25367 version 1
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Rewrite a story and analyse and report on ethical issues for applied
journalism
Level
6
Credits
10
Purpose
This unit standard is for people who are employed in news media outlets and
who are required to analyse and resolve ethical issues when writing stories
for publication or broadcast.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: use a supplied case study
story to identify and describe ethical issues, and rewrite the story to resolve
the ethical issues; and analyse and report on ethical issues that have arisen
during the writing of stories in the workplace.
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
25367 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 texts:
Burrows, John, and Cheer, Ursula, Media Law in NZ (South Melbourne: Oxford
University Press, 5th ed, 2005);
Price, Steven, Media Minefield: A journalists’ 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, revised 2008). This
publication can be obtained from Competenz website www.competenz.org.nz
3
For assessment against this unit standard the candidate is required to:
 submit a rewrite of a supplied case study story identifying and resolving ethical
issues within the story. This case study story will be supplied by the NZ
Journalists Training Organisation;
 submit written reports and supporting documentation, showing how they have
analysed and resolved five different ethical issues arising from five different
stories written in the workplace.
4
Definitions
broadcast refers to broadcast on radio or television, depending on the activities of the
workplace;
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;
publication refers to publication in newspapers, magazines, or periodicals, depending
on the activities of the workplace.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
25367 version 1
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Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Identify and describe ethical issues within a supplied case study story, and rewrite the
story to resolve the ethical issues in accordance with industry standards.
Performance criteria
1.1
Ethical issues that are contained in the story are identified and described in
terms of the consequences of potential outcomes and impacts on stakeholders.
Range
stakeholders may include but are not limited to – employer,
audience, newsroom colleagues, other professional colleagues,
self, news sources, news subjects, justice system.
1.2
Options available to resolve the ethical issues (identified in performance
criterion 1.1) are described.
1.3
Story is rewritten resolving the ethical issues using one or more of the options
(in performance criterion 1.2).
Element 2
Analyse and report on ethical issues that have arisen during the reporting of stories in the
workplace.
Range
evidence is required for five different ethical issues from selected stories;
evidence showing how each of the ethical issues was resolved must be in the
form of a written report.
Performance criteria
2.1
Stories are analysed, and ethical issues associated with the stories are outlined
in accordance with industry standards.
2.2
Stakeholders affected by the ethical issues (outlined in performance criterion
2.1) are identified, and their expectations, rights, and responsibilities are
explained.
Range
stakeholders may include but are not limited to – employer,
audience, newsroom colleagues, other professional colleagues,
self, news sources, news subjects, justice system.
2.3
Recommendations to resolve the ethical issues (identified in performance
criterion 2.1) are developed, and the consequences of potential outcomes are
noted.
2.4
The ethical issues are resolved, in accordance with industry standards, by using
one or more of the recommendations (identified in performance criterion 2.3).
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
25367 version 1
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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