JRN 2000 News Reporting

SubjectCat-NbrClassTermModeDescriptionUnitsCampus
JRN2000150142, 2002EXTNews Reporting1.00TWMBA
Academic Group:FOART
Academic Org:FOA004
HECS Band:1
ASCED Code:100703

Contents


STAFFING:

Examiner: Dianne Jones
Moderator: Craig Burgess



PRE-REQUISITES:

Pre-requisite: JRN 1000


SYNOPSIS:

The philosophical rationale behind the free flow of information will be studied from practical and theoretical perspectives. Students will receive theoretical instruction and practice in interviewing and reporting. They will learn how to retrieve information from government, the courts, business, sports organisations and other social institutions. The journalist's role in society will be defined and explored through the use of research techniques involving the Internet, Freedom of Information, property and company searches and the use of newspaper databases. To successfully complete this course students must have access to the Internet.


OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this course students will:

  • Have built on print writing skills learned in Introduction to Journalism and have learned how to write basic news for radio;

  • Have produced news stories under deadline conditions for print to a publishable standard and for radio to a broadcast standard;

  • Have developed information gathering skills, especially in the area of interviewing;

  • Have gained a greater understanding of the journalist's role in society.



    • TOPICS:


    DescriptionWeighting (%)
    1. Attribution, direct & indirect quotes
    		 10.00
    2. Interviewing techniques
    		 10.00
    3. Building source material
    		 5.00
    4. Fairness
    		 5.00
    5. Internet news reporting
    		 5.00
    6. Reporting for broadcast
    		 10.00
    7. Broadcast news writing style and mechanics
    		 10.00
    8. The legal system
    		 10.00
    9. Covering the courts
    		 10.00
    10. Defamation and contempt
    		 5.00
    11. Government processes
    		 10.00
    12. The journalist's role in society
    		 10.00

    TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

    Books can be ordered by fax or telephone. For costs and further details use the 'Book Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au by entering the author or title of the text.

    Pearson, M. 1997, The Journalist's Guide to Media Law, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

    White, S 1996, Reporting in Australia, 2nd edition, Macmillan, South Melbourne.




    STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

    ACTIVITYHOURS
    Assessment30
    Directed Study30
    Private Study30
    Project Work60


    ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

    DescriptionMarks Out ofWtg(%)RequiredDue Date
    PRINT REPORT100.0020.00Y16 Aug 2002
    RADIO REPORT100.0020.00Y06 Sep 2002
    COURT REPORT100.0030.00Y04 Oct 2002
    ROUNDS REPORT100.0030.00Y01 Nov 2002

    OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

    1. Students must submit all items of assessment. Failure to do so will result in a fail grade for the course. All items of assessment must be submitted in typed or word processed form, and in a 12 point font.
    2. All submissions must be despatched by the due date and time. Late submissions will not be accepted unless accompanied by a valid medical certificate.
    3. Assignments not despatched by the due date will receive a mark of zero.
    4. Extensions will not be approved for any item of assessment unless a valid medical certificate is presented with the request.
    5. The final grade will be determined on the basis of the total accumulated points, ie if the final total of all items of assessment is within the Pass range, then the final grade is Pass (C).
    6. Assignments requiring the use of interviews, surveys etc. must meet University ethical requirements and the examiner must be satisfied these requirements have been met.