52641 News Now

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

Description

This subject focuses on equipping students with the formative news skills required for the practice of journalism, and training students to start thinking like a journalist and journalist-entrepreneur. Students learn to identify what constitutes news and why. They consider and practice verification strategies, social media news generation and distribution, truth and accuracy, and digital literacy. In a continuously changing media environment, students learn to report news across platforms and innovations in digital news media. Assessments include reporting from a news conference and producing a multiplatform research project from pitch to production. The subject provides students with opportunities to develop their critical understanding of the key issues currently facing journalism.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:

• Act in a professional manner appropriate to communication industries (1.1)
• Apply theoretically informed understandings of communication industries to independent and collaborative projects across a range of media (1.2)
• Employ appropriate research and inquiry skills to independently gather, organise and analyse information across diverse platforms (2.1)
• Act as reflexive critical thinkers and innovative creative practitioners who evaluate their own and others' work (2.2)
• Demonstrate a strong awareness, knowledge of, and sensitivity to, diversity, equity and global contexts (3.1)
• Apply knowledge of Indigenous issues in professional practices and engage responsibly in communicating with and about Indigenous people and communities (4.1)
• Exemplify effective and appropriate communication in different communication industry contexts (6.1)
• Utilise digital literacy and production skills across a range of media (6.2)

Teaching and learning strategies

Students learn the foundational skills of journalism, including fair and accurate reporting, clear communication, digital literacy skills and how to recognise and apply newsworthiness in a range of contexts. Classes are supported by online resources to develop students’ technical skills and spoken communication. Activities such as hypotheticals, case studies, quizzes, groupwork and the discussion of readings enhance students’ understanding of the current professional climate and the required industry skills and aptitudes. Students learn to apply their knowledge to journalistic practice through field work and contributions to UTS’s real-time newsroom, Central News. Demonstrating their understanding of the subject content through individual assessments and in-class group work activities, students are also provided formative, low-stakes feedback throughout the session to enhance their learning.

Content (topics)

This subject is designed to teach students how to identify and ethically source news content, differentiate news from opinion, verify information, report with truth, accuracy and fairness, and consider the role of social media for news generation and distribution in the context of the digital transformation of the industry. Students develop a solid grounding in internet research skills, interview preparation and techniques, including observation of professional interview practice. In their news stories, students are expected to conduct independent research, identify professional contacts, source interviews and abide by the principles of ethics and diversity.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Reporting on an Indigenous News Conference

Assessment task 2: Written news story and reporting plan

Assessment task 3: Multiplatform News Story

Minimum requirements

Attendance at classes is essential in this subject. Classes are based on a collaborative approach that involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas with other students and the tutor to build capacities towards meeting the subject learning objectives. A roll will be taken at each class (whether on campus or online). Students who have more than two absences from class will be refused marking of their final assessment (see Rule 3.8).

Required texts

ABC Editorial Standards. Available at https://ab.co/2Yzoy60

MEAA Code of Ethics https://www.meaa.org/meaa-media/code-of-ethics/

Pearson, M. and Polden, M. (2019). The journalist's guide to media law: a handbook for communicators in a digital world, 6th edtn. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.

References

Arvanitakis, J. et al. (2020). Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories? Putting the spotlight on cultural and linguistic diversity in television, news and current affairs. Media Diversity Australia. August 17.

Bossio, D. (2017). Journalism and social media: Practitioners, organisations and institutions. Switzerland: Springer.

Bradshaw P. (2017). The Online Journalism Handbook: Skills to survive and thrive in the digital age, 2nd Edtn, Oxon: Routledge.

Hanitzsch, T., Hanusch, F., Ramaprasad, J. and de Beer, A.S. (eds). (2019). Worlds of Journalism: Journalistic Cultures Around the Globe. New York: Columbia University Press.

Harcup, T. (2020). What’s the Point of News? A Study in Ethical Journalism. Switzerland: Springer.

Hill, S. and Bradshaw, P. (2018). Mobile-First Journalism: Producing News for Social and Interactive media. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.

Kanigel, R. (2019). The Diversity Style Guide, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.

Lamble, S. (2016). News as it happens: an introduction to journalism, 3rd edtn. South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press, pp 121-146.

Len-Rios, M.E. and Perry, E.L. (2020). Cross-cultural journalism and strategic communication: storytelling and diversity, 2nd edtn. New York: Taylor and Francis.

Lind, RA. (2019). Race/Gender/Class/Media: Considering Diversity across Audiences, Content and Producers. New York: Routledge.

Lim, L. (2019). How Australia became the defamation capital of the world. The New York Times. Available at: https://nyti.ms/2xxnQu8

Metykova, M. (2016). Diversity and the Media, New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Newman, N. (2021). Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2021. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism website: https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/journalism-media-and-technology-trends-and-predictions-2021