CJB101 Foundations of Journalism

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit provides you with foundational knowledge of what ‘journalism’ means today as both a professional practice and cultural form. You will learn about the changing role of journalism in society, how journalism underpins (and undermines) democracy, and be introduced to journalism ethics and law. You will learn how the business activities of media companies shape news values, and how they employ contemporary practices of story selection and verification. Against this industrial context, you will begin to learn journalistic writing conventions and apply effective reporting techniques. In doing so, this unit equips you with the essential knowledge and tools for you to understand and thrive in a complex and dynamic communication industry.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Gain foundational understanding of the contemporary news and journalistic landscape and its (changing) relation to society.
2. Demonstrate developing professional journalism skills in evidence gathering, reporting, writing, and/or editing.
3. Critically appraise and evaluate the principles and contexts of news.
4. Demonstrate clear and effective communication skills (written, verbal, and/or mediated) that are contextually appropriate and persuasive.

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 unit through guest lectures and other related learning environments. Tutorials build on material covered in lectures. You will be expected to prepare for tutorials by completing any prescribed readings or preparation activities ahead of class. All learning materials will be found on the unit’s Canvas site.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive formative feedback on your progress from teaching staff in this unit during the applied tutorial activities and discussions throughout the semester. You will also receive written feedback on submitted work and feedback from peers during tutorials.

Assessment

Overview

There are three assessment tasks in this unit. A take-home examination will test your understanding of key concepts, while a series of in-class tutorial exercises will hone your professional journalism skills, including journalistic writing. An evaluative case study will require you to analyse a real-world piece of journalism and its industrial context.

You will be expected to monitor current news throughout the semester, to a standard where you are conversant with the main running stories of the day and a range of other news. You need to be able to show critical journalistic thinking in relation to news values to discriminate among sources and angles for potential stories.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Take-Home Examination

This take-home exam will test your knowledge and understanding of key concepts drawn from unit materials.

Assessment: Reporting exercises

This authentic assessment involves you practicing professional journalism activities that take place in an in-class ‘newsroom’. It includes demonstrating foundational journalism skills including sourcing evidence and producing short written news reports.

Assessment: Case Study

This case study requires you to contextualise a piece of journalism in relation to relevant journalistic theory. The assignment will evaluate the case study’s use and application of journalistic conventions and its value for the community/audience. In doing so, the assignment will require you to consider how the case study demonstrates (or does not demonstrate) the importance of ethical conduct in journalism.

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

Prescribed text(s)

Prescribed text: Burns, L. S. & Matthews, B. J. (2018). Understanding Journalism. London: SAGE Publication Ltd.

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: ULO1, Take-Home Examination, Case Study
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: ULO2, Reporting exercises
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: ULO3, Take-Home Examination, Case Study
4. Demonstrate effective communication skills with the ability to adapt strategies across different media and professional settings and for diverse audiences.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Take-Home Examination, Reporting exercises, Case Study
5. Critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise complex forms of information and evidence to inform decision-making, problem solving and argumentation.
   Relates to: ULO3, Take-Home Examination, Case Study
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, ULO3, Take-Home Examination, Case Study
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, Reporting exercises
8. Create authentic and professional-quality communication outputs that reflect an application of academic content, critical thinking skills, and social awareness.
   Relates to: ULO4, Take-Home Examination, Reporting exercises, Case Study