CJB304 Critical Issues in News and Factual Media

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This advanced unit engages with critical and contemporary issues that are upending news media business practices, values, and trends.  It builds upon core knowledge and skills, and is designed to increase confidence in your analytical capacity and problem solving ability as a future reporters and factual storytellers in a rapidly changing industry. Drawing on the latest from our world-leading researchers, this unit will enable you will apply historical, economic, political, technological, and cultural perspectives to understand and master the real world issues facing the factual media landscape.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Apply appropriate concepts to assess and evaluate key issues and concerns within the news and factual media industries industries and use those assessments to inform problem solving and decision making.
2. Demonstrate sophisticated research skills and intellectual rigor in your investigations of key issues and concerns within the news and factual media industries industries.
3. Engage in respectful discussion and debate that reflects an understanding of the critical and professional complexities of contemporary news and factual media industries

Content

Learning Approaches

Teaching and learning approaches in this unit may include: lectures, tutorials, workshops, and self-study. Some content and learning activities may also be provided online to supplement and support face-to-face learning (e.g., blended approaches). Some activities may also be delivered in intensive mode. Tutorials and related activities will provide opportunities for students to receive formative feedback from the teaching team.

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

Feedback will be provided in any or all of the following ways:

• feedback from your teaching staff, in class, online and by appointment
• feedback from your peers during tutorials
• individual written feedback on submitted work
• generic feedback posted to the units Canvas website.

Assessment

Overview

This unit has three assessment items. The Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue assessment will allow you to demonstrate the communication skills required for a career in the communication industries. The Class Facilitation requires you to demonstrate your understanding of a critical issue through leading a discussion with the class. The third assessment applies theories and concepts from class  to a current issue of relevance to the News and Factual Media industries.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Critical engagement and professional dialogue

This task requires you to demonstrate your developing critical communication skills and capacity for professional dialogue through a series of formal peer group exercises within your tutorial sessions.

Exercises will relate to unit content, readings and key concepts and expectations for how you contribute will be clearly outlined in the assessment criteria sheet.

Assessment: Class Facilitation

In groups, you will be assigned a particular week in the unit, and will present to the class on the critical issue/s at stake in the weekly topic and facilitate discussion.

Assessment: Report

You will produce an industry issue report that explains why and for whom it is an issue and what the possible resolutions may be. In doing so, you will use theories and concepts from the unit to demonstrate the issue's significance and stakes to the news and factual media industries.

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

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

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.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, 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

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. Critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise complex forms of information and evidence to inform decision-making, problem solving and argumentation.
   Relates to: ULO2, Report
2. 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, Class Facilitation , Report
3. Create authentic and professional-quality communication outputs that reflect an application of academic content, critical thinking skills, and social awareness.
   Relates to: ULO1, Class Facilitation , Report
4. Identify, develop, and sustain effective and responsible leadership strategies and teamwork skills that generate value for yourself and others.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Class Facilitation , Report
5. Identify, develop, and sustain effective professional networks in the media and communication industries.
   Relates to: ULO3, Class Facilitation