Availabilities:

2021 unit offering information will be available in September 2020

Unit description

Through the lens of our engagement in everyday life as digital citizens, students gain a critical understanding of the news media’s role in society today and the challenges facing journalists and their audiences in the digital age. Students develop skills in newswriting and production techniques that may be applied broadly across a range of digital news media formats. Practical activities and assessments give students exposure to professional digital journalism workflows.

Unit content

The unit explores journalism’s role in society and develops news production skills through four modules:

  • Digital culture, citizens and the news media
  • Issues for journalism in the digital age
  • News media audiences, platforms and workplaces
  • Digital news production tools

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:GA1GA2GA3GA4GA5GA6GA7
1Discuss the roles that news journalism can play in digital societies.Intellectual rigourEthical practice
2Define news and distinguish it from opinion, commentary and “fake news”.Intellectual rigourEthical practice
3Explain how and where news is produced, published and consumed.Intellectual rigourEthical practice
4Apply journalistic techniques and conventions in researching, writing and producing news contentIntellectual rigourCreativityEthical practice
5Critically discuss representational, legal and ethical issues for journalism in the digital ageIntellectual rigourCreativityEthical practice

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Discuss the roles that news journalism can play in digital societies.
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA3: Ethical practice
  2. Define news and distinguish it from opinion, commentary and “fake news”.
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA3: Ethical practice
  3. Explain how and where news is produced, published and consumed.
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA3: Ethical practice
  4. Apply journalistic techniques and conventions in researching, writing and producing news content
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA2: Creativity
    • GA3: Ethical practice
  5. Critically discuss representational, legal and ethical issues for journalism in the digital age
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA2: Creativity
    • GA3: Ethical practice

Teaching and assessment

Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every session. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the study session.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.
Commencing 2021 Commonwealth Supported only. Student contribution band: 1

Fee paying courses
For POSTGRADUATE or UNDERGRADUATE full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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