University of Technology Sydney

52642 Multimedia Features

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.

UTS: Communication: Journalism and Writing
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Anti-requisite(s): 54021 Narrative Multimedia Journalism AND 58210 Storytelling, Narrative and Features

Description

In this subject, students deepen their understanding of storytelling through longer and long form digital text writing and photojournalism in freelance and solo settings, using a variety of platforms. Students are introduced to the role of news narrative in the delineation of character, circumstance, conflict and resolution. They learn the mechanics of longform writing through research, story structure, voice, interviewing technique and language selection. Students acquire skills in the visual language of photojournalism and how to craft feature stories from pitch to publication. They explore innovative, digital uses of longform journalism via a range of cutting-edge tools and technologies and work with industry partners to curate and showcase their photojournalism work.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

a. Apply the methods and digital techniques used in contemporary journalism in text and visual storytelling
b. Demonstrate ethical journalistic practice
c. Develop skills in all aspects of storytelling from idea development to pitching, interviewing and editing
d. Employ multimedia elements to construct long-form narratives
e. Apply relevant theories and concepts to professional practice
f. Demonstrate a reflective, critical and contextual understanding of professional practice

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)
  • Analyse and act ethically in the personal, political and professional contexts of civil society (5.1)
  • 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

This subject is delivered through a combination of recorded lectures, practical tutorial activities and online modules for pre-class preparation. Recorded weekly lectures explore key subject themes, scholarly research and the latest industry trends in an Australian and global context. Classes develop students’ hands-on technical skills (including interviewing and editing), highlight best practice and provide students with individual feedback from tutors about their own story choices, provoking discussion and debate. To enhance their learning, students discuss lectures, industry exemplars, readings and their own story ideas and research, hear from industry guest lecturers and analyse contemporary case studies on the use of long form, text and photojournalism in industry. Students will, at times, work in groups but the emphasis will be on the individual acquisition of industry-oriented skills and knowledge. Students receive formative feedback on their assessments.

Content (topics)

The content includes the study of text-based features, news features and visual current affairs stories. It examines current trends in narrative journalism and includes reflection on digital journalism and communication theories concerning storytelling convergence and visual communication. These theories provide the framework for understanding story structure, interviewing, point of view and voice, as well as techniques used for listening and observation. There will be lectures on ethical and legal issues in journalism.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Photo Essay or News Story with Photos

Objective(s):

a, b, c, d, e and f

Weight: 20%
Length:

Option (a): Six photographs, 300 words in captions in total, plus headline

Option (b): Three photographs, 400 word news story plus captions, plus headline.

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Evidence of news values 25 b, e 1.1
Depth of interviews and diversity of perspectives 25 a, c 2.1
Composition of photographic elements 20 a, f 6.2
Cohesiveness of text and photographs as news 15 a, d 6.1
Accuracy of reporting and technical precision in multimedia elements 15 a, b 6.2
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Profile Feature

Objective(s):

a, b, c, e and f

Weight: 40%
Length:

650-word online text profile feature including at least 2 original photographs

300-word critical reflection statement

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Integration of wider reading and research 30 e 1.2
Suitability of interviews and angles selected 20 b, c 6.1
Accuracy and clarity of reporting 20 a 6.1
Depth of reflection on editorial decision-making 15 e, f 2.2
Demonstration of ethical journalistic practice 15 b, e 5.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Multimedia News Feature

Objective(s):

a, b, c and e

Weight: 40%
Length:

1,000-word text news feature including at least 2 original photographs

PLUS

3-minute podcast/audio piece OR 2-minute video

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Evidence of news values 25 b, e 1.1
Depth of research and evidence-gathering in multimedia elements 25 e 1.2
Suitability of interviews and angles chosen for storytelling 20 b, c 6.1
Adherence to structural conventions in multimedia elements 20 a, b 6.2
Demonstrated understanding of ethical practice in contemporary journalism 10 b, e 5.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

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

Links to required subject readings will be available on the UTS Canvas subject site.

References

Allan, S. (2017) Photojournalism and Citizen Journalism: Co-operation, Collaboration and Connectivity. (n.p.): Taylor & Francis.

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.

Caple, H. (2019). Photojournalism Disrupted: The View from Australia. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.

Cox, J. B. (2020). Feature Writing and Reporting: Journalism in the Digital Age. United States: SAGE Publications.

Dowling, D.O. (2019) Immersive longform storytelling: media, technology, audience. New York: Routledge.

Gleason, T.R. (2019) Photography. In Convergent Journalism: An Introduction: Writing and Producing across Media, V Filak (ed), 3rd edtn. New York: 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.

Kelly, J., Smith, K., and Josephson, S. (2020) Handbook of Visual Communication: Theory, Methods and Media, 2nd edtn. New York: Routledge.

Kovach, B. and Rosenstiel, T. (2014). The Elements of Journalism, 3rd edtn. Crown

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

Lowe, P. and Good, J. (2020). Understanding Photojournalism. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.

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

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.

Tilton, S. (2020). The Journalism Breakdown: Writing Multimedia Journalism Content in an Era of Changing Media Systems & Economic Models. (n.p.): Cfsc Publishing.

Veneti, A., Jackson, D. and Lilleker, D.G. (2019). Visual Political Communication. Germany: Springer International Publishing.