50194 Radio Journalism 2

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: Journalism
Credit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks

Requisite(s): 50151 Radio Journalism 1

Handbook description

This subject develops the editorial, technical and presenting skills involved in radio production of a high standard. Students are encouraged to initiate and implement radio program ideas in a broadcast environment. There is an emphasis on challenging conventional approaches to radio journalism both in form and content, and as part of this a variety of radio genres, including documentary/features, is studied along with the skills needed for their production.

Subject objectives/outcomes

At the completion of this subject, students are expected to be able to:

Research, produce and present short broadcast quality radio features/documentaries.
Produce a radio feature/documentary proposal aimed at a particular broadcast audience.
Demonstrate skills in producing short current affairs recorded on location

Contribution to graduate profile

Be able to use their professional skills and knowledge across all media: print, television, radio, the Internet and multimedia
Have a knowledge and critical understanding of the media
Have the skills to enter journalism professional practice
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
Have an understanding of the role of the media in local, regional, national and global contexts
Have a critical understanding of the relationships between technology, professionalism and social change and be able to adapt their professional skills to future change and to new production challenges
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

Students will produce an extended feature story and a location based current affairs report targeted for broadcast. The technical and editorial work is based on the student's own projects and students are encouraged to work on assessment tasks in class.

Assessment

Assessment is based on the quality of recorded work, active listening exhibited by critical analysis of broadcast work, and the ability to work to strict deadlines.

Recorded/broadcast items should demonstrate a depth of research that distinguishes the work from daily news/current affairs broadcasting.

Assessment item 1: A location based current affairs report. Individual task.

Objectives	a, c
Due date	Week 6
Value	35%

Task	A 3-7 minute story about your street targeted for a new online project for the ABC. Details given in class in first weeks session by ABC producer.

Assessment criteria	Demonstrated broadcast quality technical and editorial skills that include the use of location based interviews and background atmosphere/sound.

Assessment item 2: Feature proposal. Individual task

Objectives	b
Due date	Week 7
Value	25%

Task	A detailed researched radio feature /documentary proposal aimed for broadcast on a nominated radio program.

Assessment criteria	Suitability and strength of the proposal for the nominated program brief. Attention to structure, sound and content. Confirmation of sources/interviewees. Originality of idea Depth of research evidenced by contacts made and other documents cited in the proposal. News values.

Assessment item 3: A 6-8 minute specialist current affairs report.

Objectives	a, c
Due date	There are three deadlines to this task. Marks will be deducted for not meeting deadlines. Deadline a: Week 10 Rough edit of primary interview/s Deadline b: Week 13 Draft edit with some audio and written draft script Final deadline: Week 14Final mix with cue sheet
Value	40%

Task	Choose one of the following: Current affairs report targeted for a particular program eg: 2SER's The Wire, Razors Edge, and Fourth Estate, or Specialist program report targeted for a particular program eg: ABC Radio Nationals Sports Factor, Science Show, Law Report, Life Matters, Religion Report, Books and Writing. All stories MUST Exhibit a broad depth of research/investigation/sound elements that distinguish the item from that produced for daily current affairs. And include at least two if not all of the following elements: Face to face location interviews. Original recordings of location atmosphere and sound. Complex mix of ideas, characters and viewpoints. Each student must submit a written intro/cue sheet for broadcast and a work journal including phone calls made, who was interviewed research papers/sites and any other items essential to the story preparation. A hundred word long critique on your finished story should also form part of the journal.

Assessment criteria	Degree to which the work distinguishes itself from that produced for a daily radio format evidenced by depth of research and use of audio and production techniques. News values. Degree to which the work fits the student nominated program brief. Ability to meet deadlines. Technical and production qualities of the work. Self-assessment as demonstrated in written critique.

Assessment criteria in all assessment tasks

Demonstrated ability to:

Produce broadcast quality stories targeted at a particular broadcast environment.
Meet strict deadlines.
Communicate clearly, effectively and reliably with other students in joint tasks.
Write and present story briefs/introductions for broadcast.
Critically assess audio productions and techniques.

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.

Required text(s)

Radio Journalism 2, Course Reader

Phillips, G, and Lindgren, M, Australian Broadcast Journalism, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, 2006 (available at Co-Op Bookshop)

Indicative references

Martin Shingler, On Air Methods and Meaning of Radio 791.4409 Shin

Strauss, Neil Radiotext(e) 302.2344 Radi

Beaman Jim, Interviewing for Radio 791.44028, Beam.

Ahern Steve, Making Radio 791.447, Aher

Herbert John, Journalism in the Digital Age, 070.40285 Herb.

Gail Phillips and Mia Lindgren, The Australian Broadcast Journalism Manual, Phil 070.190994

Audio

IFC collection (sound recording): International Feature Conference: 30 years of international radio documentaries/ European Broadcasting Union. Call number 384.5094 INTE (2004)

ABC/UTS Radiophonic Research Collection, 100 individual ABC feature programs available at the library.

An excellent radio features resource is at www.thirdcoastfestival.org/ . There you will find radio feature/documentary programs, talk by program makers at previous festivals and links to useful sites.