57085 Digital Journalism and Beyond
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 8 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject provides students with hands-on experience in digital storytelling, expanding on the use of text, audio and video towards newer forms such as mobile and virtual/augmented reality. Under expert guidance, students produce a portfolio of journalistic work that places a high value on experimentation, innovation and immersive storytelling. Students engage in research, reflection and analysis to examine issues that emerge from their own reporting, the work of colleagues and industry best practices. They are encouraged to use short- and long-form techniques, and experiment with using other attributes of contemporary media to create new journalistic experiences.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| a. | Identify current debates in visual and audio storytelling, including immersive journalism. |
|---|---|
| b. | Analyse the characteristics of current trends in journalistic practice |
| c. | Create a high quality portfolio of online journalistic work |
| d. | Reflect on their own reporting in relation to standards of excellence |
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:
- Possess an advanced understanding of the professional skills and techniques in a range of contexts appropriate to contemporary journalism practice (1.1)
- Apply a high level of initiative to create content using multiple techniques and within industry accepted frameworks of accountability (1.2)
- Reflect critically on the theory and professional practice of contemporary journalism (2.2)
- Plan and execute a substantial research-based project, demonstrating advanced communication and technical research skills (2.3)
- Demonstrate advanced skills in engagement to enable effective communication with multiple stakeholders, using traditional and emerging techniques (6.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject involves weekly classes delivered as a 90 minute interactive seminar that will be used for developing journalistic skills for multiplatform production. Students will receive formative feedback throughout the subject through online meetings during the seminar. Students will incorporate discussions of readings, debates on current practices, and examples of case studies, including ‘newsroom’ sessions later in the semester. An online Canvas classroom will be used to post and discuss examples of current trends in journalistic practice. A website building boot camp will take place in Week 1. Mandatory workshops will then run throughout the session and aim to assist students to learn and/or refresh skills in the use of audio and video equipment.
Content (topics)
This subject will focus on concepts related to audio and video production, writing for online platforms, and long form storytelling. Topics include emerging storytelling trends, and creativity in in-depth journalism. It is imperative that students are equipped with current journalism storytelling techniques. This subject will cover the overall process of journalism practice, which includes the pitching of their journalistic story, reflecting a clear mapping and planning of their journalistic project. It also allows students to focus on in-depth reporting, taking into account creative story-telling methods which are integral to current industry practices. The subject will then allow students to reflect on their practice, showcasing not only a critical analysis of their work, but also illustrating their understanding of current scholarly and industry debates. Overall this subject builds on cutting edge practices and developments in the field.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Project Pitch
| Objective(s): | a and d | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 20% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 10-minute presentation and 500 word report submitted to Canvas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Long-form Multiplatform Production Project
| Objective(s): | a, b and c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1200 text words plus a total of 3-minutes video, 5 minutes audio, and 5 original images. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Critical Reflection
| Objective(s): | a, b, c and d | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 30% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1500 words | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
In this subject assessment tasks are cumulative so that each task builds understanding and/or skills, informed by formative feedback. Consequently, all assessments must be submitted in order for you to receive feedback. Students who do not submit all assessments will not pass the subject.
Required texts
There are no required texts for this subject. Recommended readings will be available via UTS library and Canvas.