NZQA registered unit standard
27226 version 1
Page 1 of 4
Title
Develop and write a feature article for publication
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 develop and
write a feature article for publication.
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.
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).
3
Definitions
breaking news refers to how news stories develop as more facts and comment
become available;
feature article (also known as feature story or news backgrounder) refers to a story
that does not necessarily break news, but takes an in-depth look at a subject. It
offers a broader perspective of a news event or issue, or profile of a person in the
news or who is important to a community. It may or may not be time-critical, and can
also be referred to as a script;
graphic refers to but is not limited to – illustration, photograph, line drawing, table,
graph, cartoon, general artwork, video;
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27226 version 1
Page 2 of 4
minimum standards for professional journalism refers to the conventions under which
the media operate and may include but are not limited to – features 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;
a newsworthy person refers to 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;
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 article the notes must display evidence of a steady
progression of shorthand use, to the minimum requirement of 80wpm;
platforms refers to the delivery modes of print or internet;
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 article 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
Develop and write a feature article for publication.
Range
evidence is required for the writing of one feature article of at least 1500 words
suitable for publication.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Subject or topic is selected and researched using relevant sources of
information.
Range
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
topicality, relevance, proximity, scope, target audience, magazine
editorial requirements.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
1.2
Information for the feature article is gathered, analysed, and organised.
includes but is not limited to – clippings, reports, texts,
commentaries, internet postings, public records.
Range
1.3
27226 version 1
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Interviews are prepared and conducted in accordance with the guidelines in the
industry texts.
Range
includes at least one interview with the central subject;
may include – interviews with sources with first-hand experience of
the topic, victims, complainants, decision-makers, authorities,
policy-makers, commentators.
1.4
Other relevant details are gathered to provide background support, balance,
and interest to the feature article.
1.5
Ideas for illustration(s) of feature article are identified, and instructions for the
preparation of illustrative material are written in accordance with training
establishment practices.
1.6
Feature article is written in accordance with the publishable standard.
1.7
Feature article is corrected in accordance with the publishable standard and
filed to meet training establishment practices.
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 23123.
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
27226 version 1
Page 4 of 4
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