57011 Research and Reporting for Journalism

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Handbook description

This subject aims to develop sound basic practices in professional journalism. It focuses on news and current affairs research and reporting, the role of journalism in liberal democracies, and journalistic techniques, ethics and standards. Students develop a series of stories in a chosen round. Through group discussion and a close analysis of news and current affairs, students develop an understanding of, and ability to contribute to, contemporary debates in journalism. Students also work to deadlines researching and reporting news stories for journalism publications.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate an ability to identify and research a story
2. demonstrate an ability to write in a clear, concise, factual way and conduct interviews
3. apply basic industry standards
4. identify key ethical and legal obligations associated with reporting
5. undertake individual and group work
6. demonstrate an ability to set and meet deadlines
7. demonstrate an awareness of local, national and international people and events, current issues and media issues
8. demonstrate an ability to write under pressure
9. demonstrate an ability to identify particular issues relevant to journalism, review, reflect and discuss.

Contribution to course aims and graduate attributes

This subject provides students with:

• strong research and reporting skills and be able to effectively retrieve and analyse information from a range of sources
• a knowledge and critical understanding of the media
• the necessary skills to either enter professional practice in the media or continue with additional skills and intellectual depth
• an understanding of the relationship between media theory and practice
• a critical understanding of issues of gender, race, ethnicity, disability and class and the way these are linked to issues of media representation, production and reception
• the ability to be self-reliant and pro-active, flexible and innovative
• an understanding and commitment to ethical journalism practice.

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is offered in weekly mode, including 13 classes during the semester. The subject activities will include practical journalistic assignments in researching and reporting news, lectures and discussions, in-class exercises and quizzes.

The assessment tasks are linked and designed to provide students with cumulative research and professional practice learning activities. Students are individually assessed.

All assignments and written exercises must be completed and delivered on deadline and in the manner specified by the lecturer. Failure to meet deadlines will result in loss of marks.

Content

The key activity in this course involves students researching and reporting news stories, developing skills in interviewing, selection of sources, assessing evidence for accuracy; as well as familiarising students with news style. It will also introduce them to digital research skills. These skills are set on strong ethical foundations, introduced through readings and case studies.

Contact book:
Journalists are expected to initiate and maintain a contact book/file.

Assessment

Assessment Item 1: Preliminary Research Story/Local News Story 1

Assessment Item 2: Local News Story 2

Assessment Item 3: Media seminar

Assessment Item 4: News Story 3

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 texts

Course readings can be accessed through e-Readings UTS library.

Additional readings will be distributed through UTS Online.

Indicative references

Recommended online sites, programs and texts
International Federation of Journalists www.ifj.org/en/splash
Project for Excellence in Journalism www.journalism.org/
Poynter Institute www.poynter.org/
Reporters Sans Frontieres www.rsf.org
Nieman Watchdog Project www.nieman.harvard.edu/watchdog/index.html
Columbia Journalism Review www.cjr.org/
Online Journalism Review www.ojr.org/
Media International Australia www.emsah.uq.edu.au/mia/
Australian Journalism Review www.jea.org.au/journal.htm
ABC TV Media Watch www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/
ABC Radio National: Specialist current affairs reports: Media Report; Law Report; Sports Factor; Religion Report http://abc.net.au/rn/
Background Briefing http://abc.net.au/rn/
ABCTV Lateline www.abc.net.au/lateline/
Australian Associated Press: http://aap.com.au/
ABC news online: www.abc.net.au/news/
Crikey.com: www.crikey.com.au/
Ethnic Media Newspapers www.crc.nsw.gov.au/ethnicmedia/index.htm
Fairfax Community Newspapers www.fcnonline.com.au/fcnnsw.asp?pcode=fcn
Huffington Post: www.huffingtonpost.com
Macquarie National News: www.2gb.com/
New Matilda: www.newmatilda.com/home/default.asp
News Interactive: www.news.com.au/
News Limited Community Newspapers http://community.newsmedianet.com.au/home/
Ninemsn: http://ninemsn.com.au/
Online Opinion: www.onlineopinion.com.au/
SBS News online: www.worldnewsaustralia.com.au/
SKY News online: www.skynews.com.au/index.asp
Ten News: http://ten.com.au/ten/tv_news.html
The Age: www.theage.com.au/
The Australian Financial Review: www.afr.com/home/
The Australian: www.theaustralian.news.com.au/
The Daily Telegraph: www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/
Electronic Intifada: http://electronicintifada.net/
The Green Left Weekly: www.greenleft.org.au/
The National Indigenous Times: www.nit.com.au/
The Sunday Telegraph: www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/
The Sun-Herald: www.sunherald.com.au/
The Sydney Morning Herald: www.smh.com.au/
The Sydney Star Observer: www.ssonet.com.au/
The Wire www.thewire.org.au
Webdiary: http://webdiary.com.au/cms/
Yahoo!7 News: http://au.news.yahoo.com/
Anthony Loewenstein's blog: http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/

(links to blogs and sites in Media section)

Carey, James (ed.) 1986, The Faber Book of Reportage, Faber
Conley, David, Lamble, Stephen, 2006, The Daily Miracle, Third Edition, OUP
Dempster, Quentin, 1997, Whistleblowers, ABC Books
Eisenhuth, Susie & McDonald, Willa, 2007, The Writer's Reader, Understanding journalism and non fiction, Cambridge University Press
Masters, Chris, 2002, Not for Publication, ABC Books.
Pilger, John (editor), 2004, Tell Me No Lies, Investigative Journalism and Its Triumphs, Jonathan Cape, London
Sheridan Burns, Lynette, 2004, Understanding Journalism, Sage
Simons, Margaret, 2007, The Content Makers, Understanding the Media in Australia, Penguin
Watson, Don, 2003, Death Sentence, Random House
Waugh, Evelyn, 1938, Scoop, A Novel About Journalists, Penguin
White, Sally, 1996, Reporting in Australia, 2nd edition, Macmillan
Wilson, Ruth, 2000, A Big Ask: Interviews with Interviewees, New Holland
Zinsser, William, 1994, On Writing Well, Harper Collins