Audio Journalism

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours

Must be enrolled in one of the following programs:

• Master of Journalism program (MC-JOURN)
• Advanced Graduate Certificate in Journalism
• Advanced Graduate Diploma in Journalism

Students in the 200 point Master of Journalism program should complete JOUR90001 Researching and Writing Stories before doing this unit.

None

See prerequisites

None

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject provides a solid grounding in audio journalism skills. The structure of news and current affairs reports is analysed, and training in recording and editing sound packages, and in scripting and presenting is provided. Ethical considerations relevant to audio journalism are canvassed in the context of ‘quality’ journalism, with its roots in serving the public interest, objective scrutiny and fact-based reporting.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

• Have a developed sense of what constitutes a broadcast news or current affairs story;
• Be able to compile, script, file and broadcast a broadcast news story, using audio tools,
• Be able to apply high level research and fact-checking skills to investigate news stories;
• Have developed practical skills for recording, editing and filing news and current affairs stories;
• Have developed expertise in interviews, and voicing scripts;
• Demonstrate a high-level of narrative story-telling and written and oral communication skills across news and current affairs audio and stories;
• Be equipped to critically reflect on challenges that journalists face across different media today and into the near future.

• News story package (equivalent to 800 words), due early in semester, 20%
• Current affairs package (equivalent to 2000 words), due mid-semester, 30%
• Current affairs package (equivalent to 1500 words), due late in semester, 20%
• Two short in-class writing exercises (one on using the multimedia equipment and one on Story Structure and Workflow) (equivalent to 500 words), throughout the semester, 20%
• Attendance and participation, throughout semester, 10%

Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass the subject.

Alysen, Barbara, The Electronic Reporter, (3rd Ed. 2012)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject should

• understand the fundamental principles for making critical and ethical judgments regarding professional journalism practice;
• be able to evaluate the dynamic processes of change operating in contemporary media and communication industries;
• demonstrate skills in journalistic research, analysis and interpretation;
• demonstrate skills in writing, reporting and communicating facts and ideas;
• demonstrate time management and planning skills through managing and organising workloads;\
• have acquired cultural and ethical understanding through reflection, reading and practical experience of journalists’ responsibilities;
• demonstrate an understanding of how to market their own ideas and successfully pursue careers in an increasingly diversified and transforming industry environment.