Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the Journalism Major.

Aims & Objectives:

This course builds on the basic journalism skills taught in HAJM100 Journalism Practice I. Students will be given practical exercises and detailed feedback to sharpen their existing skills, as well learning how to structure and write more complex news stories. The concept of feature stories and “soft” news will be introduced and taught, again by using practical exercises. Students will learn the basics of using pictures, video and sound, both on their own and within a primarily text based story. Students will learn these skills as they apply to all media – print, broadcast and online.

After successfully completing this unit, you should:

§         Understand how concepts of news have changed over time, and how they are likely to change in the future due to new technology.

§         Be able to think through, structure and write more complex news stories, balancing background, quotation, précis and different points of view.

§         Have sharpened and developed your knowledge of current affairs, and how news is reported.

§         Understand the principles of using pictures, video and sound to tell a story.

§         Understand the principles of feature writing, and be able to write simple features.

§         Understand the difference between “hard” and “soft” news.

Teaching Methods:

1 hours lecture and 2 hour tutorial per week.

Assessment:

Generic Skills Outcomes:

You will be provided with feedback during the assessment for this unit of study on your progress in attaining the following generic skills:

§         analysis skills,

§         problem solving skills,

§         communications skills,

§         ability to tackle unfamiliar problems

§         ability to work independently

Content:

Students will learn more advanced writing skills, including more complex news stories and the writing of “soft” news and feature stories. Students will learn how to commute their news writing skills into telling stories with pictures and sound.

Reading Materials:

Ricketson, Matthew Writing Feature Stories Allen and Unwin 2004

White, Sally Reporting in Australia (Second Edition) Allen and Unwin 1996

Additional readings and course notes will be handed out in class.