Course Title: Introduction to Newspaper Reporting
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Introduction to Newspaper Reporting
Credit Points: 12
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
COMM2091 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
335H Applied Communication |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008 |
Course Coordinator: Erica Cervini
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6001
Course Coordinator Email:erica.cervini@rmit.edu.au
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None
Course Description
The course is an introduction to the journalism industry and to basic journalism skills. It teaches the fundamental practical skills for newsgathering, news evaluation and news writing. It prepares students for advanced journalism and for the profession.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course aims to give students:
An understanding of the role of the newspaper reporter.
An understanding of how the newspaper newsroom operates.
The knowledge on how to keep a contact book.
An understanding of the sources of information available for newsgathering.
The ability to derive information from news sources.
The ability to identify news values.
Proficiency in writing basic hard news leads using correct attribution.
The ability to write succinctly
The ability to write basic hard news stories to a deadline
The ability to write to house style.
The ability to come up with story ideas.
The ability to do basic news interviews
Overview of Learning Activities
Students will have lectures, practical writing exercises and guest lecturers. Students will also have class discussion and field assignments.
Students may find it difficult to grasp concepts if they do not attend classes.
Overview of Learning Resources
As well as readings from the prescribed text, students will be expected to read a variety of daily and weekly newspapers and watch/listen to a wide variety of radio and television news and current affairs programs.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course involves a variety of in-class assessable exercises, writing assignments and tutorial participation. Students need to reach a satisfactory standard in all components of the assessment to pass the course.