50114 Journalism 1

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: Journalism
Credit points: 6 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks

Handbook description

This subject is designed to introduce students to basic principles of professional journalism. The aim is for students to develop a critical awareness of journalistic techniques and practices and a solid grounding in the essentials of writing, research and reporting, interviewing and storytelling. Students produce their own reports and story ideas and are encouraged to develop an understanding of ethics and issues affecting the media and journalism, and to explore the relationship between journalists and sources and the implications of that interaction for rigorous reporting in the public interest. All students are encouraged to produce publishable stories. Skills are developed through a combination of reporting tasks and workshop activities.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On completion of this subject students are expected to be able to:

have begun to develop a critical awareness of journalistic technique and practice
have begun to develop and a solid grounding in the essentials of writing, research and reporting, which are common to the work of journalists in all media
understand the concept of rigorous reporting in the public interest
consider key issues of concern in the media, with great emphasis on journalistic ethics
have been given the opportunity to begin to develop a portfolio of published work.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject is designed to assist students to:

Have an understanding and commitment to ethical journalism practice
Have an understanding of the role of the media in local, regional, national and global contexts
Have a knowledge of the historical, philosophical, ethical and cultural foundations underpinning journalism and strive, throughout their careers, to promote the important role of professional and ethical journalism in the service of the public
Understand the role the media has played in the dispossession of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the importance of the role the media can play in the reconciliation process and bringing justice to all communities

Teaching and learning strategies

Deadlines are not negotiable and there are penalties for lateness. Attendance is compulsory and it is inadvisable to be late for class.

News reporting assignments

Feature story assignment

Media seminar

Writing to a same day deadline

Peer reviews

Research reports

Literature reviews (your readings are found under Subject Resources on the UTS Library home page. The link Subject Resources is found under Finding Info. A dialogue box asks you for your subject name. Type in Journalism 1. Your readings are there.)

Final critique

A number of activities in this subject are compulsory but not assessable. A student will not be assigned a final mark until ALL activities are completed.

The news assignments and feature assignment develop critical awareness of journalistic technique and practice, including the essentials of research, reporting and writing, in an ethical manner. These three assignments must include the names and contact details of all those interviewed. Students are not permitted to use anonymous sources. A selection of your sources will be contacted by your tutor.

The media seminar develops analytical skills in order to connect theory with practice. Rosters and groups for this assessment will be drawn up during the second week.

Writing to a same day deadline is a news activity which allows students to operate in a real-time situation, reporting and writing to a tight deadline.

Peer reviews develop critical analysis of media writing. The peer reviewing process is important to the analytical thinking of students. Each student reviews the work of another student. This review, about 200 words, must be posted by midnight on Sunday. It should be posted on UTS Online directly beneath the work being reviewed.

Literature reviews develop a familiarity with writing about media.

Final critique allows students to benefit from the reflection process

For this subject, students will post stories in their class groups in the appropriate forum online using UTS Online software. The deadline for Monday morning classes is on Sunday at 10am, the deadline for Monday afternoon classes is Sunday at 2pm. In class, students will workshop stories as a group and will receive feedback from tutors. News and feature assignments must also be supplied in printed form to the tutor. These assignments should be printed in Arial 12 point, double-spaced. The Academic Integrity cover sheet must be stapled to each assignment and signed by the student. Assignments will not be accepted without the cover sheet attached and signed.

Each week, there will be a reading (with options to do more reading), accessible through the online readings in the Library with appropriate in-class discussion. Students are advised to make notes about these readings and to post them online.

Students are expected to attend all lectures, workshops, and field assignments. If students are unable to attend please contact the lecturer before the lecture. Failure to attend three classes or exercises could mean failure of the subject. All deadlines must be met.

Content

Introduction to the subject. Why journalism? Current affairs quizzes. UTS Online demonstration.

News agendas, news selection, the definition of news, what it is, how it gets to be so, what it ought to be, who influences that process (or not).

Looking at developing newsworthy story ideas, defining essential elements, considering sources. Researching like a writer. Considering the special research requirements of journalism, a combination of researching via observation/interview, and researching on the record. Looking at constructing stories. Questions of structure, style, accuracy, clarity.

Specific area observational exercises.

Discussion using stories presented to class, discussion of local research briefs

Writing workshop based on peer reviewed student stories

Ethics and journalism. Regulation, self-regulation. MEAA Code of Ethics. Looking at ethics and ethical dilemmas through recent examples of journalistic practice.

Feature writing. Looking at the techniques of feature writing through examples. Structuring longer stories. Tracking the process through different examples.

Feature writing workshop

Media seminars

Literature reviews

Pressures on journalists. Manipulation of the media. Using and being used. Government control/public relations.

Student presentations to class, summarising final critique.

Assessment

Assignment 1: News Story One

Objectives	a, b, c
Value	25%
Due	Week 5 (filed on line)
Task	A news story will be developed out of a research report developed in weeks 2 –3. Research Report with story ideas will be filed online in Week 3. It will include two story ideas identified with researching the students' local area. After discussion with lecturer and class, one story will be identified as the subject for this assignment. This task is designed for students to put into practice taught skills of constructing a news story; to learn how to recognise a news story and isolate salient facts in the writing and construction of a news story
Assessment criteria	ability to assess the news value of a story, understand the nature of a story and begin to identify issues arising from the pursuit of particular stories accuracy of research for the article. demonstrated ability to use a range of appropriate sources . demonstrated ability to elicit information through interview demonstrated ability to apply basic conventions of new reporting including the use of quotes. . demonstrated ability to write clearly and demonstrate an understanding of the role of language in conveying meaning demonstrated ability to identify and lead and suitable structure for the story.

Assignment 2: News Story Two

Objectives	a,b,c
Value	25%
Due	Week 8
Task	Write a 600 word news story, drawn from The Point or Southside precinct. This task is designed to put into practice taught skills of constructing a news story; to learn how to recognise a news story and isolate salient facts in the writing and construction of a news story. Students are expected to demonstrate an incremental improvement from first news story, based on feedback, editing and workshopping of first news story.
Assessment criteria	evidence of the development of news reporting skills ability to assess the news value of a story, understand the nature of a story and begin to identify issues arising from the pursuit of particular stories accuracy of research for the article. demonstrated ability to use a range of appropriate sources . demonstrated ability to elicit information through interview demonstrated ability to apply basic conventions of new reporting including the use of quotes. . demonstrated ability to write clearly and demonstrate an understanding of the role of language in conveying meaning demonstrated ability to identify and lead and suitable structure for the story.

Assignment 3: Feature

Objectives	a,b,d
Value	30%
Due	Week 10
Task	To write an 800-1000 word feature on a topic of the student's own choosing. These ideas are discussed throughout semester, and students are closely guided in their choice of subject matter. Students to put into practice feature writing skills taught in class, relative to and developing from news writing skills.
Assessment criteria	ability to assess news value of a story, understand the nature of a story and recognise issues arising from the pursuit of particular stories ability to tell a story to an audience accuracy of research range of sources ability to elicit information through interview ability to express ideas and information through writing ability to write clearly and demonstrate an understanding of the role of language in conveying meaning and information

Assignment 4: Media Seminar

Objectives	c,d
Value	20%
Due	rostered throughout semester
Task	A 10 minute discussion of any issue regarding the media in the student's rostered week. This task is designed for students to engage with national and international media; to analyse and discuss media issues; to compare different publication and different media coverage of stories; to drawn on course readings and other resources to deliver presentation and augment concepts.
Assessment criteria	understanding of issues of public interest presentation skills depth of research drawn from media as well as theory application of theory to media issues.

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Recommended text(s)

All journalism students should be familiar with the relevant journals (available in the library), including Media International Australia, Australian Journalism Review, Columbia Journalism Review etc.

Indicative references

Those already listed in the outline and:

Grammar Made Easy by Barbara Dykes, Hale & Iremonger, 1992.
The Newspapers Handbook, Richard Keeble Richard Routledge, 2001
The Importance of Inquiry in Journalism Theory and Practice, Bowman Leo and McIlwaine Stephen, Oxford UniversityPress, 2001.
Convergent Journalism: Writing and Producing across Media. Stephen Quinn, Vincent F Filak, Focal Press, 2005.
Journalism Ethics, Arguments and Cases, Martin Hirst and Roger Patching, Oxford 2005.
Journalism: Print, Politics and Popular Culture, eds Ann Curthoys and Julianne Schultz, UQP, 1999.
Investigative Reporting, by David Spark, Focal Press, 1999
Secrets and Lies, the anatomy of an anti-environmental PR campaign, Nicky Hager and Bob Burton, Craig Potton, 1999
Whistleblowers, Quentin Dempster, ABC Books, 1997
Not Just Another Business, Julianne Schultz, Pluto Press,1995
Speaking of Journalism, William Zinsser, Harper Collins, l994
On Writing Well, William Zinsser, Harper Collins, 1985
Confession, Contest, Conversation: The Media Interview, Bell, P. and Van Leeuwen, T., UNSW Press, 1994
Interviewing for Journalists, Joan Clayton, Piatkus, 1994
English for Journalists, Wynford Hicks, Routledge
The Faber Book of Reportage, John Carey (ed.), 1986
Scoop, A Novel About Journalists, Evelyn Waugh, Penguin
The Making of a Muckraker, Jessica Mitford, Quartet, l980
Slouching Towards Bethlehem, Joan Didion, Penguin
Signposts, A Guide for Journalists to Reporting Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander and Ethnic Affairs, ACIJ, UTS.

URLs
http://www.poynter.org/www.poynter.org
http://www.journalism.org/resources/j_tools
http://www.copydesk.org/
http://www.grammarbook.com/
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/?view=uk?view=uk

News and current affairs
The following is a list of major news and current affairs sources (many are also available online). Journalism students must become familiar with this territory. Regular current affairs quizzes are a part of this subject. Their class presentation on current affairs/coverage should reflect a critical awareness of current media practice.

Newspapers/MagazinesThe Australian, The Weekend Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, Sun Herald, The Daily Telegraph, , Koori News etc. (All filed in Journalism Workroom)

Radio
ABC Radio National (AM 576)

Background Briefing, (current affairs feature) 9.15, Sunday (Repeat Tuesday evening)

Asia Report nightly
Media Report, (8.30am Thursday); Health Report (8.30am Monday), Law Report, Sports Factor 8.30 Friday (All repeated in evening)
Correspondents Report (Sunday morning)
Late Night Live, Current affairs discussion 10pm (Repeat 5pm daily)
2BL (AM 702)
Main news bulletins 7.45am/6pm Monday-Friday; hourly bulletins
Daily current affairs: AM, 8 am, PM, 6.10, World Today, 12.05
ABC News Radio (AM 630)
News and World Today, 2-3pm, Monday-Friday
BBC World News, 6pm, every day
BBC News desk, 8pm, daily, BBC Newshour, midnight, daily

Television
Students' watching brief should regularly include ABC, SBS and commercial news and current affairs (e.g. SBS News/Dateline and ABC News/7.30 Report make an interesting comparison with the commercial current affairs programs.
Check major current affairs features each week on the ABC's Four Corners (Mon 8.30), followed by Media Watch, Nine's Sunday show, ABC's Foreign Correspondent and SBS Dateline.
Lateline (ABC nightly at 10) features interviews/debate on day's main issues with key national and international players.