Key facts

UNE unit code: COMM532

*You are viewing the 2024 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start
  • Trimester 2 - Online
Campus
  • Armidale Campus
24/7 online support
  • Yes
Intensive schools
  • No
Supervised exam
  • No
Credit points
  • 6

Unit information

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News journalism and the media space is a rapidly changing environment with many different social, political and financial factors at play.

In this unit you’ll cover conceptual knowledge of contemporary practices across news media and journalism.

The unit introduces you to journalism in the context of global networked environments, convergent media and multiplatform practices in news.

You will explore short-form and long-form journalism, and develop knowledge of genres, styles, news values, and intersections with social media, as well as ethics in journalism. You’ll also learn about related industry and government regulations.

Offerings

For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.

Teaching period
Mode/location
Trimester 2Online

*Offering is subject to availability

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites
candidature in a postgraduate award
Restrictions
COMM332
Combined units

Notes

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

profile photo of Lewis Fitz-Gerald
Lewis Fitz-GeraldLecturer - Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education; School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate advanced knowledge of news genres, styles, practices and ethics in journalism;
  2. interpret and apply critical terms, concepts and approaches to analyse news media forms and practices including online journalism techniques;
  3. apply analysis and research skills to examine digital shifts in news media and journalism, including knowledge of institutions, government and agencies, as well as social, political and ethical implications of news media;
  4. communicate informed responses to practices and production of news media through extended critical analysis, including reflection and writing on the key features of news and digital journalism; and
  5. demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to participate in wider debate and research concerning media futures and issues relating to the social, political and ethical roles in news and journalism.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

TitleMust CompleteWeightOfferingsAssessment Notes
Assessment 1Yes40%All offerings

Text-based activities

No. Words: 2500

Assessment 2Yes60%All offerings

Essay

No. Words: 3500

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library — purchase is optional.

See Note

Note: Journal: Dowd, C., The new order of news and social media enterprises: visualisations, linked data, and new methods and practices in journalism. Accessible via In Communication Research and Practice, Vol. 2, 2016, Issue 1, pp.97-110.

Text refers to: All offerings

Digital Journalism, Drones and Automation: The Language and Abstractions Behind the News

ISBN: 9780190655877

Dowd, C., Oxford University Press 2020

Note: Also available in hardback, ISBN 9780190655860. E-book not yet available.

Text refers to: All offerings

Ethics for Digital Journalists: Emerging Best Practices

ISBN: 9780415858854

Zion, L. and Craig, D., Routledge 2015

Note: An e-book is also available (ISBN: 9781135114237).

Text refers to: All offerings

News As It Happens: An Introduction to Journalism

ISBN: 9780190303747

Lamble, S., Oxford University Press 3rd ed. 2016

Note: Also available as an e-book (ISBN: 9780190303754).

Text refers to: All offerings

Convergent Media and Privacy

ISBN: 9781137306869

Dwyer, T., Palgrave McMillan UK 2016

Note: Also available as an e-book (ISBN: 9781137306876).

Text refers to: All offerings

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