Writing and Editing for Magazines (PUBL90013)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| 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: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOUR90001 | Researching/Writing Stories |
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
25 |
| JOUR90020 | International Journalism - Key Skills |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
25 |
| MECM40011 | Writing for the Media | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MECM90024 | Strategic Content Creation |
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| PUBL90002 | Editorial English |
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| PUBL90006 | Writing and Editing for Digital Media |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - 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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Three feature story pitches
| Week 4 | 20% |
Feature story and pitch
| Week 8 | 30% |
Magazine issue plan (group presentation) and feature story (individual submission) Length: 500 words (individual student component of group presentation) 1500 words (feature story)
| Presentation in week 12, feature story at the end of non-teaching period | 50% |
| Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Matt Holden Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Total 24 hours: 1x two hour workshop, taught weekly Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 February 2023 to 28 May 2023 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2023 Census date 31 March 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2023 Assessment period ends 23 June 2023 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
122
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Creative Writing, Publishing and Editing - 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.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
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
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 31 January 2024