50115 Journalism 2

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

Requisite(s): 50114 Journalism 1 OR 50234 Journalism 1

Handbook description

This subject builds on the basic principles of reporting developed in Journalism One. Students are introduced to the elements of radio and television journalism and develop an understanding of the similarities and differences between journalism produced for different media. Internet journalism is introduced and its implications for news production for all other media is considered. Students rotate through three modules – Print and Internet, Television, and Radio. Students are encouraged to see themselves as 'reporters' and an emphasis is placed on building a portfolio of publishable stories. In the context of practical reporting, students critically explore the use of sources, journalism ethics and develop an understanding of news agendas and audiences. On Newsday all students complete and file an assigned news story.

Subject objectives/outcomes

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

produce news reports across print, internet, radio and television media (ideas, research, interviewing and story writing).
have basic skills in recording sound and editing for radio journalism.
conduct and edit interviews and write scripts for radio news reports.
have an understanding of the similarities and differences in writing styles and other elements in news production used in Print, Radio, Television and Internet journalism.
have a basic understanding of how Television news journalism is produced, including how the relationship between words, sound and images is constructed.
be able to produce a basic script for television news.
have an understanding of how professional ethics in journalism are applied in the context of practical reporting.
have a portfolio of publishable stories.
have an understanding of how the theoretical knowledge, analytical ability and understanding of the media and communication industries developed in disciplinary subjects can be integrated into the professional practice of journalism.
have an understanding of how news production has been adapted for the internet and how sound, video and text are used in internet news production.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject is designed to assist students to:

Be able to use their professional skills and knowledge across all media: print, television, radio, the Internet and multimedia
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
Will seek opportunities to make significant intellectual and creative contributions to the social, political and cultural life of the communities in which they live
Have an understanding of the role of the media in local, regional, national and global contexts
Have strong research skills and effectively retrieve and analyse information from a range of sources
Have a critical understanding of issues of gender, racism, ethnicity, disability and class and the way these are linked to issues of media representation, production and reception
Have an understanding and commitment to ethical journalism practice

Teaching and learning strategies

Current affairs quizzes, interviewing and writing exercises, technical sound and editing workshops, news reporting under pressure assignments, script writing workshops and exercises, story discussion workshops.

Content

The subject will be divided into three modules of four weeks each – print and internet, television and radio – and Newsday.

Reporting for Print and Internet: 4 classes
Students should contact book and some story ideas to the first print class. In the first class, students will review the skills acquired in producing print news stories in Journalism One and discuss how these can be developed to a higher level.

Students will file a story one day before class in Weeks Three and Four. (Deadlines will be posted in your group on UTS Online.) Each story must be well researched, include adequate background and include at least six interviews. Your stories will be posted in the file marked 'Print News story one' on UTS Online. You will receive feedback on your first story but only the second story will be graded. The second story will usually be a developed and improved version of the first story.

Students will be assigned a colleague's stories to peer review on UTS Online, and on the basis of this review, will lead the following week's workshop. Students will use the UTS Student Style guide in both filing and reviewing stories. (This is posted in Course Documents. You are expected to check your story against this style guide before you file it)

Students will also be introduced to elements of internet news production and will complete exercises on writing in internet news style.

Reporting for Television: 4 classes
Students will be introduced to television news production and will consider how it differs from news reporting for other media. They will be introduced to the skills needed to produce a short television news story but will not actually produce a television story. Skills which will be considered include research, shooting images and interviews, editing, presenting and scripting. The presentation and terminology of television will be introduced. Script writing will focus on how sound (including words) and images work together in television journalism. Between classes one and two, students will deconstruct a television story to produce a script. The purpose of this compulsory exercise is to develop an understanding of the way elements of television work together. There will be in-class exercises in script writing. The use of video in internet production will also be considered.

The graded assessment will be a storyboard and script (see below). A short research brief including background information and sources (with contact details) will be posted on line two days before class in Week 3. Students will receive feedback and then will complete the assignment by the Week Four class.

Reporting for Radio: 4 classes
In these four weeks students will be introduced to digital sound recording (including microphone technique) and editing through the production of a radio news story and group news bulletin. Students will be introduced to the terminology and conventions of radio production. Each student will research a news story, record and edit an interview and write a script appropriate for insertion into a news bulletin. In a final class, the students will produce a news bulletins in groups. Both editorial and

technical aspects will be assessed. The integration of radio and sound into internet news production will also be considered

Newsday – is a hands-on exercise in news reporting under pressure. Students are assigned a story which they must produce during a seven hour shift. These stories will then be edited and published on line in UTS Newsday. This assignment is compulsory but is not graded.

Assessment

PRINT

Assessment item 1: News Story 1

Objectives	a, d, g, h, i, j
Due	Two days before Class 3 of print rotation – file by midday two days before your class.
Task	Produce a 400 word news story. (You will receive feedback on this story but it will not be graded)

	News Story 2
Objectives	a, d, g, h, i, j
Value	25%
Due	File by midday, two days before your class.
Task	Produce a 600 word news story. (This will be a further developed version of the first story – unless your lecturer gives permission for you to do otherwise.)
Assessment criteria	ability to assess news value of a story and to understand the nature of a story ability to tell a story to an audience accuracy of research use of range of sources ability to elicit information through interview and select appropriate quotations for story ability to express ideas and information in news style reporting with appropriate lead and story structure. ability to write clearly and succinctly and demonstrate an understanding of the role of language in conveying meaning and information

TELEVISION

Assessment item 2: Preparing a story board and script for television news report.

Objectives	a, d, e, f
Value	25%
Due	To be posted on line before Class 4 of rotation.
Task	Students will research a television story and conduct interviews and select images for the story. They will present a script and story board of still shots, interview grabs and script for their story.
Assessment criteria	ability to assess news value of a story and to understand the nature of a story ability to tell a story to an audience accuracy of research use of at least two or more appropriate sources ability to elicit information through interview selection of appropriate images to tell the story. demonstration of an ability to use appropriate writing techniques (words and pictures working together) and conventions for television news. ability to write clearly and demonstrate an understanding of the role of language in conveying meaning and information

RADIO

Assessment item 3: Finding and recording a short news story

Objectives	a, b, c, d, g, i, j
Value	25%
Due	Week 3 of rotation
Task	Research and record interviews for a short news story. Students will post their sound files and story scripts on UTS Online. Students' scripts must include the newsreader's introduction, reporter's script and complete transcript of interview grabs.
Assessment criteria	ability to assess news value of a story and to understand the nature of a story use of appropriate sources ability to elicit information through interview and select appropriate 'grabs' ability to write and present simple radio script demonstrated technical ability to record for radio demonstrated technical ability to edit for radio ability to adapt basic story telling skills to basic news reporting for radio.

Assessment item 4: E-portfolio (Blog) on UTS OnLine

Objectives	d, h, i
Value	25%
Due	Week 14
Task	Students will create UTS OnLine Student Blog. This portfolio must include at least TWO stories (6 credit point) or FOUR stories (8 credit points) produced during the course and adapted for Internet production on the Student Blog site. The portfolio of stories can include text, images, links, sound and extra research. Students are encouraged to produce extra journalism for their Blog and to use it to develop their role as reporters. The Blog will also include reflection, media monitoring and comments from other students and other elements considered appropriate by students. Detailed instructions about how to develop the blog will be given to all students in the first week of the course. Students are encouraged to be as creative as possible in developing their Blogs. The audience will be other students and staff. Your Blog will be assessed at the end of semester and you will receive emailed feedback on your Blog.
Assessment criteria	Evidence of journalism skills and application of reporting principles as developed in Journalism 1 and 2. Evidence of ability to adapt print stories for on line publishing. Evidence of reflection on practice. Evidence of engagement with news media. Evidence of creativity and originality in development of blog. Evidence of commitment and contribution to the ' Student Blog' project and engagement with the work of other students. Evidence of development of skills over semester. Quality of commentary, comments (including on other blogs) and analysis.

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.

Indicative references

You are encouraged to consume as much news and features media as possible. Develop a monitoring program in your chosen field of interest. Decide which programs in each medium (make sure you include internet) you will follow regularly, making sure have a good spread.

Students should refer to readings and resources in the Library E register (Go to Subject Resources) and Course documents)

There is a textbook for the radio and television module. This textbook can be obtained from the Coop Book shop at the corner of Broadway and Harris Street.

Phillips, G & Lindren, M. (2005) Australian Broadcast Journalism Second Edition

You will also find it helpful to have easy access to a still camera and digital sound recorder – (eg MP3 recorder or some similar product). These will stand you in good stead throughout your journalism studies.