Units
Newswriting
Unit code: KJP401
Contact hours: 3 per week, plus several seminars during semester
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
In this unit you learn to think like journalists, to evaluate events for their potential news value, to record interviews and perform other reporting tasks and to write news stories; the evolution and theories of reporting.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
This unit is only available to postgraduate students. Undergraduate students wishing to study newswriting should enrol in KJB120. Parts of this unit are concurrently taught with KJB120. This introductory unit provides the foundation for professional journalistic writing and reporting techniques. It will explore the basic skills involved in identifying what makes news, conducting research and writing in news style, while also encouraging reflective practice at an early stage in your development of journalistic skills.
This unit is concurrently taught with KJB120, with appropriate learning outcomes tailored for postgraduate students.
Aims
This unit aims to develop your understanding of news gathering and writing processes, and journalistic skills while exploring the systems of thought, process and practice that guide the activities of news organisations.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Identify, report and write news.
2. Review and correct writing deficiencies.
3. Record interviews and use images in support of written text.
4. Explain and critically appraise the principles and definitions of news and the journalistic environment.
5. Employ professional communication skills in interactions with various audiences.
Content
This unit addresses content such as Where does news come from, taking in definitions of news and principles of news gathering, and applications such as theory of interviews. Journalism environments, taking in introductory study of media organisations, futures for journalism, legal issues or ethics. Plain writing, offering practical applications of the journalistic craft. Skills extensions, taking in introductory work with pictures and sound.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The usual mode is lectures and tutorials or workshops. An adjunct seminar or tutorial/workshop program will be offered to students in KJP401, distinct from the undergraduate program in KJB120. Guests including practicing journalists may be involved in the program. Tutorials build on material covered in lectures and enable tutors to provide feedback.
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 the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information see the Blackboard site for this unit.FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will receive formative feedback on your progress in this unit during tutorials and discussions throughout the semester. Weight 0%
Assessment name:
Portfolio: Short news reports
Description:
Portfolio of short news reports. You will be required to write four short news reports based on information given in class, involving writing in class with assistance from the tutor.
Relates to objectives:
1 & 2
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Throughout Semester
Assessment name:
Portfolio: Adv. news reports
Description:
Portfolio of two advanced news reports. You will be required to write a report based on your own investigation, and you will be required to participate in a media conference held in lecture time, and to write a news story based on it.
Relates to objectives:
3 & 5
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Late Semster
Assessment name:
Presentation
Description:
You will be required to make an oral presentation (principal activity in this section) and to submit a written summary of your presentation on a topic to be negotiated.
Relates to objectives:
4 & 5
Weight:
30%
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
Recommended Text
Duffield, L. and Cokley, J (Eds.), I Journalist: Coping with and crafting media information in the 21st Century, Perason, Sydney.
Alysen, B., Sedorkin, G., Oakham, M. and Patching, R. (2003) Reporting in a Multimedia World, Allen and Unwin, Sydney.
Materials and essential messages are provided through the Blackboard site for this unit; students are provided with portable sound recorders and digital cameras for introductory workshops.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
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-Mar-2013
