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Text and Audio Journalism (MECM20013)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 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 1
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject teaches the craft of writing hard and soft news stories for a range of digital and print mass media news publications. With an emphasis on news writing, students learn what news is and how (and why) news priorities and story treatment may differ between print, broadcast and online. Students will learn how to write news and feature stories, as well as producing one piece of broadcast journalism. Students learn how accuracy, as well as clear and concise language. The subject introduces the core skill of interviewing with students provided with ample opportunity to put into practice what is covered in both lectures and classes. The subject also looks at professional codes of ethics and editorial policies. On completion of this subject students should have a strong grasp of current journalistic practices and required skills.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
- Have increased understanding of pathways to the workforce and professional life in contemporary news media writing (or continued study), and journalists' codes of ethics
- Demonstrate a developing knowledge of current journalistic practices, editorial policies, and required skills, including for online publishing
- The skills to write effectively both for text and audio platforms, and to make editorial assessments about peers' writing
- Demonstrate a general understanding of current media law and how it directly impacts on journalists.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- An understanding of the imperatives of contemporary journalism
- The ability to demonstrate competence in writing for the media, including optimum communication techniques and methodology
- The ability to make editorial assessments of how effectively a story has communicated facts and concepts.
Last updated: 22 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
MECM30010 Writing Journalism
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: 22 February 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
News story
| Week 4 | 25% |
Feature story
| Week 8 | 25% |
Audio feature
| During the examination period | 25% |
Tutorial tasks
| From Week 2 to Week 10 | 25% |
Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures. | 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: 22 February 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Louisa Lim Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 30 hours: a 1-hour lecture and a 1.5-hour tutorial per week. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2024 to 26 May 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 March 2024 Census date 3 April 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 May 2024 Assessment period ends 21 June 2024 Semester 1 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.
Last updated: 22 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
An online subject reader will be available.
Recommended texts and other resources
Lamble, S., 2011, News As It Happens, OUP
Adobe Creative Cloud can be used in this subject, it is recommended that you purchase a licence via Student IT https://studentit.unimelb.edu.au/software#adobecc
- Subject notes
- This subject is not available as Breadth. This subject is available to students enrolled in the BA (Media and Communications)
- Students who have completed 100-105/100-205 Writing Journalism are not eligible to enrol in this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major Media 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.
- 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: 22 February 2024