MDIA 2334 - Writing the News
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code MDIA 2334 Course Writing the News Coordinating Unit Media Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Assumed Knowledge At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study Assessment Print & broadcast news stories, sourced news story and reflection, news writing to deadline, hard/soft news writing Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Kathryn Bowd
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1 Understand and be able to apply principles of news language and news story structure 2 Understand and be able to apply news values and concepts of newsworthiness 3 Understand principles of news story structure and writing across print, audio, video and online platforms 4 Apply principles of news story structure and writing to writing for print, audio, video and online platforms 5 Be aware of some common sources of news and how information from these can be incorporated in news writing 6 Understand key differences between hard and soft news and be able to apply this in writing news stories 7 Understand influences on news writing such as audience University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1,2,3,4,5,6 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
1,2,3,4,6 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
1,2,3,4,6,7,8 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
5,7 Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
3, 4 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
A program of readings - from both academic and professional literature - will be made available through MyUni. Students are expected to complete each week's readings before attending the workshops.
Recommended Resources
A number of texts focusing on key journalism concepts and skills, such as news writing, can be found in the Barr Smith Library. These texts are recommended additional reading rather than essential resources. They include:
Lamble, S (2016) News as it happens (3rd edition). South Melbourne: OUP
Grundy, B., Hirst, M., Little, J., Hayes, M., & Treadwell, G. (2012) So You Want to Be a Journalist? Unplugged (2nd ed.). Port Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.
Whitaker, W., Ramsey, J., & Smith, R. (2012). Media Writing: Print, Broadcast and Public Relations (4th ed). New York: Routledge.
Additional reading and examples of news practice will be posted in the weekly modules on MyUni.Online Learning
This course makes extensive use of MyUni and some external websites. It includes elements of blended learning. All assignments are to be submitted through MyUni. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Most lectures for this course will be delivered face-to-face, and will also be recorded using the MyMedia system. Lecture recordings will be automatically loaded to MyMedia after delivery.
Some lecture material will be provided online through MyUni. These topics will be noted in the course timetable. In these weeks, students will be required to access the material through MyUni, and must complete an online quiz or quizzes that will count towards the grade for Participation.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
A guide to workload for this course is:
- Lecture attendance: 1 hour per week (or equivalent if lecture material scheduled to be provided through MyUni)
- Workshop attendance: 2 hours per week
- Workshop preparation: 3 hours per week (including ongoing engagement with current news)
- Assignment preparation: 3 hours per week
Students are expected to attend workshops having completed the set reading for that week and any preparatory exercises (completion of these will count towards the grade for Participation).
As this is an applied Journalism course, students are expected to engage in watching, reading and listening to news on a regular basis throughout the semester. This engagement with news will form part of the basis for discussions and activities in workshops.
Learning Activities Summary
A detailed schedule of course learning activities will be posted on MyUni.
Each week's class preparation activities will include a combination of readings from the textbook (Grundy et al), engagement with news, online reading, workshop preparation exercises and online exercises/quizzes.
Students are expected to complete the class preparation work before either the workshop or the lecture (see MyUni for details).
Course schedule:
Schedule Week 1 Introduction
News language
News valuesWeek 2 WWWWWH
Writing the leadWeek 3 Fundamentals of news writing
The inverted pyramidWeek 4 Writing for print media Week 5 Writing for broadcast media Week 6 Telling the story online Week 7 News sources, quotes and grabs Week 8 Bringing news stories to life Week 9 Long-form journalism Week 10 Social media storytelling Week 11 Journalism and extraordinary events Week 12 Is good news no news? -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
This course has five assessment items: three completed primarily out of class, one completed to deadline during class time; and a participation grade recorded through continuous assessment of class work and engagement (including completion of online quizzes and workshop preparation exercises).Assessment Related Requirements
Students MUST make themselves available to complete Assignment 4 (in-class writing to deadline) during the Week 11 workshops. Any student who - for documented reasons such as illness - is unable to attend their regular workshop may be able to negotiate to attend another workshop during that week.Assessment Detail
More information about assignments will be provided through MyUni and in lectures and workshops.
Assignment 1: News analysis presentation
Assignment 2: Print and broadcast news stories
Assignment 3: Sourced news story + reflection
Assignment 4: In-class news writing to deadline for print and broadcast
Participation and engagement (including news and online quizzes)
Submission
All assignments must be submitted electronically through MyUni.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
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- Academic Support with writing and study skills
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- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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