CJB305 Longform News Production

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Longform journalism continues to evolve on a range of platforms, with digital media tools providing exciting storytelling possibilities, including podcasts and multimedia features. This unit provides an opportunity for students to apply their advanced journalistic skills in producing longform non-fiction content, using a combination of text, visuals, audio and video. You will learn how to generate story ideas and news angles, and select the most appropriate format for telling stories. You will then use research, interviewing and production skills to produce engaging content, including multimedia feature articles, audio and video, and podcasts. This unit also provides opportunities for reflection and constructive critique of your work. The unit aids you in producing credible non-fiction content in a dynamic and appealing style, applying skills that are transferable to areas outside journalism. It also provides awareness of the market for longform non-fiction content.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate ability to use appropriate theories and research methodologies to produce inclusive longform non-fiction content for a range of audiences.
2. Demonstrate critical digital media skills across diverse platforms and technologies, to identify and apply appropriate storytelling tools for producing engaging content.
3. Identify and access publication opportunities for work produced.

Content

Learning Approaches

Your learning in this unit will involve participation in lectures, tutorials and self-study. Guests, including practicing journalists, may be involved in the program through guest lectures. Tutorials build on material covered in lectures and will replicate workplace environments to provide students with an authentic and applied experience of newswriting. You will be expected to complete any prescribed self-study, including readings out of class, and in preparation for subsequent classes.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Through the semester you will have the opportunity to receive oral and/or written feedback on drafts of feature articles. You will also receive feedback in some or all of the following ways:

• through a range of individual and collaborative formative exercises completed in class
• consultation with tutors about concepts and problems
• peer-to-peer exchanges during and out of class
• communications to all students via the unit Blackboard website
• individually, on assessment grading forms.

Assessment

Overview

You will be assessed in two key ways in this unit: through a major piece of creative work combining words and visuals in a multi-media feature package (Assessment item #1 and #2), and through a written portfolio (#3) of other work that you undertook throughout the semester in parallel with the longform story, and which demonstrates your understanding of key unit concepts, and support provided to your peers.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Longform story plan

For this assignment you will submit a detailed outline of your planned longform story, including structure and format of the eventual submission. Feedback on this assignment will inform your major story, which is due at the end of the semester. 

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Longform news story

For your creative work, you will be required to write a long-form multi-media work (e.g. multimedia feature article, podcast, or a series of audio / video current affairs packages) on a topic of your own selection after consultation with staff. Rewriting is part of this assessment.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Reflective portfolio

For this assessment you will be required to submit a portfolio of material that you will have worked on over the course of the semester, which demonstrates your understanding of unit concepts, support that you have shown for other students in the unit, a reflection on your experience, and other tasks required as part of the process of developing your longform news story.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

All students are requested to visit and review the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages.

You will be advised if a unit requires additional mandatory health and safety inductions.  

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Burum, I. (2021). The MOJO handbook : theory to praxis. London: Routledge.

Graham, C and Ricketson, M. (2017) Writing Feature Stories: How to Research and Write Articles – from Listicles to Longform, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest.

Reference book(s)

QUT Journalism Style Guide

Other

To enable your full participation in units that utilise virtual learning environments, for example participating in online activities and engaging with online learning materials, you will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection, webcam, headset and microphone, as well as a learning environment where you are able to fully participate undisturbed when required. 

Risk Assessment Statement

For risks associated with using campus buildings or QUT facilities, refer to the HiQ Health and Safety information.

You are advised to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.

Please be advised that this unit may include the presentation and scholarly analysis of material and subject matters that may be considered confronting, such as certain representations of race, class, gender and violence. QUT counselling support is available should you feel the need to avail yourself of these services.

Course Learning Outcomes

KC40 Bachelor of Communication

1. Demonstrate capacity to understand and critique the historical, cultural, technological, and regulatory implications of digital media, entertainment, communication, and news industries.
   Relates to: Reflective portfolio
2. Demonstrate capacity to engage with and apply specialised knowledge of one or more areas of digital media, entertainment, communication, and news industries, including the relationship between disciplinary theory, research methodologies, and professional practice.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Longform story plan, Longform news story
3. Demonstrate capacity to engage with and apply diverse ways of knowing the world in local and global contexts, including Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives.
   Relates to: ULO1, Longform news story
4. Demonstrate effective communication skills with the ability to adapt strategies across different media and professional settings and for diverse audiences.
   Relates to: Longform story plan, Longform news story
5. Critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise complex forms of information and evidence to inform decision-making, problem solving and argumentation.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Longform story plan
6. Critically interrogate the economic and cultural power of digital media, communication, entertainment, and news to make ethical, sustainable, and inclusive contributions to diverse workplaces, communities, and audiences.
   Relates to: ULO1, Reflective portfolio
7. Demonstrate critical digital literacy skills across diverse platforms and technologies, including familiarity with analytic tools to effectively and responsibly interpret data in the media, communication, and news industries.
   Relates to: ULO2, Longform news story
8. Create authentic and professional-quality communication outputs that reflect an application of academic content, critical thinking skills, and social awareness.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Longform news story
9. Identify, develop, and sustain effective and responsible leadership strategies and teamwork skills that generate value for yourself and others.
   Relates to: Reflective portfolio
10. Identify, develop, and sustain effective professional networks in the media and communication industries.
    Relates to: ULO3