MDIA 2333 - Reporting: Principles and Practice

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2014

This course covers all the essential knowledge and skills required for journalists to function in the contemporary media environment. It examines how stories are researched, effective use of sources, interview techniques, and elements of professionalism - such as ethics and legal considerations, that impact on journalists' day-to-day work. An important aspect of the course is learning how news production works in the real-world context of busy news rooms and in the public domain using new forms of media technology. It also emphasises on the importance that individual professionalism plays in ensuring stories are delivered accurately and without bias to their audiences. Students will have an opportunity to engage in simulated news production under the pressure of realistic deadlines to experience the type of working environments they will encounter when they begin their careers.

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Course Details

Course Code	MDIA 2333
Course	Reporting: Principles and Practice
Coordinating Unit	Media
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	3 hours per week
Prerequisites	12 units of Level I Humanities and Social Science courses or equivalent
Assumed Knowledge	Completion of at least 6 units of Level I MDIA courses
Restrictions	Available to BMedia students only
Quota	100
Assessment	News research assignment (25%), News planning and interview (30%), Working to deadline assignment (35%), Participation and attendance (10%)

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.

Course Learning Outcomes

1	Understand news values to identify appropriate story content for reporting
2	Use appropriate methods for researching news stories
3	Be able to gather information through a variety of methods using primary and secondary sources
4	Work effectively to produce high-quality news reporting
5	Be able to consistently meet deadlines while maintaining high journalistic standards
6	Understand the need for professional ethics in journalism and apply these in practice
7	Produce news reports using a range of media technologies
8	Develop an understanding of the role of news media in society and the impact of technological and other change on this role
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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)
Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised.	1, 3, 8
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner.	2, 3
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems.	3, 4, 7
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication.	4, 5
A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies.	3, 7, 8
A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life.	1, 4, 6
A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community.	4, 5
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities.	6, 8

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Sheridan Burns, L. (2013). Understanding Journalism (2nd ed.). London: Sage.

Recommended Resources

A number of texts focusing on key journalism concepts and skills can be found in the Barr Smith Library. These texts are recommended additional reading rather than essential resources. They include:

Bainbridge, J., Goc, N., & Tynan, L. (2011) Media and Journalism (2nd ed.). South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Tanner, S., & Richardson, N. (2013) Journalism Research and Investigation in a Digital World. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Ricketson, M. (2012) Australian Journalism Today. South Yarra: Palgrave Macmillan.

King, E., & Chapman, J.L. (2012) Key Readings in Journalism. New York; Routledge.

Allan, S. (2010) The Routledge Companion to News and Journalism. Abingdon: Routledge.

Online Learning

This course makes extensive use of MyUni and external websites. All assignments are to be submitted through MyUni.

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 following 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.

Workshops are held in a Media Lab to ensure students have access to appropriate technology including Word and online resources.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Lecture attendance: 1 hour per week
Workshop attendance: 2 hours per week
Workshop preparation: 3 hours per week (including engagement with news)
Assignment preparation: 3 hours per week

This is an approximation of the likely time required in an average week to complete all elements of the course. Actual workload is likely to vary depending on assignment deadlines.

Students are expected to attend workshops having completed the set reading for that week and any preparatory exercises.

As this is a journalism-focused course, students are also 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 will include a combination of readings from the textbook (Sheridan Burns), 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 of each week's required preparation).

Schedule
Week 1	Introduction The role of the news media
Week 2	News definitions and values Gatekeeping and agenda setting
Week 3	Models of the press Globalisation and localisation
Week 4	News sources
Week 5	News research and networks
Week 6	Interviewing skills and strategies
Week 7	Interviewing across news media
Week 8	News writing skills
Week 9	Communicating with audiences
Week 10	Producing news to deadline
Week 11	The changing newsroom
Week 12	Fair and ethical reporting

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 four assessment items: two completed primarily out of class, one completed partly to deadline during class time and partly out of class, and a participation mark 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 the first part of Assignment 4 (in-class writing to deadline) during the Week 12 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 research assignment

Assignment 2: News planning and interviewing assignment

Assignment 3: Working to deadline + reflection

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.

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.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
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