Reporting and Editing for Print and Online Journalism

Description

This subject develops skills in research and reporting, and introduces editing for online and print media. Students extend their abilities as reporters by developing advanced research skills, and interviewing and writing techniques appropriate for the production of longer stories. Students are introduced to basic skills and strategies for the editing and publishing of stories for publication. They learn to shape stories for specific audiences by writing introductions, headlines, captions, and adding links and other online elements. Students develop an appreciation of the importance of accuracy and clarity for publishing, and consider ethical and legal implications that arise during the publishing process.

Subject objectives

a. Analyse news stories written for print and online publication

b. Evaluate the complex interplay between writing and editing

c. Apply copy-editing skills appropriate to target audiences

d. Consider legal and ethical implications in the publishing process

e. Reflect on their own practice

Teaching and learning strategies

Reporting and editing for print and online journalism will include lectures, tutorials, and workshops. Students will learn and apply a range of reporting and editing skills from researching and writing news features, selecting stories and editing them for publication in print and online. Editing includes appropriate hyper-linking, headline and caption writing, image sourcing and basic layout for print and online publication within an ethical and legal framework.

Content

News and news feature writing

Fundamentals of sub-editing

Legal implications of publishing

Ethical issues in media production

Analyses of issues in journalism

Assessment

Assessment task 1: News Story

Objective(s):

a, b and e

Weight: 20%

Length: 450 words each

Criteria:

Newsworthiness

Accuracy of reporting

Fairness of reporting

Clarity of English

Accuracy in application of text style

Accuracy in copy-editing

Assessment task 2: News Feature

Objective(s):

b and e

Weight: 35%

Length: 800 words

Criteria:

Accuracy of reporting

Fairness of reporting

Quality and range of sources

Attention to detail in copy-editing

Accuracy in application of text style

Aptness of headlines

Quality of sourced images

Assessment task 3: Editing for Print and Online Publication

Objective(s):

c, d and e

Weight: 45%

Criteria:

Editing for accuracy

Quality of images and their placement

Aptness of headlines and captions

Target audience awareness

Legal soundness