%
Discussion paper (800 words): 15%
Exam (2 hours): 40%

Chief examiner(s)

Elizabeth Hart

Contact hours

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

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Journalism

Prohibitions

GSC1902, GSC2901, JRN1902