WRITING FOR MEDIA
MAC1WFM
2018
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
Writing for Media introduces students to the practice of writing in order of importance for various media platforms. The focus of the subject will be to teach students how to write short form news articles for print (newspapers and online news sites) and radio. The key learning outcomes of news judgement, distilling information, writing concisely and writing material in order of what is most important are transferable across a range of vocations. You do not have aspire to be a news journalist to use the skills you will learn in this subject.
School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Brigid McCarthy
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 1 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: N/A
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: N/A
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: Core subject for the Bachelor of Media and Communication (ABMC), Bachelor of Journalism (ABJ) and Bachelor of Journalism Sport (ABJS).
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Demonstrate a comprehension of the pre-tutorial stimuli such as readings and videos.
- Activities:
- Quiz held weekly between weeks 2-11.
- 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)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
02. Demonstrate an understanding of the key fundamentals of professional writing such as correct grammar, punctuation and attribution.
- 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)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
03. Students will demonstrate an ability to discern information delivered in a media conference environment in order of importance and then write stories in print, radio and TV form.
- Activities:
- Various 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)
- 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. Students will demonstrate an ability to write and supply a media release relevant to a media conference environment.
- Activities:
- Various 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)
05. Students will be able to write an opinion piece which will demonstrate a high degree of critical thinking.
- Activities:
- Various 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)
Melbourne, 2018, Semester 2, Day
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Brigid McCarthy
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
One 1.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via blended.
TutorialWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via blended.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic writing assessment (500 word equivalent) | Initial assessment to provide feedback. | 20 | 01, 02 |
| Press conference activity (2000 word equivalent) | Students will pick four of the five from the following: a media release; a news piece; a radio script (intro to talkback segment); a TV script; an online opinion piece (blog). | 40 | 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 |
| Quizzes (1250 word equivalent) | Five quizzes total, based on lecture and other learning material. | 40 | 01, 02 |