Course Title: Freelance Writing for the Media

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Freelance Writing for the Media

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM2462

City Campus

Undergraduate

345T Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016,
Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019

COMM2462

City Campus

Undergraduate

375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021

COMM2462

City Campus

Undergraduate

515T Creative Industries

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

Course Coordinator: Dzintra Boyd and Sarah Vincent

Course Coordinator Phone: +61399254269 (Dzintra)

Course Coordinator Email: pwecoordinators@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

In this course you will develop the knowledge and skills required to write content for print and online media. You will learn how to craft your writing for different areas of the media by focusing on genres such as profiles, informative pieces, travel articles and opinion pieces. You will work on pitching and marketing your story ideas, and discuss topics such as timeliness, word counts and deadlines. The course also examines the principles of credible reporting and the legal and ethical issues associated with print and online journalism.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

This is an option course, which will complement the Program Learning Outcomes you are developing in your program.


Course learning outcomes

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

  1. identify potential readerships and opportunities for being published
  2. produce journalistic writing of a publishable standard
  3. identify and manage ethical and legal issues fundamental to print and online journalism
  4. conform to required styles, word counts and deadlines
  5. critique, evaluate and edit your own and others’ writing.


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

  • lectures, which provide the framework for exploring different kinds of feature writing and developing your skills as a non-fiction writer
  • guest lectures from specialist industry speakers
  • class exercises and activities designed to clarify course content and practise relevant skills
  • writing workshops to assist development of writing techniques with feedback from peers and teacher
  • independent research and study, working through the course requirements as presented in classes, online and through learning materials.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.

The essential resource for this course is a detailed grammar handbook including instruction, exercises and answers, which is provided to you.

The University Library has extensive resources for Professional Writing and Editing students. The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies https://rmit.libguides.com/writing-editing
The Library provides guides on academic referencing: https://www.rmit.edu.au/library/study/referencing and subject specialist help via your Liaison Librarian.


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. 

Task 1: News story, 20%, CLO 1, 2, 4
Task 2: Article, 35%, CLO 1, 2, 4
Task 3: Feature article, 45%, CLO 1–5


Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

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 Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.