Master of Journalism

The program is designed for students who are interested in pursuing careers in journalism and journalism-related fields, and for journalists and other professional practitioners working in the contemporary media industry who wish to develop additional advanced skills and knowledge.

The program teaches the full range of journalism skills and critically engages with the professional conventions of journalism, with ethical and legal issues that impact on journalism, and with contemporary questions such as how new media technologies influence journalism practices. Students will:

• learn real-world skills from leading industry practitioners;
• engage with important and challenging issues facing the Australian and global media industries;
• gain a theoretical and practical grounding in issues such as civics, governance, citizenship, and leadership;
• investigate key concepts that frame recent developments in fields such as media law, management theory, globalisation, health policy, and climate change; and
• undertake an internship with an external organisation, and gain valuable practical experience and extend your professional networks.

Students who complete the Master of Journalism should be able to:

• meet the needs of those wishing to become journalists, as well as mid career journalists building on their skills and knowledge;
• assist journalists to reflect on professional issues and develop me and innovative forms of practice;
• link theory and practice in a way that has not been achieved in graduate programs at other universities;
• equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to shape the profession at a time of great change;
• take a real-world profession-based approach to delivery, through the use of case-based teaching and the production of high quality journalism by students; and
• use flexible delivery modes including intensives and after-hours contact so as to ensure that the course is accessible to working students.

200 point program

Duration: 2 years full-time / 4 years part-time

Coursework Only Option:

• five compulsory subjects (75 points)
• elective subjects (125 points)

or

Minor Thesis Option:

• five compulsory subjects (75 points)
• JOUR90002 Journalism Thesis (37.5 points)
• elective subjects (87.5 points)

150 point program

Duration: 1.5 years full-time / up to 3 years part-time

• minimum of 50 points of core subjects
• remaining 100 points can be made up other core subjects or elective subjects

100 point program

Duration: 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time

• core subjects (minimum of 50 points)
• other core subjects or elective subjects (remaining 50 points)

Capstone Requirement:

All students are required to complete the Capstone Requirement for the program (at least 25 points). Students must complete one capstone option:

Capstone Stream 1: JOUR90002 Journalism Thesis (37.5 points)

Purpose: An opportunity to integrate knowledge and research skills to address a specific Journalism research by planning and executing a substantial research-based project.

Capstone Stream 2: JOUR90012 Journalism Project (37.5 points)

Purpose: An opportunity to complete a substantial professionally focussed project under industry standard supervision. This might be a book, portfolio of articles or other substantial journalistic project.

Capstone Stream 3: JOUR90010 Newsroom-Applied Professional Practice (12.5 points) and JOUR90003 Journalism Internship (12.5 points)

Purpose: An opportunity to complete a professionally focussed project under industry standard supervision, aimed at publication in The Citizen, and participating in the newsroom experience and also completing a 20 day placement in the industry.

For policies that govern this degree, see Academic Services Policy in the University Melbourne Policy Framework.

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

• an undergraduate degree with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent.

Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• prior academic performance; and
• relevance of previous studies.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 7 is required.

Applicants with the following may be awarded up to 50 points of credit:

• an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%) or equivalent; or
• an undergraduate degree in any discipline and a Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%) or equivalent; or
• an undergraduate degree in any discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%) or equivalent, and at least one year of documented, relevant work experience.

Applicants with the following may be awarded up to 100 points of credit:

• an honours degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent; or

• an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent, and at least two years of documented, relevant work experience.

Applicants seeking credit for relevant work experience must document their experience with a brief curriculum vitae detailing the experience, contact details of two referees who can confirm the authenticity and nature of the experience claimed, and a covering letter that explains how the experience is relevant to the program and prepares them for it.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Students who successfully complete the minor thesis with an overall grade point average of 75% or greater in their degree may be eligible to enrol in a higher research degree.

Academically excellent:

• The program will be taught by leading industry practitioners;
• It will introduce students to key concepts in journalism in the context of the most recent scholarship in the field;
• Students will gain a deep understanding of the changing contexts in which the profession operates, such as globalisation, changing business models, and the impact of new technologies on business models and professional practice.

Knowledgeable across disciplines:

• Journalism is by nature an interdisciplinary profession requiring deep knowledge across a variety of specialised fields and the course is designed to reflect this;

• Through the diverse curriculum of the course students will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of major ideas and recent developments in fields such as media law, management theory, globalisation, development studies, international relations, Islamic culture, health policy, climate change, and the environment.

Leaders in Communities:

• As journalism is by nature a public-facing profession concerned with questions of civil society and leadership, students will gain a theoretical and practical grounding in issues such as civics, governance, citizenship and leadership.

Attuned to cultural diversity:

• The course places a major emphasis on issues of cultural diversity in its content, with its emphasis on issues of global development and cultural difference, and is at the same time expected to attract a diverse local and international cohort.

Active global citizens:

• Journalism is by nature a profession oriented around notions of active citizenship, both on the parts of its practitioners and consumers, and is demonstrated by the blurring of lines between the two;

• Students will, above all, acquire the skills to report on and engage in public debate, and to foster active citizenry in others.

For further information, please see http://learningandteaching.unimelb.edu.au/curriculum/graduates