jrn2jor journalism research
JOURNALISM RESEARCH
JRN2JOR
2016
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 also includes a focus on critically evaluating media releases and exploring data journalism. 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.
SchoolSchool of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorMerryn Sherwood
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites JRN1TEJ or coordinators approval
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjects JRN3CAJ
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditions Core subject at second year level for ABJ & ABJS.
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Ability to follow-up and expand news stories by finding a new angle or source for target print or online publications.
- Activities:
- In class writing and sourcing activities, in-class writing assessment.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Writing(Writing)
02. Understand the significance for journalists of staying abreast of news media, and develop effective strategies for reading news texts quickly, but with a critical eye.
- Activities:
- In class source evaluation strategies and techniques to investigate large amounts of data. In class assessment.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Speaking(Speaking)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Writing(Writing)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
03. Use non-news-media texts to generate news stories, and to provide information and direct quote material for use in news and feature stories.
- Activities:
- In class evaluation of other sources, such as academic research, public relations work and more. In class assessment.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
04. Critical evaluation of all sources for a work of journalism.
- Activities:
- Case studies of sources in that include critical evalutions and techniques for these evalutions.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
05. Find and evaluate the relevance of interviewees and off-the-record sources, conduct interviews and turn raw quote material into engaging copy.
- Activities:
- Part of the major assessment, students must conduct interviews. In class activities to help them prepare.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Writing(Writing)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
06. Understanding of the complexities of journalistic interviewing
- Activities:
- Part of the major assessment, a feature story, students must conduct interviews. In class activities to help them prepare.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Speaking(Speaking)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
Subject options
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Melbourne, 2016, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorMerryn Sherwood
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* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major feature story (1500 words) | 40 | 01, 02, 04, 05, 06 | |
| Research dossier to support final assignment (1000 words equivalent) | 20 | 03, 04, 05, 06 | |
| In-class, peer-assessed writing exercises (1000 word equivalent) | 40 | 01, 04, 02, 05 |