NZQA registered unit standard
27219 version 1
Page 1 of 5
Title
Write a variety of news stories for publication and broadcast
Level
5
Purpose
Credits
25
This unit standard is intended for people studying journalism in
an off-job situation.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: write a
variety of news stories for publication and broadcast; and
select graphics and write captions.
Classification
Journalism > Journalism Skills
Available grade
Achieved
Entry information
Recommended skills
and knowledge
Unit 27218, Gather and record information and plan news
stories for publication and broadcast.
Explanatory notes
1
All evidence requirements must be in accordance with the minimum standards for
professional journalism, found in the current editions of: Statement of Principles
(Wellington: New Zealand Press Council, 2006) available at
http://www.presscouncil.org.nz/principles.php – for print journalism; the Codes of the
New Zealand Radio Code of Broadcasting Practice (Wellington: New Zealand
Broadcasting Standards Authority, 2008) available at http://bsa.govt.nz/radio-code/.
These standards encompass – the Radio Code, the Free-to-Air Television Code, the
Pay Television Code.
2
Industry text includes:
– Tully, Jim (ed), Intro: A Beginner's Guide to Professional News Journalism
(Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 4th edition, 2008).
3
Relevant legislation:
Broadcasting Act 1989;
Copyright Act 1994;
Defamation Act 1992;
Electoral Act 1993;
Human Rights Act 1993;
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990;
Personal Property Securities Act 1999 (Section 173, sub-section k);
Privacy Act 1993;
Telecommunications Act 2001;
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27219 version 1
Page 2 of 5
Terrorism Suppression Act 2002;
Trespass Act 1980;
Victims' Rights Act 2002.
Relevant laws and legal conventions include:
Court Newspaper Rule;
Law of breach of confidence;
Rules on reporting Parliament;
Tort of breach of privacy;
Tort of defamation;
Tort of trespass.
4
Assessment
Evidence is required for a minimum of 20 news stories of publishable standard on a
range of topics. The stories must include a minimum of two stories for three of the
following four platforms – radio, print, internet, television and must not be about local
government, court, or police proceedings.
It is not necessary for captions to be used in every news story, but evidence is
required that the student understands the requirements for these.
5
Definitions
breaking news refers to how news stories develop as more facts and comment
become available;
captions refer to the words that identify the graphic’s content and names identifiable
subjects. Captions may be a label, a sentence, or an extended caption;
graphic refers to but is not limited to – illustration, infographic, photograph, line
drawing, table, graph, cartoon, general artwork, video;
house style refers to the conventions used when writing text for print, radio, television
and internet;
minimum standards for professional journalism refers to the conventions under which
the media operate and may include but are not limited to – stories of publishable
standard, meet agreed deadlines and length and are legally, ethically and culturally
sound;
a news cycle refers to the period in which a news outlet gathers news;
a news round may refer to general news reporting or relate to a sector of special
interest in the community within which a news organisation will expect journalists to
find news;
a news story is a timely and succinct account of unfolding events of public interest;
a newsworthy person is anyone whose status, knowledge, activities, statements, or
involvement in a news event means they are topical;
newsworthiness refers to events of sufficient interest or importance to the public to
warrant reporting in the media;
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27219 version 1
Page 3 of 5
notes are defined as material recorded through shorthand, longhand, and voice
recorder, in accordance with minimum standards for professional journalism. In the
compiling of the information for the required stories the notes must display evidence
of a steady progression of shorthand use, to the minimum requirement of 80wpm;
platforms refer to the delivery modes of radio, print, internet, and television;
publishable standard refers to the standard required by news media outlets for them
to consider publishing the material. It will meet standards described in the industry
texts and may include but is not limited to – news cycles; news rounds; breaking
news; newsworthy person; newsworthiness; notes; platforms; reliability, validity and
usefulness; news values; introductions (impact, succinctness); structure (appropriate
for story type and platform; arranged logically); grammar; spelling; punctuation; house
style; word selection (jargon and clichés avoided); attribution (mix of direct and
indirect quotes including paraphrasing); understanding (issues in context, key
questions answered); editorial requirements; balance; fairness; language used in
news media publications and broadcasting;
reliability, validity, and usefulness, when referring to a news source mean that the
bona fides of the person, organisation or reference are established as a credible,
knowledgeable, accurate, and authoritative source.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Write a variety of news stories for publication and broadcast.
Evidence requirements
1.1
News stories are written in accordance with the publishable standard.
1.2
Relevant sources of information are used and attributed in accordance with the
publishable standard.
1.3
Interviews are arranged and carried out in accordance with the guidelines in the
industry text.
1.4
News stories demonstrate use of media language in accordance with the
industry text and the publishable standard.
Range
1.5
vocabulary, clarity, no clichés, jargon translated, quotations,
paraphrasing.
News stories are corrected in accordance with the publishable standard and
filed in accordance with training establishment practices.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27219 version 1
Page 4 of 5
Outcome 2
Select graphics and write captions.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Graphics for news stories are selected and prepared for inclusion in stories in
accordance with the publishable standard.
2.2
Captions are written, as appropriate, to meet the graphics’ design in accordance
with the publishable standard.
Range
grammar, punctuation, spelling, accuracy, explanation of graphics
content, naming of identifiable subjects.
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 23111.
Planned review date
31 December 2016
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
21 July 2011
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0002
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMRs). The
CMR 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.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27219 version 1
Page 5 of 5
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.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016