Game On: Sports Journalism Foundations (11092.1)
| 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 basic sports news story;
2. Complete basic research for a sports news story and verify information gathered to ensure accuracy;
3. Compare and differentiate the delivery of sport news content on a range of publishing platforms; and
4. Analyse the range of sports news content for different purposes and different audiences.
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
Prerequisites
None.Corequisites
None.Incompatible units
None.Equivalent units
None.Assumed knowledge
Students should have a basic understanding of the Australian and global sporting landscape.| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | UC - Canberra, Bruce | Semester 1 | 06 February 2023 | On-Campus | Dr Jessie Wilkie |
| 2024 | UC - Canberra, Bruce | Semester 1 | 05 February 2024 | On-Campus | Dr Jessie Wilkie |
Required texts
As no single book covers all the material considered in this unit, a list of readings will be provided through E-reserve to complement the major issues we will address in lectures and tutorials. As topical issues arise frequently about sports journalism and the media, additional readings and case studies will also be provided in-class and on the UCLearn (Canvas) site.
Strongly recommended reading/viewing/listening
You will be provided with a wealth of material and resources but the key to success in this unit - and your degree - is to be actively involved in the media coverage of sport in all its forms. You are expected to be aware of issues relating to sport by following coverage across platforms. It is recommended that you read/watch/listen, ON A DAILY BASIS, the reporting of sporting issues. In doing so, you should observe how that reporting is produced, ie. text, audio, video, social media.
Why must you read more deeply than just the sporting results? An informed sports media practitioner needs to understand how the sports industry operates and the way it influences - and is influenced by - the Australian and global society. Those influences are as diverse as the media, politics, the financial sector, public health (read: pandemic) and many others. Including general current affairs in your daily reading means you will know what's happening in your community, your country and your world.
This is not homework, it's a habit...and a healthy one, at that!
Mainstream media websites
www.canberratimes.com.au (some free-for-view, other content subscription only)
www.smh.com.au (5 x free stories/month)
Sports specific sites
https://theathletic.com (US and UK sites, subscription approx. $30/year)
www.codesports.com.au (Aust sports features - $9/month)
www.theroar.com.au (you can be a contributing writer on this site)
Sporting organisation sites
www.keepup.com.au (A-League Men and Women)
https://super.rugby/superrugby
And many, many others.
Sport on TV
Sport + news coverage on all free-to-air networks plus subscription services (eg. Fox Sports)
Any 'live' sports broadcast on TV and radio has journalistic elements that you should pay attention to such as hosting, sideline reporting and commentating.
Sport on radio / digital / podcast platforms
www.abc.net.au/radio/grandstand/live
And there are many, many sport podcasts out there.
Social media
You should be operating a Twitter account to follow sporting organisations, athletes, sports media outlets and journalists, and broaden your consumption of sporting content. The same goes for other social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok that sport and media organisations are using to tell stories and engage with audiences.
Submission of assessment items
Extensions & Late submissions
Submission of all assignments
You will submit your work as a story on the student journalism website, The Owl. When relevant to the task, this requires the inclusion of appropriate publication material for online and social media which contextualises the piece, adds journalistic depth, satisfies the requirements of online and social publishing workflows, and engages potential readers. Stories which meet appropriate standards may be published.
To submit to The Owl, you will need to set-up a WordPress account. Instructions can be found on The Owl Canvas site. Once in the site, click on ‘Modules' in the left-hand menu and then go to the sections on ‘WordPress admin' and ‘WordPress use'.
To submit your work for assessment, progress your draft story on WordPress to ‘In Editing' before the due date, ensuring that you have properly completed the pre-publication checklist. Then, submit the headline of your story to the Canvas assessment dropbox. This will indicate to your tutor that the story is ready for marking.
NB. Assessment 2 (Sports media content analysis) should not be submitted to The Owl WordPress site. You should submit the assignment to the Canvas site for this unit.
Special assessment requirements
Expectations
In all of your journalism assignments you are to assume your reporting is for online publication. Therefore, you are expected to aim for work of publishable standard and observe relevant law and ethical standards.
You must:
- observe the principles enshrined in the MEAA Code of Ethics (here);
- inform interviewees that the work is for online publication via NowUC.com.au (speak to your tutor if this causes any difficulties);
- not interview anyone who presents a conflict of interest, such as family, friends or colleagues, without permission of your tutor - if allowed, then disclose the conflict;
- produce your own original video, audio, images and text; In the event you are allowed to use material other than your own original work, you must observe copyright law and ‘fair dealing' provisions related to news reporting (here); or use copyright free creative commons music and images and give attribution.
- not plagiarise (here)
- observe defamation, trespass and other relevant laws (here);
- meet your submission deadline, unless an extension has been approved.
If you have questions about an assignment, please do not rely on rumour. Use your journalism skills and go to the source – your tutor or unit convenor – and check the facts for yourself.
Other requirements
- IMPORTANT: You must attempt and submit every assessment item to pass this unit.
- Deadlines are an integral part of working in the media. Assignments submitted late without prior notification and without an extension granted, will incur a penalty and may result in a fail grade. Late assignments will also be marked without comment. If you require an extension it is important to ask for one before the due date. If a medical condition makes this impossible, a doctor's or counsellor's certificate should be submitted, normally within three days of the incident.
Extensions can only be obtained from the tutor for valid, documented reasons. Lack of personal organisation, pressure of work, and computer and printing problems, are not considered valid reasons. Losing your USB memory stick, or having it stolen, is also not a valid reason. Always back-up your work – it is good work practice as well as providing piece-of-mind.
- Interest and general knowledge of sport is assumed. Inability to demonstrate a good general knowledge of sport, and sport reporting tasks, will be reflected in your grades. Careless spelling, unproofed copy, and poor written expression will affect your grades. In other words, practice writing when you can and check your work before submitting.
- Word processing skills are assumed. Work must be submitted electronically, not in hard-copy. Students must make and retain an electronic copy of all assignments submitted.
- If there is any doubt about the requirements of any particular assignment or assessment procedure, the onus for clarifying the issue rests with the student who should contact the lecturer about the matter.
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
There is an expectation that students will attend and participate in all structured time: lectures, tutorials and field trips. Participation in learning activities is an important component of studying journalism. It is relevant to the gaining of knowledge and skills appropriate to Game On: Sports Journalism Foundations, and it also applies to your degree as a whole.
There is a significant link between a student's participation and the quality of work submitted for assessment as well as the achievement of learning outcomes. To this end, you are encouraged to take part in organised activities and utilise access to teaching staff during class time to get feedback on your work and advice about your studies.
Required IT skills
Word-processing skills and the ability to use the Internet are assumed. Web-based applications, including social media, will be used in this unit.
Work placement, internships or practicums
Simulated media conference and journalistic writing.
