50303 Online Journalism 1

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

Requisite(s): 50115 Journalism 2 OR 50235 Journalism 2
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.

Handbook description

This subject introduces students to the application of Internet technologies into journalism practice. It builds on the journalism skills of research, reporting, interviewing and analysis and applies them to the World Wide Web (WWW). The subject explores changes in professional journalism practice and the major issues related to sourcing and publishing journalism on the Web, verification, authentication and attribution, and basic Web publishing skills using text and stills.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On completion of this subject students are expected to:

have a conceptual overview of the Internet and its functionality.
be able to write and construct journalism for the Web and to consider their output within the context of an evolving global medium.
understand the range of Internet resources available for journalism research
have the production skills necessary to build a Web publication using text and still images
understand the key usability factors that determine good Web design and writing.

Contribution to graduate profile

Have a knowledge and critical understanding of the media
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

Online Journalism 1 is a computer lab-based course, which actively uses networking and online media construction tools. Weekly classes take the form of lecture materials with hands-on exercises, discussions, workshop presentations on the use of Web production tools and student presentations. The focus of the course is online journalism research, writing and production and is designed to be flexible in its ability to respond to media events as they arise. Guest lecturers will be invited to occasional classes.

A good knowledge of issues, emerging trends and strategies about the online industry is central to Online Journalism 1. Students will be provided with readings and online references which they will be required to read for in-class discussion. Students are expected to maintain regular reading in the media of matters relevant to the Internet and its developments. Students will have a logon to UTSOnline, which will serve as a forum for production co-ordination, announcements and posting in-class work.

Content

Lectures and class discussions, which:

develop a broad conceptual understanding of the Internet and issues relevant to online journalism practice and new media
explore strategies and trends within online journalism
provide an understanding of writing for the WWW based on professional journalism practice and web usability research
examines the potential for journalism research
critically examine the scope of the medium and its relationships to mass media and citizen journalisms.
instruct on Web design and production skills, digital imaging, network practices; one-to-one support if necessary
develop projects, which allow for the production of online journalisms: research, writing, synthesis and production skills.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Journalism Weblog: 1,500 words: individual assessment item

Objectives	a, b
Value	30%
Due	Week 9 (final posting)
Task	Create and maintain a journalist's Weblog, commencing in week 2. You will make at least 4 written postings to your Weblog throughout the semester on a topic that will focus on the processes leading to news stories and social or political change. You will report on a story and its developments over the period of the assignment. Suggested subjects for this assignment will be handed out in class and may include news reports of urban planning developments, political lobbying, advocacy, activist events. Your postings must include quotes from credible sources and contain hyperlinks to relevant resources as well as digital still images taken by you. Post the URL for your Weblog to UTSOnline by the end of Week 2. Your final posting to the Weblog is to be made by class in Week 9. Postings must be staggered over the period of the assignment commencing in week 2.
Assessment criteria	Quality of written expression, research and analysis Newsworthiness of the postings: relevant, timely and interesting Credibility of sources quoted Accuracy of the facts reported Appropriate and relevant use of images and hyperlinks. This work must not exceed 1,500 words.

Assessment item 2: Web-based class presentation and web publication: individual assessment item

Objectives	b, c
Value	20%
Due	Weeks 5 and 6
Task	Research a topic, which is related to the Internet and prepare a class presentation based on student's research. A list of suggested topics will be provided. Each presentation should take between 8-10 minutes. To accompany the presentation create a simple functional hyperlinked Web page to use as an overhead.
Assessment criteria	Depth of research into the topic; Ability to analyse, synthesise and communicate the topic to the class; Appropriate and effective use of the Web as a presentation technology.

Assessment item 3: Major Project - Group

Objectives	d, e
Value	50%
Due	Week 13
Task	i) Working individually or in pairs and using the Internet, primary sources and a range of resources, research and write a feature story of 2,000 words (per person). Create a packaged story to be posted for publication to the class e-zine. The work should be non-linear and contain relevant hyperlinks to local and global Web resources and original images. ii) In class of week 13, sub-edit a story posted to the e-zine by one of your peers. Check it for accuracy, spelling and grammar: check the facts, the photos, captions, credits and by-lines. The story topics to be covered by the e-zine will be negotiated with the lecturer. The e-zine will be archived and hosted on a UTS server, at the discretion of the lecturer. All sources must be accurately acknowledged; photographs captioned, credited and copyright permissions sought where necessary. The inclusion of digital images created and captioned by the authors will be encouraged. A 400-word project plan/synopsis of each story is required in hard copy in class in week 7 outlining the story proposed, the angles and issues to be covered, persons to be interviewed and the research strategy. Feedback will be given by the lecturer. Stories must contain interviews and quotes from primary sources and all references to quotes, comments and materials must be fully attributed. Transcripts and full documentation of the research and interviews undertaken for the project must be retained and made available to the lecturer in Week 14. E-zine production schedule: Introductory briefing: Week 2 Submit 400-word project plan/synopsis: Week 7 Full production briefing; site structure and navigation: Week 10 Report to peers on work-to-date: Week 11 Package and post articles and images to e-zine database before class Week 13 Sub-editing and fact-checking in-class: Week 13 Final completion of e-zine and presentation to class: Week 14. All aspects of this assessment task are assessable. Penalties may be applied for late submission of work at all stages.
Assessment criteria	Satisfactory negotiation of the topic with the lecturer; Satisfactory submission of a 400-word synopsis/project plan; The quality of writing; Accuracy of reporting, fairness and balance; Evidence of skills in analysing and researching information; Evidence of subediting skills: spelling and grammar, headlines, subheads, fact-checking, captions, credits and by-lines; Evidence of effective and well integrated visual components; Evidence of well developed skills in electronic publishing, imaging and editing software; Satisfactory integration of the different elecments of the work into an interesting online package; Satisfactory submission of research and interview documentation; Observance of all deadlines.

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.

Attendance is particularly important in this subject because it is based on a collaborative approach which involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas. Students who attend fewer than ten classes are advised that their final work will not be assessed and that they are likely to fail the subject.

Indicative references

Alysen, B, Sedorkin, G. & Oakham, M. with Patching, R.; (2003); Reporting in a Multimedia World, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

Bardoel, J. & Deuze, M. (2001) ''Network journalism:' converging competencies of old and new media professionals', Australian Journalism Review, vol.23, no.23, Dec.2001.

Berners-Lee, T; (2000) Weaving the Web, Harpers, San Francisco.

Bolton, Trish (2006); News on the Net: A critical analysis of the potential of online alternative journalism to challenge the dominance of mainstream news media; Scan Journal Vol 3 (1), Macquarie University, June 2006 http://www.scan.net.au (viewed 13Feb07)

Bruns, A; (2006); Wikinews: The Next Generation of Alternative Online News? Scan Journal, Macquarie University, Vol 3 (1), June 2006. http://www.scan.net.au Viewed 3Feb07.

Bruns, A; (2007) Methodologies for Mapping the Political Blogosphere: An exploration Using the IssueCrawler Research Tool; http://www.firstmonday.org/ issues/ issue12_5/ bruns/

Chan, Anita J; 'Collaborative News Networks: Distributed Editing, Collective Action, and the Construction of Online News on Slashdot.org'; http://web.mit.edu/ anita1/www/ thesis/ Index.html

Cobcroft et al., (2006) https://olt.qut.edu.au/ udf/ OLT2006/ gen/ static/ papers/ Cobcroft_OLT2006_paper.pdf

Chung, Deborah Soun (2007); Profits and Perils: Online Producers' Perceptions of Interactivity and Uses of Interactive Features in Convergence, Vol 13(1), pp43-61, Sage Publications.

Dee, Jonathan; Article Tools Sponsored By, NYT.com, July 1, 2007-07-03

Deuze, M. (2003) 'The Web and its journalisms: considering the consequences of different types of news media online', New Media & Society Vol 5 (2): 203-230, SAGE Publications, London, New Delhi.

Dube, Jonathan; RSS for Journalists; http://www.poynter.org/ column.asp?id=32&aid=78383

Gauntlett, David (2000); Rewiring Media Studies for the Digital Age, London, Arnold.

Gillmor, D. We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly, 2004.

Goggin, G. (2004) (ed.) Virtual Nation: The Internet in Australia, UNSW Press, Sydney.

Haas, T. (2005) From 'Public Journalism' to the 'Public's Journalism'? Rhetoric and reality in the discourse on weblogs; Journalism Studies Vol.6 No.3 pp.387-396.

Huang, Edgar (2006); Facing the Challenges of Convergence: Media Professionals' Concerns of Working Across Media Platforms; Convergence Vol 12 (1), pp.83-98, Sage Publications.

Howkins (2001); How people make money from ideas; Allen Lane, London.

Kingston, M. (2005) 'Diary of a web diarist: ethics goes online';

http://margokingston.typepad.com/ harry_version_2/2005/09/ post_1.html#more

Kilian, C; (2001) Writing for the Web: Writers' Edition; North Vancouver Self-Counsel Press, USA.

McGuire, M., Stilborne, L., McAdams, M., Hyatt, L. (2002) The Internet Handbook for Writers, Researchers & Journalists; Guilford, NY.

Nolan, S; (2003) 'Journalism Online: the search for narrative for in a multi-linear world'; Paper presented at Melbourne DAC Conference available at: http://www.fineartforum.org/ Backissues/ Vol_17/ faf_v17_n08/ reviews/ reviews_index.html

Palser, B. (2005) 'Journalism's Backseat Drivers', American Journalism Review (AJR); August/September. http://www.ajr.org/ article_printable.asp?id=3931

Quinn, S. (2001), Digital sub-editing and design, Focal, Oxford,

Quinn, S. & Filak, V.F. (eds) (2005) Convergent Journalism an Introduction, Focal/Elsevier, MA.

Rogers, Richard; Six arguments against news by Richard Rogers at:

http://www.issuenetwork.org/ node.php?id=46#1c Viewed 6July2007.

Redden, G. (2003) 'Read the whole thing: journalism, weblogs and the re-mediation of the war in Iraq', Media International Australia, no. 109, November: 153-165.

Reporters Without Borders, Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents, September 2005; http://www.rsf.org/

Schiff, F. (2006): Trends emerging more clearly: business models of news web sites, June 2006. http://www.firstmonday.org/ issues/ special11_7/ schiff/ index.html

Ward, M. (2002); Journalism Online, Focal Press, UK.

RECOMMENDED WEB RESOURCES

ABC: Cultures of Journalism: The Art of the Interview http://www.abc.net.au/ rn/ learning/ lifelong/stories/ s1174641.htm (transcript, audio available)

Alternet: http://www.alternet.org/ mediaculture/

Columbia Journalism Review: http://www.cjr.org/

Cyberjournalist.net:http://www.cyberjournalist.net/

Current TV: http://current.tv/

First Monday: http://www.firstmonday.org/

Hugh Martins' blog: http://www.hugh-martin.blogspot.com/

Online Journalism Review News Blog: http://www.ojr.org/ojr/ blog/

Online Journalism Review:http://www.ojr.org/ ojr/ page_one/ index.php

Poynter Institute: http://www.poynter.org/

Poynter Ethics Journal:http://www.poynter.org/ column.asp?id=53

Robin Hamman's blog: http://www.cybersoc.com/

Stevens, Luke; (2006) Online news design - awful or brilliant?

http://design2-0.com/ articles/ online-news-design-awful-or-brilliant/

Stevens, Luke; (2006) Breaking the rules in news design http://design2-0.com/ articles/ breaking-the-rules-in-news-design/

SELF LEARNING AND WEB DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

Adobe DreamWeaver Development Center: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/dreamweaver/?navID=gettingstarted

HTML Goodies: http://htmlgoodies.earthweb.com/

Negrino, T. and Smith, D. (2007) Dreamweaver CS3 for Windows and Macintosh, Visual QuickStart Guide.Nielsen, J. (2000) Designing Web Usability; New Riders, Indiana, USA. Jakob Nielsen's Website: http://useit.com/

Search Engine Watch:http://searchenginewatch.com/

Tucows download freeware and shareware: http://www.tucows.com/

Weinmann, E & Lourekas, P; (2007); Photoshop CS3 for Windows and Macintosh, Visual QuickStart Guide. WebMonkey: http://hotwired.lycos.com/ webmonkey/

Williams, Robin (2004); The non-designer's design book: design and typographic principles for the visual novice; Berkeley, California: Peachpit Press.