NZQA registered unit standard
27220 version 1
Page 1 of 5
Title
Interpret and use numerical data to write news stories, and write
instructions for the production of an infographic
Level
5
Purpose
Credits
5
This unit standard is intended for people studying journalism in
an off-job situation.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: interpret
numerical data from a financial report and use it to write a news
story; interpret NZ Tier 1 statistical data from the Statistics New
Zealand website and use it to write a news story; interpret
numerical data from the result of an opinion poll and use it to
write a news story; and demonstrate knowledge of infographics
and write instructions for an editorial graphic artist to produce
an infographic for a news story.
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; and Unit 27219, Write a
variety of 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, and
the Pay Television Code.
2
Industry text:
– Tully, Jim (ed), Intro: A Beginner's Guide to Professional News Journalism
(Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 4th edition, 2008).
Relevant text:
– Statistics New Zealand website – http://www.statisphere.govt.nz for Tier 1
statistics.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
3
27220 version 1
Page 2 of 5
Definitions
breaking news refers to how news stories develop as more facts and comment
become available;
house style refers to the conventions used when writing text for print, radio, television,
and internet;
infographic refers to an editorial illustration that conveys statistical data in a visual
form as opposed to a text;
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;
news story refers to a timely and succinct account of unfolding events of public
interest;
newsworthiness refers to events of sufficient interest or importance to the public to
warrant reporting in the media;
a newsworthy person refers to anyone whose status, knowledge, activities,
statements, or involvement in a news event means they are topical;
notes refer to 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
text 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
Interpret numerical data from a financial report and use it to write a news story.
Range
evidence is required for one news story using interpreted data from a financial
report.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Numerical data from a financial report is described and interpreted for use in a
news story.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
Range
27220 version 1
Page 3 of 5
sources of data may include but are not limited to – Statement of
Financial Position, Statement of Comprehensive Income,
Statement of Changes in Equity, Statement of cash flows; EBIT
(Earnings before interest and taxes); EBITDA (Earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization);
evidence is required for a minimum of one source of data.
1.2
News story is written using the interpreted numerical data from the financial
report in accordance with the publishable standard.
1.3
News story is corrected in accordance with the publishable standard and filed to
meet training establishment practices.
Outcome 2
Interpret NZ Tier 1 statistical data from the Statistics New Zealand website and use it to
write a news story.
Range
evidence is required for one news story using interpreted NZ Tier 1 statistical
data.
Evidence requirements
2.1
NZ Tier 1 statistical data from the Statistics New Zealand website is explained
and interpreted in terms of its relevance to news reporting.
2.2
Interpreted NZ Tier 1 statistical data that could be used for a news story is
described, and the possibilities for its inclusion in the news story are analysed.
2.3
News story is written, using the interpreted NZ Tier 1 statistical data, in
accordance with the publishable standard.
2.4
News story is corrected in accordance with the publishable standard and filed to
meet training establishment practices.
Outcome 3
Interpret numerical data from the result of an opinion poll and use it to write a news story.
Range
evidence is required for one news story using interpreted numerical data.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Factors that may affect the findings of a poll are described in accordance with
the industry text.
Range
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
factors may include but are not limited to – question design,
sampling method, response rate, size of sample, margin of error,
pitfalls, usefulness;
evidence is required for a minimum of three factors.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27220 version 1
Page 4 of 5
3.2
Numerical data from the poll is interpreted in terms of its use for writing a news
story and the possibilities for its inclusion in the news story are analysed.
3.3
News story is written, using the interpreted numerical data from the poll, in
accordance with the publishable standard.
3.4
News story is corrected in accordance with the publishable standard and filed to
meet training establishment practices.
Outcome 4
Demonstrate knowledge of infographics and write instructions for an editorial graphic artist
to produce an infographic for a news story.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Different types of infographics are identified in accordance with the industry text
and are explained in terms of their use in news reporting.
types of infographics may include but are not limited to – line
graphs, bar charts, pie charts, flow charts;
evidence is required for a minimum of three infographics.
Range
4.2
Possibilities for infographics are reviewed and selected for inclusion in a news
story.
4.3
Instructions are written for an editorial graphic artist to prepare an infographic,
which meets the publishable standard, to accompany a news story.
instructions include – specifying purpose, use, and display of an
infographic.
Range
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 10374.
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.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27220 version 1
Page 5 of 5
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.
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