CJB203 Newsroom


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Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Unit code:CJB203
Credit points:24
Pre-requisite:CJB102 or KJB121
Coordinators:Jason Sternberg | j.sternberg@qut.edu.au
Michael Scully | michael.scully@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

The aim of this unit is to advance knowledge of the journalism professional approaches needed to produce quality news material for diverse and changing news audiences. It equips you with concepts and skills needed to plan reports; conduct interviews; write news stories; and present and edit material for radio, television and multi-media outputs. This second-year unit is the first of the newsroom suite of units that are a hallmark of the digital-journalism focus of the QUT journalism degree. With a collaborative newsroom approach, it combines the skills and learning of students from different year levels in a team environment with input from peers, staff and industry practitioners. Therefore, you learn the production principles of quality news production in real time while identifying and pursuing innovative news approaches. In keeping with a commercial newsroom, the QUT newsroom experience aims to create a dynamic and diverse news product.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Conduct surveillance to identify 'story' prospects, and actualise them by researching, producing with illustration, and posting for publication, visual audio and text-based stories in radio, television and multi-media formats.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of, and competence in, using a selection of tools for journalistic news production and related tasks, such as software used for management of images and sound.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of the range of Internet resources available for journalism research and promotion of journalism output.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to work to a range of strict deadlines and the particular constraints imposed by the advent of 'rolling news' while maintaining high professional standards.

Content

The unit focuses on the research and production of news stories in a range of modes for diverse industry platforms, such as radio, television, and multi-media formats. Students engage with the tools of journalistic production for image and sound as well as writing. Internet research skills are part of the array of professional attributes developed in the unit.

Learning Approaches

After introductory workshops and guidance in lectures, most teaching in this subject is done on the basis of learning principles though practice. You will attend a program of rostered workshops attuned to performing in this integrated news room approach. The ‘ newsroom’ approach is founded on the understanding that such a model is a ‘best practice’ blended and authentic approach to teaching inspiring journalists how to adapt to industry needs and to contribute to innovation in news gathering and presentation.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback to students is both summative and formative including consultation with tutors and lecturers; peer-to-peer exchanges during and out of class; and the grading of individual assessment items by markers.

Assessment

Overview

Identify, research, write questions for and conduct a live TV interview with a QUT academic who is doing newsworthy research.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Live TV interview

Working individually, you will select, research, write questions for and interview a QUT academic who is doing newsworthy research.  Your interview will be between 3 – 5 minutes. It will be filmed in the TV studio.

Weight: 20
Length: 3-5 minutes
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Early-to-mid-semester
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

Assessment: Audio & text-based production

Rostered multi-media news production shifts incorporating the preparation of news suitable for broadcast on community radio and online.

Weight: 40
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Progressive
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

Assessment: Visual & text-based production

Rostered multi-media news production shifts incorporating preparation of news and video suitable for publication on internal, and other channels, and on web-based outlets.

Weight: 40
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Progressive
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

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.

Resources

Materials and essential messages are provided through the Canvas site for this unit.

Risk Assessment Statement

All students and staff are required to complete the Tier 1 CIF General Health and Safety Induction for access to campus buildings and facilities. This must be completed online.

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

KC40 Bachelor of Communication

  1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the complex relationships among history, economics, politics, technology and culture in communication industries, including the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
    Relates to: ULO3, Live TV interview, Audio & text-based production, Visual & text-based production
  2. Demonstrate specialised knowledge of the foundational principles in your study area and the complex relationships of evolving communication platforms.
    Relates to: ULO3, Live TV interview, Audio & text-based production, Visual & text-based production
  3. Critically analyse complex forms of information to synthesise and produce clear and coherent content for diverse audiences.
    Relates to: ULO1, Live TV interview, Audio & text-based production, Visual & text-based production
  4. Evaluate the technical requirements that inform planning, problem solving, decision making, and production processes in global and local communication industries.
    Relates to: ULO2, Live TV interview, Audio & text-based production, Visual & text-based production
  5. Communicate and apply specialised knowledge of the policies and practices that shape contemporary societies and cultures in the local and global communications sector.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Live TV interview, Audio & text-based production, Visual & text-based production
  6. Demonstrate facility with the diverse technologies of the communications industries.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Live TV interview, Audio & text-based production, Visual & text-based production
  7. Apply the theoretical, conceptual, professional and creative skills of the communication industries knowledges in transdisciplinary and multimodal media contexts.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Live TV interview, Audio & text-based production, Visual & text-based production