57150 Editing and Design

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

Requisite(s): 57011 Research and Reporting for Journalism

Handbook description

This subject introduces students to the basic principles, techniques and professional practice of editing, layout, design and production across print and online media. The subject covers print in all its forms as well as aspects of editing for online publications. The subject takes as its premise that whatever information is to be delivered, and by whatever sophisticated means, it remains imperative this is achieved by applying professional principles such as accuracy, clarity, fairness and balance and that the scrupulous eye and rigorous standards of a trained sub-editor are essential to that outcome. The subject covers the theory and practice of editing, the role of the sub-editor, and basic design and layout for print and online media.

Subject objectives/outcomes

Students who complete this subject will:

understand the differences in editorial approach between print and online publication and the role of sub-editing in applying these approaches to different publications
have gained an understanding of target audiences and how style guides in text editing and design practices are applied for different readerships
have an understanding of ethical and other problems that can arise in editing practice and how issues of gender, racism, ethnicity, disability and class are linked to media production
understand and analyse a range of text and layout styles across publications and how these styles are applied for different target audiences
have the ability to apply sub-editing skills across print and online media
have explored new forms of presenting stories and information in a print publication.

Contribution to graduate profile

At completion of the subject, students will:

Have a knowledge and critical understanding of the media
Have the skills to enter journalism professional practice
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

Editing and Design will include lectures, workshops and discussions as well as the development of an individual blog in which students will be required to reflect on all aspects of editing in a changing media environment.

Students will also be expected to learn and apply the full range of sub-editing skills from story selection, copy editing, headline and caption writing, image sourcing and page layout for a range of publications.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Target audiences and the application of style

Objectives	a, b, d, f
Value	20%
Due	Week 6
Word limit	Minimum 1,400 words
Task	Research target audience, style guides and layout style for a publication that has a print and online version. Note and describe how text and visuals are presented on both and write a report analysing the differences and the effectiveness of both approaches against your research into target audience/readerships.
Assessment criteria	Quality of referenced research into target audiences and style guides for your chosen publications – noting demographics, reading patterns and style guide differences for both. Clarity of description of how these differences can influence editorial approaches in a print and online publication. Ability to identify the differences in sub-editing approaches – how copy is selected and edited, images presented and headlines written - for each outlet. Degree of critical reflection on the relationship and differences between layout and text editing styles for the different target audiences.

Assessment item 2: Copy editing and layout

Objectives	a, b, c, e, f
Value	40% (Part 1: 15%; Part 2: 25%)

Part 1: One-page layout

Due	Week 8
Task	To edit and prepare copy and design and lay out a newspaper page on screen from supplied text and images.

Part 2: Two-page spread layout

Due	Week 12
Task	To select stories and pictures from a range of supplied material; to edit stories and place them with pictures in a two-page layout applying creative forms of presentations.
Assessment criteria	Adherence to the paper's (template supplied) editorial design style. Standard of technical application of sub-editing and layout skills. Evidence of an understanding of the ethical challenges posed in the selection and editing of stories and images from a bank of supplied material. Degree of creativity in the presentation of stories.

Assessment item 3: Blog

Objectives	a, b, c, d, e, f
Value	40%
Due	Throughout semester
Task	To research, analyse and reflect on all aspects of editing across a range of print and online outlets. Reflection and analysis should be applied to practical skills (design) language use and editing practices. Identify, research, analyse and reflect on current environments and issues in the worlds of online and print media production.
Assessment criteria	Evidence of ability to identify, research and analyse practices and issues relating to text editing and presentation. Clarity of understanding of sub-editing practices as they apply across a range of online and print publications. Evidence of a critical understanding of the relationships between professional journalism, production challenges and audiences across a range of print and online outlets. Depth of research into the practice of sub-editing for print and online publications. Degree of reflective engagement with ethical and other issues relating to editing approaches and practices. Minimum eight entries.

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

Dykes, Barbara, 1992 Grammar Made Easy. HaleandIremonger

Frazell, D. F., Tuck, G., Principles of Editing: A Comprehensive Guide for Students and Journalists. McGraw Hill.

Harrower, Tim, 2002, The Newspaper Designer's Handbook, (fifth edition). London and New York: McGraw Hill.

Hicks, W., Holmes, T., 2002, Subediting for Journalists. London and New York Routledge.

Lockwood, Kim, 2005, Style The Essential Guide. News Custom Publishing.

Quinn, Stephen, 2002, Digital Sub-editing and Design. London: Focal Press

Sellers, Leslie, 1985, The Simple Subs Book. Oxford Pergamon Press

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/

Strunk, W. and White, E.G., 1972 The Elements of Style. Macmillian, New York.

URLs
http://www.macloo.com/webwriting/
http://www.theslot.com/
http://www.poynter.org/www.poynter.org
http://www.copydesk.org/
http://www.grammarbook.com/
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/?view=uk?view=uk
http://www.britannica.com/timelines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elements_of_Style
http://www.journalism.org/resources/j_tools

An online editing resources manual will be accessible by students.

Students will also use daily newspapers and a range of magazines and online publications as resources.

It is also recommended that each student have a recent edition of Macquarie Dictionary.