Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
Overseas study-Journalism
Enrolment code: HEJ060
Offered: in-c
Unit description: Contact School of English and European Languages and
Literatures for details concerning this unit.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Journalism 1: An Introduction to Reporting and
News
Enrolment code: HEJ101
Offered: Hbt, sem 2
Unit description: Introduces students to the essentials of writing for
newspapers. Students learn how to write concisely and effectively. They also
study the process of news gathering and analyse what makes news. Agenda
setting and gatekeeping models are critiqued. In the second half of the unit,
students begin writing their own stories from exercises including profile
interviews, role-played press conferences and a major assignment which
involves researching and writing their own feature-length story.
Staff: Ms L Simpson (Coordinator)
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 1-hr lecture, 2-hr tutorial weekly
Assess: internal assessment including oral presentation (60%), 2-hr exam (40%)
Courses: R3A
Journalism 2: An Introduction to Media and
Society
Enrolment code: HEJ102
Offered: Hbt, sem 1
Unit description: Examines the role of the media in contemporary society.
Students analyse the media’s influences and critically evaluate whether the
media reinforces existing attitudes or reflects cultural change. The history of
media ownership in Australia is studied as part of understanding media
control. Students also examine the information revolution and its impact on
society. As part of learning to read widely and critically, students develop
theoretical vocabularies and skills of visual analysis and cultural literacy.
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Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
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Staff: Ms L Simpson (Coordinator)
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 2x1-hr lectures, 1-hr tutorial weekly
Assess: internal assessment (60%), 2-hr exam (40%)
Courses: R3A
Advanced Print Journalism
Enrolment code: HEJ201/301
Offered: Hbt, sem 1; in-c, sem 1
Unit description: An advanced unit which develops comprehensive research
skills; analyses the development of story ideas; and provides an opportunity to
write in-depth features with a view to publication. The unit explores the
relationship between journalists and their sources, and encourages students to
critique their own work from an ethical perspective and from the point of view
of news formats and agendas. Students will keep diaries to record, research,
and analyse their work, and will be encouraged to think of themselves as
reporters finding stories in the community, and submitting finished pieces of a
publishable standard.
Staff: Ms L Simpson
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 5 contact hrs fortnightly
Prereq: HEJ101 and HEJ102
Assess: 3 stories 800 words, 1,500 words and 2,000 words (70%), tutorial
participation (15%), oral presentation (15%)
Majors: Journalism and Media Studies
Courses: R3A
Environmental Journalism
Enrolment code: HEJ202/302
Offered: Not offered in 2001
Unit description: Students explore the current issues and the key players in
the environment movement from the perspective of the working journalist. The
unit includes sources of news; case studies of stories on the environment;
analysis of the political and legal background of environmental concerns in
Australia and internationally. Trends in industry and governmental response to
environmental issues are also critiqued.
Staff: Dr G Phillips
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 5 contact hrs fortnightly
Prereq: HEJ101 and HEJ102
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
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Assess: 2x1,250-word written assignments and tutorial participation (60%), 2-hr
exam (40%)
Majors: Journalism and Media Studies
Courses: R3A
Television Journalism
Enrolment code: HEJ203/303
Offered: Hbt, sem 1
Unit description: An introduction to news production and on-camera news
reporting. The unit includes skills such as camera presentation, news reading,
interviewing techniques, and deals with the production of news stories and
news programming. Technical skills including camera work, sound, lighting,
and program editing are taught.
Staff: Dr G Phillips
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 5 contact hrs fortnightly
Prereq: HEJ101 and HEJ102
Assess: internal assessment (60%), final assessment, based on production of a
television news assignment (40%)
Majors: Journalism and Media Studies
Courses: R3A
Photojournalism Theory
Enrolment code: HEJ204/304
Offered: in-c, sem 1
Unit description: Photojournalism has both reflected and led social trends as
well as playing a major role in moulding public opinion. A poignant image can
have a major effect on public perception of an event, although some of the most
influential images of our time have proved to be fakes. Changing technology,
the Speedgraphic camera, the 35 mm lens, and now digital technology, have all
affected the way photojournalism has been practised and reproduced. In this
unit students study the history of photojournalism, the different techniques,
usage, and layout of pictures, to create effect and influence opinion.
Staff: Ms L Simpson (Coordinator)
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 5 contact hrs fortnightly
Prereq: HEJ101 and HEJ102
Assess: continuous assessment including 2,000-word essay (60%), 2-hr seen
exam (40%)
Majors: Journalism and Media Studies
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
Courses:
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R3A
Public Communications
Enrolment code: HEJ205/305
Offered: Hbt, sem 1
Unit description: Examines the development of public communications. The
unit includes the theory behind successful public communication practice;
public communications in action; and the tools used by practitioners. Students
are taught how to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and are
introduced to the basic principle of information research and its role in public
communication.
Staff: Ms L Simpson (Coordinator)
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 5 contact hrs fortnightly
Prereq: HEJ101 and HEJ102
Assess: 2x1,000-word assignments (20%), 2,000-word public relations campaign
(40%) 2-hr exam (40%)
Majors: Journalism and Media Studies
Courses: R3A
Professional Placement 1
Enrolment code: HEJ206/306
Offered: Hbt, sem 1
Special note: has a quota according to how many industry placements are
offered
Unit description: Students are assigned to a placement in the media industry
either in a government or private institution approved by the University.
Students learn the practical skills necessary for the media practitioner.
Staff: Ms L Simpson (Coordinator)
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: minimum of 10 days placement per student
Prereq: 25% at level 100 in Journalism and either HEJ201/301, HEJ203/303 or
HEJ205/305
Assess: professional practice skills acquired during placement (40%, awarded
in consultation with placement provider), work portfolio (40%), oral
presentation on placement (20%)
Majors: Journalism and Media Studies
Courses: R3A
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
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Sub-editing
Enrolment code: HEJ207/307
Offered: in-c, sem 2
Unit description: Examines the transformation of reporters’ texts into
newspaper texts designed to deliver to the ‘masses’ meaning about the
everyday world and events. Communicating information in a way that will
appeal to the ‘average person’ requires an understanding of language and how
meaning is created. Myths about the simplicity of newspaper editing are
dispelled as different types of text are compared. Specialist knowledge and
techniques required to prepare the text for the audience are taught, examined
and discussed.
Staff: Ms L Simpson (Coordinator)
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 5 contact hrs fortnightly
Prereq: 25% at level 100 Journalism
Assess: tutorial participation (10%), 3 500-word editing and rewriting
assignments (30%), major editing assignment (60%)
Majors: Journalism and Media Studies
Courses: R3A
Professional Practices and Culture
Enrolment code: HEJ209/309
Offered: Hbt, sem 2
Unit description: Students examine the basic conflicts of principle and
practice confronting journalists such as the competing claims of privacy and the
public’s right-to-know, the justification of censorship against the demands of
freedom of expression, the reporting of minorities, commercial pressures,
confidentiality of sources and bias v. balance. At a time when the role and the
responsibilities of the media is an increasing focus of public debate, students
will also evaluate the competitive commercial environment in the media which
encourages breaches of ethics.
Staff: Ms L Simpson (Coordinator)
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 5 contact hrs fortnightly
Prereq: HEJ101 and HEJ102 plus HEJ201/301
Assess: 2x1,250-word essays and tutorial participation (60%), 2-hr exam (40%)
Majors: Journalism and Media Studies
Courses: R3A
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
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Radio Journalism
Enrolment code: HEJ213/313
Offered: Not offered in 2001
Special note: offered subject to adequate staffing and resources
Unit description: Students are taught how to interview and write for radio, as
well as concentrating on the radio/sound production and post-production
skills. They are expected to take regular shifts at the campus radio station,
which include reading the news as well as producing a 15-minute radio
documentary by the end of semester.
Staff: Ms L Simpson (Coordinator)
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 5 contact hrs fortnightly
Prereq: HEJ101 and HEJ102
Assess: internal assessment (60%), final assessment, based on production of
radio documentary (40%)
Majors: Journalism and Media Studies
Courses: R3A
Professional Placement 2
Enrolment code: HEJ218/318
Offered: Hbt, sem 2
Special note: has a quota according to how many industry placements are
offered
Unit description: Students are assigned to a placement in the media industry
either in a government or private institution approved by the University.
Students learn the practical skills necessary for the media practitioner.
Staff: Ms L Simpson (Coordinator)
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: minimum of 10 days placement per student
Prereq: 25% at level 100 in Journalism and either HEJ201/301, HEJ203/303 or
HEJ205/305
Assess: professional practice skills acquired during placement (40%, awarded
in consultation with placement provider), work portfolio (40%), oral
presentation on placement (20%)
Majors: Journalism and Media Studies
Courses: R3A
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
7
Online Journalism
Enrolment code: HEJ219/319
Offered: Hbt, sem 2
Unit description: Provides students with both practical and theoretical skills
in the field of online journalism and digital media. Skills needed to research and
analyse information on the internet and world wide web are taught. Students
are also introduced to editing software used in electronic publishing and work
towards producing an online publication. Key concepts and issues in online
journalism are evaluated.
Staff: Ms L Simpson (Coordinator), Dr G Phillips
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 5 contact hrs fortnightly
Prereq: 25% at level 100 in Journalism and either HEJ220/320
Assess: individual contribution to production of online publication, including
contributions to layout (30%), 2x1,000-word online newsgathering
assignments (30%), 2-hr practical exam (40%)
Required texts, etc:
Quinn S, Newsgathering on the Net, ISBN 0732955998
Majors: Journalism and Media Studies
Courses: R3A
Newspaper and Magazine Design
Enrolment code: HEJ220/320
Offered: Hbt, sem 2
Unit description: Builds on understanding of newspaper text creation gained
in HEJ207/307 Sub-editing. The unit focuses on final layout of text. Preparing
text for the ‘masses’ is only the first stage in creating meaning: the packaging if
equally important. The practicalities of design and layout and how they
combine with editing to deliver the final product is examined along with
theories of effective communication in the newspaper and magazine world.
Staff: Ms L Simpson (Coordinator)
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 5 contact hrs fortnightly
Prereq: HEJ207/307
Assess: 3x1-page design projects (15% ea), major design and subediting project
(55%)
Majors: Journalism and Media Studies
Courses: R3A