Course Title: Digital and Data Journalism

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Digital and Data Journalism

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM2708

City Campus

Postgraduate

345H Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2016,
Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

Course Coordinator: Mr Tito Ambyo

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3717

Course Coordinator Email: arsisto.ambyo@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: B009 F04 R053


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study

Successful completion of the following courses:

  • COMM2801 News Reporting and Writing
  • COMM2802 Journalism Innovation and Technology

OR

Alternatively you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course. Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. Further information: Apply for Credit


Course Description

New technologies will continue to redefine journalism.
 
You will explore major theoretical and ethical debates around online news delivery. You will also analyse and reflect on the risks and opportunities that new technologies provide for your practice and future career.

This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to produce journalism across digital platforms. You will also develop your ability to mine, analyse, cleanse and graphically present data.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:

  • Undertake self-directed research and critical appraisal to ensure ethical, balanced reporting.
  • Employ appropriate technical skills and theoretical knowledge to solve problems associated with journalism practice.
  • Undertake research into contemporary journalism theory and practice to explore possible industry and career directions.


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

  1. Analyse and evaluate the major ethical and theoretical issues affecting the delivery of online journalism.
  2. Identify, cleanse and analyse data to produce journalism.
  3. Produce multi-media journalism incorporating text, audio, video, stills and graphic components.
  4. Critically discuss ways in which emerging technologies can be incorporated into your future journalism practice.
  5. Investigate ways to develop your own career opportunities through the use of emerging technologies.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in learning that involves a range of activities such as project work, lectures, tutorials, class discussion, individual and group activities.


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 University Library has extensive resources for Journalism students. The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies athttp://rmit.libguides.com/mjsm


The Library provides guides on academic referencing: http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/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.

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.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for review online: Assessment

Assessment tasks:

Task 1 In-class test (30%) Individual 

You will be tested on core concepts including the use of data scraping tools, spreadsheets, automation of web-searches and data visualisation techniques.

This assessment will cover the following course learning outcomes:

  1. Analyse and evaluate the major ethical and theoretical issues affecting the delivery of online journalism.
  2. Identify, cleanse and analyse data to produce journalism.

This assessment will cover the following program learning outcome:

  • Employ appropriate technical skills and theoretical knowledge to solve problems associated with journalism practice.

Task 2. Data-driven news project proposal (20%) Individual
 
The written project proposal will include a comprehensive data plan, your story plan and any visualisations.

This assessment will cover the following course learning outcomes:

  1. Identify, cleanse and analyse data to produce journalism.
  2. Incorporate emerging technologies into your journalism practice.
  3. Investigate ways to develop your own career opportunities through the use of emerging technologies.

This assessment will cover the following program learning outcomes:

  • Employ appropriate technical skills and theoretical knowledge to solve problems associated with journalism practice.
  • Undertake research into contemporary journalism theory and practice to explore possible industry and career directions.

Task 3 Data-driven news project presentation (50%) Individual
 
The project will be presented in class for peer critique. The project will comprise a written report and a multi-media presentation.

This assessment will cover the following course learning outcomes:

  1. Identify, cleanse and analyse data to produce journalism.
  2. Incorporate emerging technologies into your journalism practice.
  3. Investigate ways to develop your own career opportunities through the use of emerging technologies.
  4. Produce multi-media journalism incorporating text, audio, video, stills and graphic components.
  5. Analyse and evaluate the major ethical and theoretical issues affecting the delivery of online journalism.

This assessment task will cover the following program learning outcomes:

  • Undertake self-directed research and critical appraisal to ensure ethical, balanced reporting.
  • Employ appropriate technical skills and theoretical knowledge to solve problems associated with journalism practice.
  • Undertake research into contemporary journalism theory and practice to explore possible industry and career directions.