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Writing and Editing for Magazines (PUBL90013)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 25On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject provides an overview of magazine writing, editing and publishing, with special emphasis on the skills needed to successfully produce magazines today. We examine how magazine editors conceive of audiences, and how they create print and digital magazines that serve the needs and desires of those audiences. Students will study how editors turn ideas into stories, and work with the magazine production team to give a story its final form. Students will learn how writers pitch ideas to editors, and to research and write magazine feature stories. We study the commercial aspects of magazine publishing – advertising, sales, marketing and promotion – and investigate innovative magazine business models in a time of great change and disruption in publishing. We examine how a magazine develops from concept to finished product, including launch proposal, project planning, scheduling and budgeting. Our focus is not solely on print, but on the magazine as a form that continues to evolve in response to social and technological change.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, the student should understand
- How magazine publishing works
- The magazine production process, in all its stages
- How to develop and pitch magazine story ideas
- How to research and write magazine feature stories
- Innovation in magazine publishing and its business models
- Necessary steps in the creation and launching of new magazines
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- high-level written and oral communication skills through contribution to class discussions, the completion of exercises and assignments, wide reading on issues of contemporary publishing processes, and exposure to the protocols of editorial practice;
- effective teamwork through group discussions and collaborative exercises;
- cultural and ethical understanding through reflection and rreading and practical experience of the editor's ethical responsibilities to both authors and readers;
- skills in information technology literacy and understanding of information management through participation in computer laboratory sessions and completion of exercises and assignments;
- skills in research, including the use of online as well as print-based materials in the course of exercises and assignments;
- skills in time management and planning through managing workloads for recommended reading, tutorial presentations and assessment requirements; and
- a capacity for critical analysis through engagement and critique of a range of publishing strategies.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students who have successfully completed one or more of the listed prerequisite subjects can enrol in PUBL90013 Writing and Editing for Magazines.
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PUBL90002 | Editorial English |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
JOUR90001 | Researching/Writing Stories |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
MECM90024 | Writing for Marketing Communication |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
PUBL90006 | Writing and Editing for Digital Media |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
MECM40011 | Writing for the Media | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Three story pitches to three different magazines (1000 words), due in week 4 of semester (10%)
- A piece of sponsored content for a magazine and a content strategy (2000 words), due in mid semester (25%)
- A long-form magazine feature story developed from one of the ideas pitched in assessment 1 (2500 words), due late in semester (25%)
- A group project consisting of a magazine launch proposal (4000 words total) - class presentation component (10%, 1000 words equivalent) to be presented in the last week of teaching; and the associated report to be submitted in the examination period (30%, 3000 words equivalent) (40% total)
- Hurdle: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Matt Holden Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 48 hours: 1x4-hour workshop, taught weekly Total time commitment 340 hours Teaching period 26 February 2018 to 27 May 2018 Last self-enrol date 9 March 2018 Census date 31 March 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 4 May 2018 Assessment period ends 22 June 2018 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
340 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
A subject reader will be available.
Recommended texts and other resources
Baverstock, Bowen & Carey. 'How to Get A Job In Publishing', A&C Black, London: 2009.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Creative Writing, Publishing and Editing Informal specialisation 150 Point Master of Journalism Informal specialisation 200 Point Master of Journalism Informal specialisation 200 Point Master of Publishing and Communications Informal specialisation 150 Point Master of Publishing and Communications Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Journalism Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Publishing and Communications - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 3 November 2022