Unit Outline

From the newsroom to the live stream, the news industry combines top-level communication skills with the ability to evaluate and synthesise knowledge for large audiences. In this unit, you will be introduced to both the theoretical and practical dimensions of the news industry. You will learn media research methods and build an understanding of the local, national and global contexts of news media and its connection to politics and society. You will also engage with the craft of news writing, including research and interviewing, to produce news stories for various platforms, evolving an understanding of news as practice and production.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Explain key concepts and debates in journalism and media studies
2	Apply journalistic techniques such as research, interviewing and verification to produce creative news content.
3	Identify and observe key ethical and legal obligations associated with news reporting.
4	Describe and evaluate the functions of news media in society from local and global perspectives.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	HEJ255 News Contemporary Practice and Analysis AND HEJ355 News Contemporary Practice and Analysis

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Breaking News exercise	See the MyLO site for the due date	20 %	LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	News Pitch	See the MyLO site for the due date	30 %	LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	News Portfolio with reflexive essay.	See the MyLO site for the due date	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Breaking News exercise

Task Description:

Students will create a digital media kit in response to a live issue, guided by an industry mentor.

Task Length:

1-minute video and 2–5-minute informal discussion

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Learn skills ‘on the job’ to produce screen content (with industry mentorship and academic supervision)	LO2
2	Tell a story using screen technologies and ethics	LO3
3	Draw on feedback to improve your practice	LO2
4	Organise and manage production, data storage and punctual presentation.	LO2

Assessment Task 2: News Pitch

Task Description:

Students will prepare for and participate in a media conference with an industry professional and reflect on their experience.

Task Length:

2,000 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify the challenges of screen production within the context of changing industries and technologies	LO4
2	Identify and engage with current skill deficits to reach learning goals	LO2
3	Achieve project with available resources and within required timeframe	LO2
4	Evidence creativity, risk-taking, and critical reflection in relation to your project	LO2

Assessment Task 3: News Portfolio with reflexive essay.

Task Description:

Students will create a portfolio of news media and reflect on the functions and ethical obligations and challenges facing the news journalist.

Task Length:

1700-word equivalent media project (based on industry standard of 180 words per minute: see detailed explanation in Assessment Resources)

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Create a media project (with technical support, industry mentorship, and academic supervision)	LO2
2	Apply knowledge of key concepts relating to production of media content to your practice	LO2
3	Tell a well-structured and engaging story using media technologies	LO2
4	Engage reflexively with learning processes	LO3
5	Conduct scholarly research	LO1
6	Express yourself in writing using APA referencing style	LO1

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.