25361 version 1
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Develop rounds, gather information, and plan stories for publication or
broadcast
Level
6
Credits
30
Purpose
This unit standard is for people who are employed in news media outlets and
who are required to develop rounds and gather information for writing stories
for publication or broadcast.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: identify, establish, and
develop contacts within rounds assigned in the workplace; observe issues,
and gather and research information for developing story ideas from rounds
assigned in the workplace; convert knowledge of the issues generated by the
assigned rounds into story ideas, and develop plans for writing the stories for
publication or broadcast.
Subfield
Journalism
Domain
Applied Journalism
Status
Registered
Status date
20 March 2009
Date version published
20 March 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.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
25361 version 1
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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; Radio Code of
Broadcasting Practice (Wellington: New Zealand Broadcasting Standards Authority,
July 2008) available at http://www.bsa.govt.nz/codesstandards-radio.php – for radio
mode; Pay Television Code of Broadcasting Practice (Wellington: New Zealand
Broadcasting Standards Authority, January 2008) available at
http://www.bsa.govt.nz/codesstandards-paytv.php; and the Free-to-Air Television
Code of Broadcasting Practice (Wellington: New Zealand Broadcasting Standards
Authority, August 2006) available at http://www.bsa.govt.nz/codesstandardsfreetv.php.
2
Industry text
Tully, Jim (ed), Intro: A beginner's guide to professional news journalism (Wellington:
New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 4th edition, revised 2008). This
publication can be obtained from Competenz, website www.competenz.org.nz.
3
Candidates are not required to write stories for assessment against this unit
standard, but are required to establish and develop contacts and sources, and gather
information that will enable stories to be written.
4
This unit standard has been designed for learning and assessment in the workplace.
For assessment purposes candidates will present a well documented and maintained
contact book that has been kept up-to-date for a minimum of six months and contains
a minimum of 50 contacts. The information contained in the book will enable rounds
and stories to be developed and written.
5
Definitions
the appropriate person refers to the person within the organisation who ensures that
stories meet the industry standards. This person may be the senior producer, chief
reporter, bulletin editor, or editor;
broadcast refers to broadcast on radio or television depending on the activities of the
workplace;
contact book refers to a diary kept by the candidate that contains information for
developing and writing stories. The information will include but is not limited to –
contact name, address, telephone numbers, email, details of how and when to
contact, what the contact is useful for, dates and details of interactions with contacts
over at least a six month period;
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;
a round may refer to general news reporting, features, or backgrounders; or relate to
a sector of special interest in the community within which a news organisation will
expect journalists to find news;
a feature or backgrounder is the building of news into an expanded opinion article
that offers a broad perspective;
publication refers to publication in newspapers, magazines, or periodicals.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
25361 version 1
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Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Identify, establish, and develop contacts within rounds assigned in the workplace.
Performance criteria
1.1
Contacts appropriate for assigned rounds are identified, established, and
developed over at least a six month period, in readiness for producing stories.
Range
evidence is required for a minimum of 50 contacts;
contacts may include but are not limited to – officials in local
government, local body politicians, government politicians, the
police, court systems, transport sector, armed forces, emergency
services, organisations, businesses, consumers.
1.2
Contact book and workplace filing system are set up in accordance with
industry standards to include contacts’ details and other relevant information
necessary to ensure the quickest practicable response to news events.
1.3
Information in the workplace contact filing system is kept up-to-date and
maintained in accordance with industry standards.
Element 2
Observe issues, and gather and research information for developing story ideas from
rounds assigned in the workplace.
Performance criteria
2.1
Potential stories that would be suitable for publication or broadcast are identified
through the observation of current issues.
2.2
Information from the assigned rounds is gathered from a variety of sources, in
accordance with industry standards.
Range
sources may include but are not limited to – official notes, official
meeting agendas, self-notes, images, internet sites, historical
records, databases, clippings, government and local government
records, court records, company reports, speeches, media books,
journals, knowledge and contact list held by previous roundholder, news releases, broadcast documentaries.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
25361 version 1
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Element 3
Convert knowledge of the issues generated by the assigned rounds into story ideas, and
develop plans for writing the stories for publication or broadcast, in accordance with
industry standards.
Performance criteria
3.1
Information gathered (element 2 refers) is used for developing stories from the
rounds.
3.2
Interaction with established contacts is maintained to ensure the quickest
practicable response to news events, and to forewarn of likely news events.
3.3
Plans are developed for writing the stories and guidance is sought from the
appropriate person in terms of story ideas and publication requirements.
3.4
Feedback from the appropriate person, on the plans and story ideas is used in
terms of further developing the story.
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.
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