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Investigative Journalism (JOUR90013)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject builds on basic journalistic interview and research skills to introduce the discipline and advanced research techniques of investigative journalism. It discusses the ethics, obligations, role and challenges of investigative journalism in the western democratic tradition and, as appropriate, in other political contexts. Students will explore and interrogate a range of opportunities to source information: public records, open source intelligence, Freedom of Information legislation, crowd sourcing, data analysis, advanced verification and security and safety technologies. They will be introduced to the multiple ethical and legal issues involved in use of confidential sources and unauthorised disclosures, and how this relates to core journalistic ethical principles. Students will be strongly encouraged to initiate and undertake an investigation as part of the subject, with an option to pursue an analytical essay as an alternative.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Enlist story-based inquiry techniques to initiate, research, write and edit compelling investigative stories
- Access and analyse key public records, including land titles, company searches and legal documents
- Use Freedom of Information legislation and/or open source intelligence to obtain information from and about governments, organisations and companies
- Understand the principles and ethics of locating and cultivating human sources
- Understand the ethical and security issues raised by unauthorised disclosures and relationships of confidence with sources
- Understand the techniques, principles and potential of enlisting data, evolving technologies and social media to source and verify information
- Confidently conduct in depth and difficult interviews for journalistic purposes
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- High level ability to analyse writing techniques and affects
- High level ability to express thoughts, ideas and observations in accessible written English.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
Option 1
One of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
JOUR90001 | Researching/Writing Stories |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
JOUR90020 | International Journalism - Key Skills |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
OR
Option 2
Note: Students who have not completed the requisites JOUR90001 Researching and Writing Stories or JOUR90020 International Journalism - Key Skills but have previous industry experience may seek a waiver from the subject coordinator to enrol in this subject
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 |
---|---|---|
Plan of investigative project
| Early in the teaching period | 10% |
Essay or Draft
| Mid semester | 30% |
Written report or equivalent in audio or video investigative project OR analytical essay
| During the examination period | 60% |
Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Jo Chandler Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 24 Hours: comprising of a 2-hour seminar in each of the first twelve weeks of course. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 Hours
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.
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 100: 40 enrolments from students in the Master of Journalism or Graduate Diploma in Journalism (Advanced) and 60 enrolments from Master of International Journalism students. Selection is based on the order in which students enrol. Any students enrolling after the quota for their course has been reached will be notified then withdrawn and advised of the alternative subjects available. Self-enrolment will then be turned off for all students. Information about any remaining places for either cohort and any waitlists that may be in place will be published on the Journalism at the University of Melbourne community LMS site.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Detailed reading guide will be made available, plus additional internet-accessible reading issued weekly.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Journalism (Advanced) Course Master of International Journalism Course Master of Journalism - 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
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024