JOURNALISM RESEARCH
JRN2JOR
2018
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
Journalism Research will explore the main modes of research relevant to the practice of contemporary journalism, including: strategies for staying abreast of news-media discourse; on-the-ground and investigative techniques; interpersonal communication with contacts; and techniques for finding and interrogating non-news-media texts, such as government reports, ABS statistics and academic research. It delivers specific skills in data journalism and Freedom of Information. It draws on a set of practices that have long been part of the journalist's skill-set, but which are being expanded and taking on a more central role as huge amounts of previously unavailable information and data are released by a range of institutions.
School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Kevin Brianton
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: Two of JRN1TEJ, JRN1TIN and MAC1WFM, or subject co-ordinators approval.
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: JRN3CAJ
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: Core subject at second year level for ABJ & ABJS.
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Apply advanced journalism research skills to find a range of relevant sources for a particular story, and critically analyse those sources for legitimacy.
- Activities:
- All lectures, tutorial activities and assessments.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
02. Apply specific knowledge about the Freedom of Information Act, to recognise stories that could be extended through FOI, and write an accurate Freedom of Information request.
- Activities:
- Students learn about the freedom of information act in lectures and tutorials, and apply this knowledge to an assessment. They must identify a story that would be well served by information available through an FOI application, write a story pitch and write an FOI application.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
03. Apply basic data analysis skills, including excel and data visualisation applications, to create a story that meets industry standards.
- Activities:
- In lectures and tutorial activities. In class source evaluation strategies and techniques to investigate large amounts of data. In class assessment.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
04. Pitch, develop and write a major feature story that explores a particular brief and uses a variety of relevant and credible sources, to a publishable standard.
- Activities:
- Students will apply the skills they have learnt throughout the semester to complete a major assignment. They must apply critical analysis to sources, use datasets and other sources like academic research, and also complete an interview.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
Melbourne, 2018, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Kevin Brianton
Class requirements
TutorialWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feature Story (2000 words equivalent) | One major feature story based on a particular brief, including a chance to pitch their initial story before the final assignment is due. | 50 | 01, 03, 04 |
| FOI Request (750 word equivalent) | Students apply knowledge of Freedom of Information, and how it's useful for journalists, to find a story that would benefit from access to information | 20 | 01, 02 |
| Data Journalism (1000 word equivalent) | Students use excel to manipulate data and data visualisation applications to help showcase the data, and then incorporate both to report a story using that data. | 30 | 01, 03 |