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Sub-edit and lay out feature stories for print publication
Level
6
Credits
45
Purpose
This unit standard is for people who are employed in news media outlets and
who are required to sub-edit and lay out feature stories for publication in
newspapers, magazines or periodicals.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: select feature stories,
identify key issues to be sub-edited, produce briefs and gather information;
sub-edit feature stories for publication; write headlines for the sub-edited
feature stories; source, assemble and process images and captions to
accompany feature stories; and lay out feature stories for publication.
Subfield
Journalism
Domain
Applied Journalism
Status
Registered
Status date
17 April 2009
Date version published
17 April 2009
Planned review date
31 December 2013
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and
industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Competenz
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0002
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
Evidence presented for award of credit must be in accordance with the required
standards for applied journalism, found in the current editions of: Statement of
Principles (Wellington: New Zealand Press Council, 2006) available at
http://www.presscouncil.org.nz/principles.html – for print journalism.
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2
Industry texts:
Burrows, John, and Cheer, Ursula, Media Law in New Zealand, (South Melbourne:
Oxford University Press, 5th edition, 2005);
Lee, Allan, and Treadwell, Greg, Newspaper Editing and Design: a guide to
production journalism, (Pearson Prentice Hall. 1st edition 2009);
Tully, Jim (ed), Intro: A Beginner's Guide to Professional News Journalism
(Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 4th
edition, 2008).
3
This unit standard has been designed for learning and assessment in the workplace.
For assessment against this unit standard candidates will submit a portfolio
containing:
 three feature stories they have sub-edited and laid out;
 three headlines they have written for the sub-edited stories;
 three feature page layouts for the sub-edited stories.
4
The sub-edited stories, headlines, and feature page layouts used for assessment
against this unit standard will have been completed within times set by the news
media outlet and will have been published in a newspaper, magazine or periodical.
5
Definitions
the appropriate person refers to the person within the news media outlet who
ensures that stories meet the requirements of the industry standards. This person
may include the check sub-editor, senior sub-editor, chief sub-editor, news editor,
features editor or editor, author of feature;
a brief describes the main purpose of the story and contains the reasons for the story
being sub-edited. Approval for the brief will be given by the appropriate person in
accordance with industry standards;
feature stories (also known as feature articles or news backgrounders) are stories
that do not necessarily break news, but take an in-depth look at a subject. They offer
a broader perspective of a news event or issue, or profile of a person in the news or
who is important to a community. They may or may not be time-critical. Feature
stories may include but are not limited to – immediate features that background
breaking news, feature packages, stand-alone features, feature profiles, human
interest, sports, business, social, community, special interest;
images refer to photographs, diagrams, info-graphics, audio or visual requirements;
industry standards refers to the required standards for applied journalism and the
industry texts and sources cited in the special notes as well as documented policies
and procedures set down by the workplace;
publication refers to publication in newspapers, magazines or periodicals, depending
on the activities of the news media outlet.
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Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Select feature stories, identify key issues to be sub-edited, produce briefs and gather
information in accordance with industry standards.
Performance criteria
1.1
Feature stories for sub-editing are selected and key issues are identified.
Range
evidence is required for three feature stories, each identifying six
key issues that require sub-editing. These issues may be in the
stories or may be required additionally from the author;
key issues may include but are not limited to – media law, ethical
considerations, accuracy of content, style, tone of content.
1.2
A brief is produced for each story, and approval for each brief is obtained from
the appropriate person.
1.3
Information for sub-editing the feature stories is gathered and recorded to meet
the requirements of the approved briefs.
Range
may include but is not limited to –
direct quotes, reported speech, style, standard grammar,
paraphrases, summaries, documented facts;
packages (graphics, breakouts, vox pops);
context/background information about people referred to in feature
stories – full name, age, gender, occupation, honorific, marital
status;
statistical and numerical information, general historic and
background information, gathering information for a standfirst;
discussing the appropriate tone, thrust and writing style of the
story with the author.
Element 2
Sub-edit feature stories for publication in accordance with industry standards and following
the approved briefs.
Range
evidence is required for each key issue identified in element 1.
Performance criteria
2.1
Feature stories are sub-edited following the guidelines in the industry text.
2.2
Opinion and controversial facts are clearly identified and attributed.
2.3
Feedback on the draft sub-editing is sought from the appropriate person/s,
before publication deadline and all information relating to the changes made is
recorded and stored.
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2.4
Sub-edited feature stories are revised to incorporate the changes required from
the feedback.
2.5
Final sub-edited versions of the feature stories meet the requirements of the
approved briefs.
Element 3
Write headlines for the sub-edited feature stories in accordance with industry standards
and following the approved briefs.
Range
evidence is required for one headline for each story sub-edited in element 2.
Performance criteria
3.1
Headlines are written ensuring that type size and weight are appropriate to the
length of the stories and fit the prescribed space for the page layouts.
Range
consider – importance and rating in relation to other stories,
position of stories on page;
headlines may include but are not limited to – single column multideck, multi-column multi-deck, single deck “splash”, single deck
main with supplementary.
3.2
Headlines are clear, accurate and in keeping with the stories.
3.3
Headlines reflect the thrust and substance of the stories and meet the
requirements of media law and ethical issues as set out in the industry texts.
3.4
Feedback on the draft headlines is sought from the appropriate person, before
publication deadline. All information associated with the writing of the headlines
is recorded and stored.
3.5
The sub-edited headlines are revised to incorporate the changes required from
the feedback.
Element 4
Source, assemble and process images and captions to accompany the feature stories.
Performance criteria
4.1
Images are sourced and assembled in accordance with design requirements
and industry standards.
4.2
Images are examined for their appropriateness to the stories, and processed to
meet the requirements of the approved briefs.
Range
legal and ethical standards, accuracy, cropping, image
manipulation, suitability for reproduction.
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4.3
Feedback on the proposed images is sought from the appropriate person/s.
4.4
Captions identifying images for the stories are checked and edited in
accordance with design requirements and industry standards.
4.5
Assembled images and captions are accurate and appropriate for the stories.
Element 5
Lay out feature stories in accordance with industry standards and following the approved
briefs.
Range
evidence is required for one layout for each story sub-edited in element 2. Two
layouts will occupy a full page or the majority of that page. The third will occupy
a half page or the majority of that page.
Performance criteria
5.1
Feature stories are laid out following the guidelines in the industry text.
Range
overlaying headlines, standfirsts and body copy on images; size
and weight for headlines, strap lines, reversing type, drop-caps,
par-breakers, positioning of headlines and type, juxtaposition of
type (headlines, standfirsts and body copy), images.
5.2
A draft page layout is produced for each story. The layouts demonstrate that all
stories, headlines and images selected for the layouts fit the prescribed space.
5.3
The draft layouts link images/graphics to the appropriate stories.
5.4
The draft layouts avoid clashes with competing opposite features and/or news
stories and advertisements on the same page.
5.5
The draft layouts are in accordance with typographical conventions as set out in
the industry texts.
5.6
Feedback on the draft layouts is sought from the appropriate person/s before
publication deadline, and all information is recorded and stored.
5.7
The draft layouts are revised to incorporate the changes required from the
feedback.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
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Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact Competenz info@competenz.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes to the
content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016