ALJ304 - Local Journalism

Unit details

Note: You are seeing the 2021 view of this unit information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year:

2021 unit information

Important Update:

Unit delivery will continue to be provided in line with the most current COVIDSafe health guidelines. This may include a mix of on-campus and online activities. To find out how you are impacted, please check your unit sites for announcements and updates. Unit sites open one week prior to the start of each Trimester/Semester.

Thank you for your flexibility and commitment to studying with Deakin in 2021.

Last updated: 4 June 2021

Enrolment modes:Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Trimester 3: Online
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 2: Kristy Hess
Trimester 3: Kristy Hess
Cohort rule:

Nil

Prerequisite:

ALJ111

Corequisite:

Nil

Incompatible with:

Nil

Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

Scheduled learning activities - campus:
Burwood: 1 x 2 hour seminar (weeks 2-10), 1 x 2-hour online seminar (weeks 1 & 11)
 
Waurn Ponds: 2 x 8 hour intensives (weeks 2 & 8), 1 x 2-hour online seminar (weeks 1, 5, 11)
Scheduled learning activities - cloud:

1 x 2 online seminar per week

Content

Explore the practice and theory of local and community journalism in Australia and across the globe through the approaches adopted by these kinds of news outlets. You will be encouraged to examine and debate the relevance of these forms of journalism and their relationship to the 'mainstream' media in an increasingly globalised and digitised media world. You will develop pieces of local journalism in a variety of styles and be encouraged to publish your work in relevant print, broadcast or online contexts. You will be prepared to critically engage with the norms and conventions shaping journalistic practices and how they relate to these aspects of journalism.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1

Identify, research, plan and produce newsworthy stories suitable for local media and analyse theoretical issues relevant to local and community media in Australia and other western societies

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO3: Digital literacy

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO5: Problem solving

GLO6: Self-management

ULO2

Demonstrate high-level communication skills including the ability to interview, write, produce and present stories for hyperlocal, regional and community media in a style appropriate to the specific production and audience

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO3: Digital literacy

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO5: Problem solving

GLO6: Self-management

ULO3

Conduct academic and news-related research and analyse, synthesise and disseminate this information using a range of technologies, including social media for local audiences

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO3: Digital literacy

GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO4

Select, critically analyse, and evaluate information relating to the construction of news stories for local and community media and demonstrate critical awareness of different publication styles and audiences

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO5: Problem solving

GLO6: Self-management

ULO5

Analyse unpredictable and sometimes complex problems and situations that effect local and community news production and devise creative solutions in a journalistic and academic context

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO5: Problem solving

GLO6: Self-management

ULO6

Demonstrate initiative and resourcefulness when sourcing news stories and information for hyperlocal and community outlets

Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility and accountability under time pressure and an ongoing commitment to reflective learning about journalism and journalism practice in regards to this specialised area of reporting

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO6: Self-management

These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1 - Field report 2000 words 50% Week 6
Assessment 2 - Practical work 2000 words
or equivalent
50% Week 11

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: ALJ304 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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