Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Newsroom Practice

Credit Points: 24.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM2804

City Campus

Undergraduate

345H Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024,
Sem 1 2025

Course Coordinator: Tito Ambyo

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3717

Course Coordinator Email: arsisto.ambyo@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 9 Level 4

Course Coordinator Availability: Please check with course coordinator


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study Successful completion of both courses as listed below:   COMM2656 Reporting with Sound and Image or equivalent  AND COMM2653 Journalism Technologies or equivalent


Course Description

This course will prepare you to work as a journalist in a newsroom. You will produce both short and longer-form journalism in a deadline-driven environment, across a range of platforms. The course will enable you to synthesise and integrate theory and practice as well as demonstrate holistic achievement of program learning outcomes.   Your reports will be showcased on City Journal, and on live broadcast platforms.   This is a work integrated learning (WIL) course for BP220 Bachelor of Communication (Journalism). This course includes a work integrated learning experience in which your knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real or simulated workplace context.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

This course aligns with the following Program Learning Outcomes:

  • Develop practical, and technical skills to quickly adapt to current and future changes in the industry
  • Apply a body of theoretical and practical knowledge and specific skills in media and communication, particularly in journalism in which to base your professional practice or future study
  • Critically analyse, synthesize and reflect on journalism in both local and international contexts
  • Demonstrate creativity, critical thinking and innovation when identifying and solving problems in diverse contexts within the discipline of journalism
  • Communicate using diverse formats and strategies to audiences within and external to your discipline
  • Work with others in a range of roles and contexts, demonstrating cultural, environmental and social awareness and ethical and reflective practice
  • Apply initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in your practice or future study


Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Produce high quality news stories for print, online and broadcast platforms, meeting strict deadlines.
  2. Undertake a range of editorial roles making management decisions in a deadline-driven environment.
  3. Critically analyse and address platform-specific requirements for news production.
  4. Critically reflect on your performance as a journalist and identify areas for future development.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in learning that involves a range of activities such as studios, project work, lectures, tutorials, class discussion, individual and group activities.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.

The University Library has extensive resources for Journalism students. The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies http://rmit.libguides.com/media-and-communication.

There are services and resources available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student website. 


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Assessment may include live reporting, live broadcasting, recorded and edited reports, reflective papers, creative projects and presentations, individually and in groups. Assessment will cover both theoretical and practical aspects of your learning.   Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.   If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.   Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for review online: Assessment.     ASSESSMENT TASKS   Task 1. Journalism Bootcamp [Individual 20% Linked CLO's: 1,2,3]   Task 2. Digital News Portfolio [Group 20% Linked CLO's: 1,3    Task 3. Live Radio Role [Individual 30% Linked CLO's: 1,2]   Task 4. Newsline - Story 20% and Critical Reflection 10%  [Individual 30% Linked CLO's: 1,2,3,4]