NZQA registered unit standard 27223 version 1 Page 1 of 5 Title Write news stories from local government activities for publication and broadcast Level 5 Purpose Credits 5 This unit standard is for student journalists who are required to write news stories from local government proceedings for publication and broadcast. People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of the New Zealand local government system, and explain how relevant legislation and standing orders apply to journalists reporting local government activities in accordance with the industry texts; and identify newsworthy local government activities and write news stories. 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, the Pay Television Code. 2 Industry texts include but are not limited to: – Burrows, John, A Journalist's Guide to the Law (Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 5th ed, 2006); – Price, Steven, Media Minefield: A Journalist’s Guide to Media Regulation in New Zealand (Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 2007); – Tully Jim (ed), Intro: A Beginner's Guide to Professional News Journalism (Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 4th edition, 2008). Competenz SSB Code 101571 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016 NZQA registered unit standard 27223 version 1 Page 2 of 5 3 Relevant legislation may include but is not limited to: Electoral Act 1993; Local Government Act 2002; Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987; Resource Management Act 1991; Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975; Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 and subsequent amendments. 4 Definitions breaking news refers to how news stories develop as more facts and comment become available; local government activities refer to meetings which apply to any scheduled open meeting of a local government council, committee, or sub-committee; and operations which apply to the day-to-day activities of local government staff and elected representatives, including rules, regulations, and practices; 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 cycles refer to the period in which a news outlet gathers news; news rounds 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; news stories refer to timely and succinct accounts 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 is 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 news stories the notes must display evidence of a steady progression of shorthand use, to the minimum requirement of 80wpm; platform refers 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); balance; fairness; editorial requirements; 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. Competenz SSB Code 101571 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016 NZQA registered unit standard 27223 version 1 Page 3 of 5 Outcomes and evidence requirements Outcome 1 Demonstrate knowledge of the New Zealand local government system, and explain how relevant legislation and standing orders apply to journalists reporting local government activities in accordance with the industry texts. Evidence requirements 1.1 Local government structures and procedures are identified and explained. The explanation includes identifying how the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, and standing orders, apply to the rights and responsibilities of journalists who report local government meetings and activities. Range 1.2 Roles within local government are identified and the purpose of each is described. Range 1.3 local government roles may include but are not limited to – mayor, elected representatives, chief executive, departmental managers; evidence is required for a minimum of three local government roles. Local government language is identified and explained. Range 1.4 local government structures and procedures may include but are not limited to – community boards, district councils, regional councils, city councils, council committees; evidence is required for a minimum of three local government structures and procedures. local government language may include but is not limited to – jargon; technical terms; the way in which agenda items, reports to councillors and staff, annual plans and newsletters to ratepayers are written; evidence is required for a minimum of three examples of local government language. Local government activities and issues arising from those activities are identified and explained in terms of newsworthiness. Range Competenz SSB Code 101571 may include but is not limited to – meetings, operations, media releases, annual plans, budgets, annual reports, speeches, media conferences, personal contacts (which may include – mayor, chief executive, elected representatives, line managers, staff, ratepayers and business groups); evidence is required for five activities and one issue arising from each of those activities. New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016 NZQA registered unit standard 27223 version 1 Page 4 of 5 Outcome 2 Identify newsworthy local government activities and write news stories. Range evidence is required for the writing of a minimum of four stories about local government activities – two stories covering council meetings and two stories covering council operations. Evidence requirements 2.1 Research of local government activities leads to the identification of newsworthy stories in accordance with the industry texts. Range news opportunities arising from council meetings and operations may include but are not limited to – council and committee meetings, community board meetings, agendas, budgets, annual plans, outcomes of decisions, impacts on the community, details of submissions from the community, complaints, appeals, activities of lobby groups; information from local government documents and officials, documents from community groups or individuals, impacts on the community, notes. 2.2 News stories from council meetings and operations are written in accordance with the publishable standard. 2.3 News stories are corrected in accordance with the publishable standard and filed following training establishment practices. Replacement information This unit standard replaced unit standard 23109. 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. Competenz SSB Code 101571 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016 NZQA registered unit standard 27223 version 1 Page 5 of 5 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