Journalism Now and Next (11084.1)
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | On-Campus |
UC - Canberra, Bruce |
| EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
| 0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Arts And Design |
| Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
| School Of Arts And Communications | Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit | Band 2 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905) |
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Write a simple news story;
2. Complete basic research and verification for a news story to ensure accuracy;
3. Develop an understanding of news and current affairs from a critical professional perspective;
4. Identify the role and responsibilities of journalism in contemporary Australia and basic understanding of ethical and defamation issues facing journalists; and
5. Discuss the changing character of the news media industry, industry economics and impacts of convergence on traditional media and institutions.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
Skills development
This unit supports the development of skills and knowledge that are fundamental to journalism, while enabling students to develop their understanding of the changing nature of journalism in our global media-saturated society. The unit provides an introduction the fundamentals of journalism news writing, research and ethics in a multi-platform publishing environment that has been subject to extensive and continuous disruption. Students will also explore contemporary journalism issues in context including debates surrounding news representation, issues surrounding audience segmentation, fragmentation and the impacts of changing news practices and environments, and the role journalism plays in contemporary public life.
Prerequisites
None.Corequisites
None.Incompatible units
None.Equivalent units
5565 Introduction to Journalism.Assumed knowledge
None.| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | UC - Canberra, Bruce | Semester 1 | 06 February 2023 | On-Campus | Dr Caroline Fisher |
| 2024 | UC - Canberra, Bruce | Semester 1 | 05 February 2024 | On-Campus | Dr Caroline Fisher |
Required texts
Reading materials to support student learning will be provided through Canvas.
Some recommended texts:
- Sheridan Burns & Matthews (2018) Understanding Journalism. SAGE. 3rd edition
-
Sunderland, Alan (2022) Ten Rules of Reporting: Journalism for the Community. Simon and Schuster.
- Kovach & Rosenstiel (2021) The Elements of Journalism, Revised and Updated 4th Edition: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect. New York: Crown.
- Blaine, Mark (2014) The digital reporter's Notebook. Routledge.
Most of these are available through the UC library.
Submission of assessment items
Extensions & Late submissions
As a student journalist, you must assume that all content you generate in this unit is intended for publication. As such, you should aim to produce professional work to a high standard, observing all relevant laws and ethical standards. You are to:
- Observe the MEAA Code of Ethics (refer to The Owl Canvas site);
- Refrain from interviewing anyone who presents a conflict of interest, such as family, friends or colleagues, without the express permission of your tutor;
- Disclose all conflicts of interest or other relevant information in your stories;
- Inform sources and interviewees that your stories are for publication via The Owl and/or UCFM;
- In the first instance, produce your own original video, audio, images, and text — if your tutor expressly permits the use of third-party material, you must observe copyright law and ‘fair dealing' provisions related to news reporting (refer to The Owl Canvas site) and give attribution if required;
- Not plagiarise; and
- Observe defamation, trespass and other relevant laws
Failure to follow these guidelines could result in a fail grade for an assessment task or for the unit.
If you have any questions about these guidelines or a specific assignment task, speak with your tutor.
Academic integrity
Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.
To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.
Use of Text-Matching Software
The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.
Participation requirements
To achieve success in this unit it is a good idea to attend your weekly classes to develop the practical skills of journalism needed to successfully complete your assessments and lay the foundations for the rest of your degree. Weekly news quizzes are also conducted in class.
Required IT skills
You are expected to have basic digital literacies and skills in using the MS Office (or similar) suite of programs, specifically Word.
Work placement, internships or practicums
None.
- Semester 1, 2023, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (211901)
- Semester 1, 2022, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (206463)
- Semester 1, 2021, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (199217)
- Semester 1, 2020, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (193908)
- UC College Trimester 2, 2019, On-Campus, UC - University of Canberra College, Bruce (192479)
- Winter Term, 2019, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (192524)
- Semester 1, 2019, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (184287)
