Course Title: News Reporting and Writing
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: News Reporting and Writing
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
COMM2801 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
345H Media and Communication |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 2 2020, Sem 1 2021, Sem 1 2022, Sem 1 2023, Sem 1 2024 |
Course Coordinator: Alex Wake
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9749
Course Coordinator Email: alex.wake@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: Building 9, Level 4
Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None
Course Description
In this foundation course you will develop the basic knowledge and skills needed to find, research and write effective news and feature stories. You will also explore the issues faced by reporters, such as ethical considerations, identifying sources and generating and pitching newsworthy ideas. You will begin to develop professional writing skills, including the journalist’s most basic tools - syntax, grammar, spelling and punctuation. This will give you the foundations to develop your journalistic practice across all platforms, including broadcast and online.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course aligns with 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.
- Effectively and professionally communicate your ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Compare and contrast hard and soft news and feature writing structures and styles
- Produce professionally written, balanced news reports and basic features, including seeking comment from appropriate and diverse sources
- Engage with news and current affairs
- Generate newsworthy ideas and pitch and produce news and feature stories
- Analyse and apply editorial feedback
Overview of Learning Activities
You will be actively engaged in learning that involves a range of activities such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, 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: http://rmit.libguides.com/mjsm/journalism
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.
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
1. In-class Assessment 25% (Individual)
This assessment will cover the following course learning outcomes: 1,2,3
2. News Story 25% (Individual)
This assessment will cover the following course learning outcomes: 2, 4
3. News and Feature Portfolio 50% (Individual)
This assessment will cover the following course learning outcomes: 2,4,5