ATS1089 - Fundamentals of journalism - 2017

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Arts

Organisational Unit

Journalism

Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Fay Anderson (Semester 1)

Alison Stieven-Taylor (Semester 2)

Unit guides

Offered

Caulfield

  • First semester 2017 (Day)
  • Second semester 2017 (Day)

Synopsis

The unit relates the practice of journalism to the study of journalism and how it operates in contemporary Australian society. Students gain a foundational understanding of the changing media landscape, the seismic shifts in technology, the culture of the newsroom, sources and verification, different genres of journalism, objectivity and interviewing. Drawing on scholarship as well as media case studies and a range of practical research techniques, students will examine investigative journalism, literary essays, long-form journalism, 'new journalism', documentaries, television, photojournalism and social media. In addition, the unit locates the Australian experience in its historical and international context.

Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a capacity to make effective use of the relevant academic literature and interdisciplinary research related to written, visual, documentary and broadcast journalism;
  2. Demonstrate an ability to research, discuss and analyse issues in a clear, concise and rigorous way;
  3. Collaborate constructively with fellow students in learning and discussion processes, including group work, tutorial participation and tutorial debates;
  4. Produce their written work to deadline making effective use of the conventions of scholarly presentation and journalism (references, bibliography, etc.);

  5. Work independently and in groups to achieve their learning outcomes;
  6. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the strengths, limitations and implications of scholarly practice in journalism studies and media history;
  7. Engage with different forms of journalism;
  8. Write both academically and journalistically.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 100%

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

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

Prohibitions

ATS1901