Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

NB: Information in this Unit Outline is subject to change prior to commencement of semester

News media systems are developing and changing because of new technologies, corporate change, and professional development among practitioners, who increasingly work in internationalised settings, with increased market demand from different world regions. Journalists working abroad can cultivate their strengths and respond better to new demands if they understand and are sensitive to the changing cultures and values of countries they report on. By exploring political, economic, historic and other social influences on the roles, rights and expectations of journalists in different countries, you will consider how the skills you study in an Australian context may be adapted to other circumstances.

Aims

This unit aims to
- acquaint you with theories of how professional identity and day-to-day journalism varies in different political, economic and cultural contexts;
- explore how national culture, politics and economics influence the demand for particular types of journalism;
- develop background knowledge and ability to analyse international affairs at a level suitable for media professionals;
- develop cross-cultural awareness and critical-inquiry skills in the practice of journalism;
- introduce strategies for performing as a journalist in a new country or cultural setting;
- provide practical opportunities to deal with sources and stories from different cultures.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Identify how the political, economic and socio-cultural context of a country or region affects the expectations of what journalists should contribute to society and the kinds of stories they should produce;
2. Analyse stories from different regions and different mass media to identify the economic, political and socio-cultural influences that may have shaped or limited the reporting;
3. Develop a coherent philosophy about when your own methods of gathering news, dealing with sources and reporting issues may need to be refined to best suit different socio-cultural circumstances and when professional standards are not negotiable;
4. Analyse events occurring in other geographical locations for their significance at both a local and international level;
5. Identify the kinds of sources who can provide appropriate information and commentary on news or current affairs issues that may arise in different contexts;
6. Produce journalistic analysis/stories on a chosen country/region that adequately reflect the cultural and political richness and/or poverty of that country/region.

Content

Lecture topics and online learning modules will include international media organisations, identity of foreign correspondents, comparative media systems, special issues such as Australian reporting in the Asia-Pacific, professional concerns and operational/business management issues.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit follows a semi-flexible learning approach. Six plenary lecture sessions of one houreach will provide major guidance and instruction, and introduce guests as resource persons from industry or other relevant fields. A set of six online modules will be provided, and the structure and content of these will address the Rationale, Aims, Learning Outcomes and Content listed above. Ten tutorials of one hour each will provide a forum for students to obtain in-person guidance and feedback, and also for consolidation of learning obtained through the modules.

Assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit.FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will receive formative feedback on your progress in this unit during tutorials and discussions. Weight: 0%

Assessment name: Tutorial Participation
Description: Workbook based on modules.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 45%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Throughout Semester

Assessment name: Case Study
Description: A Case Study of an international issue or topic. A compilation of original journalistic work and exemplars from mass media, with a commentary section of 1400-2000 words.
Relates to objectives: 4, 5, 6
Weight: 55%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

REQUIRED REFERENCES
Unit Readings will be available as a reference list, printed documents or entries on the Blackboard site for KJB280.

RECOMMENDED REFERENCES

Allan, S. and Zelizer, B. (eds) (2004) Reporting War: Journalism in Wartime, Routledge, New York.

De Beer, A.S. (ed.) (2009) Global Journalism: Topical Issues and Media Systems,
Pearson, Allyn and Bacon, Boston.
Duffield, L. and Ianziti G. (Eds.), (2010). Europe and the Media: Building a new kind of Europe; is mass media the key? VDM, Saarbrucken.

Duffield, L. (2009), Berlin Wall in the News: Mass media and the fall of the eastern bloc in Europe, 1989. VDM, Saarbrucken.

Duffield, L. and Cokley J. (Eds.), (2006), I Journalist: Coping With and Crafting Media Information in the 21st Century, Pearson, Sydney.

Goodman, A. and Pollack, J. (1994) The World on a String: How to Become a Freelance Foreign Correspondent, Henry Holt, New York.

Gunaratne, S. (2000) Handbook of the Media in Asia, Sage, India.

Hachten, W. A. and Scotton, J.F. (2007) The World News Prism, 7th edn, Blackwell Publications, Malden.Herbert, J. (2001) Practicing Global Journalism: Exploring Reporting Issues Worldwide, Focal Press, Oxford.

Hess, S and Kalb M (eds.) (2003) The Media and the War on Terrorism, Brookings Institution Press, Washington DC.

Hess S (1996) International News and Foreign Correspondents, Brookings Institution Press, Washington DC

McNair, B. (2006) Cultural Chaos: Journalism, News and Power in a Globalised World, Routledge, Oxon, England.

Romano, A. and Bromley, M. (eds) (2005) Journalism and Democracy in Asia RoutledgeCurzon, London.

Romano, A. (ed.) (2010) International Journalism and Democracy: Civic Engagement Models from Around the World Routledge Research, New York.

Weaver, D. H. (Ed.) (1998) The Global Journalist: News People Around the World, Hampton Press, Cresskill, New Jersey.

Willis, C. (2003) Writing War, Thunder's Mouth Press, New York.

Risk assessment statement

No out of the ordinary risks are associated with this unit. Activity overseas will be regulated according to the standard operating procedures of the university, (Staff and Student Overseas Travel Protocol will apply to those students who opt to undertake a portion of their assessment while overseas).

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 25-May-2012