JRN 1000 Introduction to Journalism

SubjectCat-NbrClassTermModeDescriptionUnitsCampus
JRN1000209771, 2003EXTIntroduction to Journalism1.00TWMBA
Academic Group:FOART
Academic Org:FOA004
HECS Band:1
ASCED Code:100703

Contents


STAFFING:

Examiner: Craig Burgess
Moderator: Neil Lomas



SYNOPSIS:

This course is designed to introduce students to the Australian news media and their practices. Emphasis will be placed on the need for students to think objectively about the main news events of the day, and the ways the print media have reported them. Students will be encouraged to achieve accuracy and objectivity within the constraints regularly imposed on print practitioners. Students will be introduced to news values, journalism research, interview skills and the elements that make up news stories. They will be given considerable practice in writing introductory paragraphs and handling direct and indirect quotations.


OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

  • demonstrate a broad knowledge of the principles on which information is judged as news;

  • identify the fundamental constituents of the Australian news media;

  • write an introductory paragraph to a news story;

  • write a news story.



    • TOPICS:


    DescriptionWeighting (%)
    1. Journalism History
    		 20.00
    2. Australian Journalism Practices
    		 15.00
    3. News Values
    		 20.00
    4. News Sources
    		 10.00
    5. Interviewing
    		 10.00
    6. News Writing
    		 25.00

    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.

    Conley, D 2002, The Daily Miracle: An Introduction to Journalism, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

    White, S 1966, Reporting in Australia, 2nd edition, Macmillan, South Melbourne.




    REFERENCE MATERIALS:

    Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

    The Macquarie Dictionary,

    (Any edition)

    A Thesaurus




    STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

    ACTIVITYHOURS
    Assessment30
    Directed Study60
    Private Study75


    ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

    DescriptionMarks Out ofWtg(%)RequiredDue Date
    FIRST NEWS WRITING TEST100.0010.00Y28 Mar 2003
    SECOND NEWS WRITING TEST100.0020.00Y24 Apr 2003
    THIRD NEWS WRITING TEST100.0030.00Y19 May 2003
    FOURTH WRITING TEST100.0040.00Y13 Jun 2003

    OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

    1. All assessable items must be posted by the due date. Late submissions will not be accepted unless accompanied by a valid medical certificate.
    2. Correct English is essential to Journalism. Spelling, grammar and punctuation (see Module 1) will be taken into consideration when assignments are marked.
    3. First News Writing Test : complete all 5 articles.
    4. Second News Writing Test : complete all 4 articles.
    5. Third News Writing Test : complete all 3 articles.
    6. Fourth News Writing Test : complete both articles.
    7. The final grade is based on the aggregate of all assessment items and is assigned as follows: HD = 90-100, A = 80-89, B = 65-79, C = 50-64, F = 0-49