Course Title: Converged Newsroom

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Converged Newsroom

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
COMM2404	City Campus	Undergraduate	335H Applied Communication	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2009
COMM2404	City Campus	Undergraduate	345H Media and Communication	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2014

Course Coordinator: Gordon Farrer

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 5022

Course Coordinator Email: gordon.farrer@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 9.4.58

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Comm1049: Online Journalism Theory and Practice; Comm1047: Print Editing and Production; Comm1046: Advanced Print Reporting

Course Description

This core final-year journalism course is production-focused and designed to prepare you to work in a modern multimedia (converged) newsroom where print and online journalists work side-by-side. You will work to strict deadlines and editorial expectations, producing the program’s newspaper The City Journal and its online companion City Journal Online. This course will enable you to practise your print and online skills and develop production skills in a deadline-driven environment which mirrors modern industry practice.

This course is designed to enable you to apply your academic learning to a contemporary workplace situation. The integration of work-based learning and academic learning, commonly referred to as Work Integrated Learning (WIL), will allow you to solve authentic workplace problems or address real issues faced in organisations.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

In this course you will develop the following program capabilities:

Demonstrate the cognitive, research, analytical, critical thinking, communication and presentation skills required for undergraduate study and professional practice
Be able to apply the ethics and regulations which govern modern media and communication practice
The ability to recognise news and to apply critical thinking, analytical skills and ethical practice in the gathering and presentation of news within the
 

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

have the skills to work in a converged newsroom
experience the pressure and responsibility of editorial decision making in a deadline-driven environment
have a greater appreciation of the necessity to meet strict deadlines in journalism
experience the differences between the roles of reporters and production staff in a newsroom
know the importance of innovation in the future of journalism
 

Overview of Learning Activities

You will work in a variety of roles in order to write, edit, produce and post the printed and online versions of The City Journal.

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. There is no set text for this course, however you will need to read news websites, newspapers and consume TV and radio news programs.

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program capabilities. Assessment for this course will include production for the online and print editions of the City Journal.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more. An assessment charter summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which are described and referenced in a single document