57091 Advanced News Reporting

Handbook description

This subject aims to develop and build on the skills and sound journalism professional practice gained in the prerequisite subject. Students focus on news and news feature stories within a round. A round is a specialist area where a reporter can develop contacts and sources and build expertise. In this context students write to deadline and complete a portfolio of work to the standard of publication. During the subject there is discussion and analysis of current news and current affairs debates.

Subject objectives/outcomes

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

1. recognise and produce high standard journalism
2. make ethical and conscientious decisions in the context of news reporting
3. identify fresh news stories within their round and research a story accurately and quickly and present it in a fair and balanced fashion
4. show critical interviewing skills and be able to produce a story quickly to meet the deadline of daily publication
5. produce a news feature that demonstrates high level writing skills and informed knowledge of their round
6. build a contact base and maintain a principled relationship with sources.

Contribution to graduate profile

On completion of the subject, students will:

• have strong research and reporting skills and be able to effectively retrieve and analyse information from a range of sources
• have a knowledge and critical understanding of the media
• be equipped with the necessary skills to either enter professional practice in the media or continue with additional skills and intellectual depth
• have an understanding of the relationship between media theory and practice
• 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
• develop the ability to be self-reliant and pro-active, flexible and innovative
• have an understanding and commitment to ethical journalism practice.

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject can be delivered in a weekly mode or in an intensive mode in the second half of a semester. It is designed to fine tune research and reporting skills with a concentration on breaking new stories and writing to a deadline. These will include in-class editorial conferences and reporting exercises as well as lectures and guest lectures. Activities will include researching a round and keeping an online resources journal, writing news stories for immediate publication and a writing-under-pressure exercise based on an interview, event, public hearing or press conference relevant to a specialist area.

There is an expectation that the work produced in this class is for publication either in Precinct or on Reportage. Students can also identify other publication outlets for their work.

Content

The key objective of this course is the development of advanced news reporting skills. These skills will be developed in along with discussion of contemporary issues associated with the production of news reporting and news features. The content of this subject will cover a range of issues and exercises associated with news reporting and news features. This will include various definitions of news and methods of recognising news; primary function of news reporting; news values; newsrooms processes and structures; writing for tabloids and broadsheets; the language of news; readability; hard story/soft story; legal issues; conflict of interest; racial and gender equity and journalistic ethics.

Students will be assigned a round from a list in the first class following consultation with the lecturer. They will keep an online research and resources journal. They will report on and write news stories from the round. These stories will be filed online and to a deadline. News stories of approximately 400 words will be filed regularly followed by a news feature towards the end of the subject. The student can chose one of the news stories to submit for assessment.

There will be a writing under pressure exercise during the course of the subject.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: News story from round

Assessment item 2: Writing under pressure

Assessment item 3: Feature

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

Conley David, Lamble Stephen, 2006, The Daily Miracle, Third Edition. Oxford University Press.

White, Sally, 1996, News Reporting in Australia, Macmillan.

Sheridan Burns, Lynette, 2002, Understanding Journalism, Sage.

Keeble Richard, 2001, The Newspapers Handbook, Routledge.

Hennessy Brendan, 2006, Fourth Edition Focal Press.

Bowman Leo and McIlwaine Stephen, 2001, The Importance of Inquiry in Journalism Theory and Practice, Oxford University Press.

Thornton Phil, 2006, Restless Souls, Asia Books.

Quinn Stephen, Filak Vincent F, 2005, Convergent Journalism: Writing and Producing across Media, Focal Press.

There will be readings supplied in class during this subject and information on further readings and text material will be provided during the semester.