Sideline Eye: Sports Reporting (11093.1)
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | On-campus |
Bruce, Canberra |
| 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 stories in the various genres of sports journalism for a range of publishing platforms;
2. Undertake the practical aspects of covering sporting events;
3. Produce multimedia coverage of sport for a broad range of platforms using text, photos and social media; and
4. Use data sources to find and report on sporting issues.
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
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
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
Prerequisites
None.Corequisites
None.Incompatible units
None.Equivalent units
None.Assumed knowledge
None.| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 28 July 2025 | On-campus | Dr Jessie Wilkie |
| 2026 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 10 August 2026 | 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
Despite all the material which will be provided to you, nothing will be a substitute for you actively being involved in the media coverage of sport. You are expected to keep in touch with stories and issues relating to sport by following coverage online, and on TV and radio. It is recommended that students read, ON A DAILY BASIS, the sport AND news and sports coverage of at least one mainstream media outlet.
Why news coverage? An informed sports journalist needs to understand the aspects of Australian and the global society that influence, and are influenced by, the sports industry. Those influences are as diverse as politics, the media, the court system, the financial sector, among others. Including general news coverage in your daily reading means you will know what's happening in your community, your country and your world.
Mainstream media websites
https://www.theguardian.com/au
Sports specific sites
https://www.athletesvoice.com.au/
http://www.theroar.com.au/ (you can even contribute to the ‘Roar of the Crowd') http://www.sportal.com.au/
http://www.insidesport.com.au/
http://thecrowd.foxsports.com.au/
There are many others.
Sporting organisation sites
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/
https://www.premierleague.com/
https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nba?gr=www (NBA Australia)
And many, many others.
Submission of assessment items
Extensions & Late submissions
Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit, except for Studiosity Writing Feedback Plus.
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 The Owl;
- 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; or use copyright free creative commons music and images and give attribution.
- not plagiarise
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
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.¿
Supplementary assessment
Students will not be able to resubmit an assignment. Students who receive a FAIL grade will only be offered supplementary assessment in exceptional circumstances, as determined by the unit and course convenors. For more details, refer to the UC Supplementary Assessment Policy
Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.
Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.
UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).
UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.
Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.
Participation requirements
Attendance at sporting fixtures (Assessment 2A) and the athlete media conference (Assessment 3) is compulsory for students to complete these assessments.
The weekly sport, news and current affairs quizzes (Assessment 1) are compulsory. They can only be done in-class. A replacement quiz can only be provided if a student provides a medical certificate for being unable to attend.
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 Sideline Eye: Sports Reporting, 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.
In-unit costs
There are several text books on sports journalism-related topics from retail outlets (new and second hand). Purchase of these is optional but they will help complement your learning from in-class and assessment activities.
For other costs, see section 4b: Materials and Equipment in this unit outline.
Work placement, internships or practicums
None
- Semester 2, 2025, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (226111)
- Semester 2, 2024, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (219110)
- Semester 2, 2023, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (213863)
- Semester 2, 2022, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (208616)
- Semester 2, 2021, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (199678)
- Semester 2, 2020, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (195355)
- Semester 2, 2019, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (184388)
