COURSE OUTLINE
Pre-requisites: none
Co-requisites: none
This course is offered as a 6cp subject Jour101 for first year B.Com Students and an 8cp subject Jour201 for second year B.Com students - both subjects are available as an elective to other students. Although the content is the same Jour201 students must complete an additional assessment task.
Subject Description
The purpose of this subject is to develop newswriting skills for the print media. Students will be introduced to a range of core themes, including identifying story ideas, research techniques, interviewing, and writing according to a traditional inverted pyramid approach. Students will also be introduced to a range of ethical and legal concepts that underpin newswriting. Assessment is built around the development of fundamental writing skills, including the ability to convey often complex information in a concise way, spelling and grammar. Students will be expected to submit a range of stories and other writing tasks for assessment.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students will be able to:
- Understand the basic principles of news writing.
- Identify story angles in news events/issues.
- Be able to research stories and conduct interviews that add significantly to a story’s development
- Write news stories that will appeal to a broad readership.
Graduate Attributes
In meeting these objectives, students will develop skills relevant to the following attributes of a Wollongong Graduate:
- A commitment to continued and independent learning, intellectual development, critical analysis and creativity.
- Coherent and extensive knowledge in a discipline, appropriate ethical standards and, where appropriate, defined professional skills.
- Self-confidence combined with oral and written skills of a high level.
- A capacity for, and understanding of, teamwork.
- An ability to analyse issues logically, as well as to evaluate different options and viewpoints and to implement decisions.
- An appreciation and valuing of cultural and intellectual diversity and the ability to function in a multicultural or global environment.
- An acknowledgement and acceptance of individual responsibilities and obligations, and of the assertion of the rights of the individual and the community.
