Undergraduate - UnitAZA3806 - Reporting economic and business issues

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 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
Offered	South Africa First semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Tinus de Jager

Synopsis

This unit undertakes a rigorous exploration of the research and reporting practices for business, industrial and economic reporting. It examines key documentary sources, geographical locations, personalities and institutions, and contemporary issues in this field particularly as they apply to South Africa and Africa. It places contemporary issues in their broader historical and geographical contexts, while critically analysing the professional and social implications of reporting in this specialized field. Access to certain technology/equipment will be required for this unit.

Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

demonstrate an ability to identify and critically research a business/industrial/economic story, conduct interviews and gather appropriate evidentiary material;
demonstrate an ability to report on business, industrial, economic issues in a clear, concise, factual manner using several elements in a coherent package;
identify, observe and evaluate key ethical and legal obligations associated with business /industrial/ economic journalism. Demonstrate the capacity to work independently and in a group. Demonstrate the capacity to work collaboratively in learning and production processes, including online forums, to produce business/industrial/economic stories;
demonstrate an ability to meet deadlines, demonstrate an awareness of relevant local and national events in an African context;
Identify events relevant to current issues and media issues;
demonstrate a critical awareness of the capacities, limitations and socio-professional implications of reporting practices in the field of business, industry and economics, in South Africa, Africa and internationally.

Assessment

Minor project: 30% (news/current affairs reports totalling 1500 words or 6-minutes), Major project: 50% (news/current affairs reports totalling 2000 words or 10-minutes), Online critical reflection and in-class invigilation: 20%.