52646 Investigations, Data and Collaboration
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 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 16 credit points of completed study in spk(s): MAJ10046 Journalism Major OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): MAJ09478 48cp Journalism Major OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): MAJ09486 48cp Journalism Major
Anti-requisite(s): 54023 Investigating: Data, Tools and Stories
Description
This subject introduces students to a suite of digital tools for research and practice in investigative journalism, and methods for analysing, verifying and visualising data for journalistic purposes. Students explore the capabilities and limitations of competing investigative methodologies, and the role of public interest investigative journalism. They develop investigative open-source research skills, the capacity to critically assess and verify information and practice techniques used in data investigations. Students are introduced to investigative cross-border collaborations such as The Panama Papers, the Implant Files and Football Leaks to understand how journalists collaborate on large datasets, manage data leaks, use open-source information and report transnational issues. By the end of the session, students have the skills to produce innovative, collaborative, multimedia reporting that incorporates data visualisations, audio, text, stills and video.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| a. | Evaluate ideas for investigative research |
|---|---|
| b. | Analyse the effectiveness of a range of investigative research techniques |
| c. | Produce narrative-based investigative journalism |
| d. | Explain the ethical issues involved in investigative journalism as a form of evidence-based journalism |
| e. | Apply equity and diversity principles in reportage |
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)
- 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 online lectures, interactive tutorials and extensive online, open resources on Canvas for data-driven research skills and traditional investigative research. Lectures feature current examples of investigative reporting across multiple platforms as well as data-driven reporting which students explore in tutorials. In weekly activities, students develop and apply a range of investigative literacies. They receive formative feedback on their use of basic tools and techniques of investigative reporting in the course of the teaching session. Students discuss and evaluate examples of investigative journalism through in-class presentations and in online discussions. Presentations from industry professionals, videos, exercises, project consultations and case studies, contribute to the learning opportunities
Content (topics)
This subject focuses on the tools and techniques of digital investigative journalism, in particular open source research to verify and analyse information. Students learn how data are sourced, analysed, visualised and verified for audience consumption. Students also learn how to access various sources of information, including how to submit Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. They are introduced to the growing field of collaborative journalism, its ethical and geographical challenges and the associated legal issues of large collaborative projects that cross borders. Using advanced research techniques, topics to be covered include emerging journalistic technologies, the importance of contacts to journalistic practice, how to develop and manage contact relationships and User Generated Content (UGC) to produce content. Students also learn how to include equitable and diverse sources in the reporting of their investigations.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Class discussion and engagement
| Objective(s): | a, b and d | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 30% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | Not applicable | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Data-driven story
| Objective(s): | a, b, c and d | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1000 words of copy (not including headline, captions, source list) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Investigative feature
| Objective(s): | a, b, c and d | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 30% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 3000 words text Or 10 mins video Or 15 mins audio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
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
Required readings will be uploaded to each module before class. Here are other recommended texts:
Hunter, M.L. (2011). Story Based Inquiry: A Manual for Investigative Journalists, UNESCO Publishing. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000193078
Cushion, S., Lewis, J. & Callaghan, R. (2017). Data journalism, impartiality and statistical claims: Towards more independent scrutiny in news reporting, Journalism Practice, 11(10), 1198-215.
Henninger, M. (2013). Information sources and data discovery. In A. Knight (Ed.), Challenge and change: Reassessing journalism's global future (pp.185-215). UTS ePress.
Houston, B. (2009). The investigative reporter's handbook: a guide to documents, databases and techniques (5th ed.). Bedford/St. Martin's.
Loosen, W., Reimer, J. & De Silva-Schmidt, F. (2017). Data-driven reporting: An on-going (r) evolution? An analysis of projects nominated for the Data Journalism Awards 2013–2016, Journalism. 21(9), 1246-1263. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884917735691
Newman, N. (2021). Journalism, media and technology trends and predictions 2021. Reuters Institute. https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2021-01/Newman_Predictions_2021_FINAL.pdf
Pearson, M. and Polden M. (2019). The journalist's guide to media law: a handbook for communicators in a digital world (6th ed.). Allen & Unwin.
Rusbridger, A. (2018). Breaking News: The Re-Making of Journalism and Why it Matters Now, Canongate Books.
Steensen, S. and Westlund, O. (2020). What is Digital Journalism Studies? Routledge.
Tilton, S. (2020). The Journalism Breakdown: Writing Multimedia Journalism Content in an Era of Changing Media Systems & Economic Models. (n.p.): Cfsc Publishing.
Zelizer, B. (2017). What Journalism Could Be. Polity Press.