Journalism

This course is both an entry-level qualification for a professional journalism career and a mid-career course for working journalists seeking to extend their expertise and refresh the intellectual basis of their practice. It is designed to ensure graduates will make an excellent contribution to their profession using a full range of media technologies.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to demonstrate:

1. strong professional research and reporting skills in a range of media technologies and formats
2. the necessary skills and attributes either to enter professional practice in the news media or, for qualified journalists, to extend their existing skills and intellectual understanding of journalism
3. an understanding and ability to contribute to the important role of professional and ethical journalism in the service of the public right to know and democratic process
4. an effective understanding of the role of journalism and the media in local, national, regional and global contexts.

The course is structured in three parts: Part A. Foundations for advanced journalism studies, Part B. Core master's study and Part C. Advanced expertise. All students complete Part B. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A or Part C or a combination of the two.

Note that if you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit.

Part A. Foundations for advanced journalism studies (24 points)

These studies will introduce you to journalism studies at advanced undergraduate or graduate level. They are intended for students whose previous qualification is not in a cognate field.

Part B. Core master's study (48 points)

These studies draw on best practices within the broad realm of journalism studies. Through a combination of academic and practice-based work, students gain a solid foundation in all production technologies - print, video, radio and online - in metropolitan, regional and international contexts.

Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points)

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. You have two options:

• a program of coursework study where you select the units to suit your own interests. This option includes the opportunity to undertake an internship in the field.
• a 24 point research thesis. Students wishing to use this master's course as a pathway to a higher degree by research should take this second option.

Students admitted to the course, who have a recognised honours degree in a cognate discipline including humanities or social sciences, will receive credit for Part C, however, should they wish to complete a 24 point research project as part of the course they should consult with the course coordinator.

Requirements

The course comprises 96 points structured into three parts: Part A. Foundations for advanced journalism studies (24 points), Part B. Core master's study (48 points) and Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points).

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• Students admitted at entry level 1 complete 96 points, comprising Part A, Part B and Part C.
• Students admitted at entry level 2 complete 72 points, comprising Part B and Part C.
• Students admitted at entry level 3 complete 48 points, comprising Part B.

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options. Such students should consult the course coordinator about appropriate units to complete since those listed in Part A(a) may not be appropriate.

All students must complete a minimum of 48 credit points at level 5 and a maximum of 24 points at level 2 or 3 for entry point 1. Unless otherwise stated, units with codes beginning with 2 or 3 are 6 points, and units with codes beginning with a 5 are 12 points.

Part A. Foundations for advanced journalism studies (24 points)

Students complete:

a. Two 6 point units (12 points) from the following, taken during the first full time equivalent year of study:

• ATS2324 Climate change communication
• ATS2490 Advanced professional writing
• ATS2395 Australia in a globalising world
• ATS2693 Politics and the media
• MGF5991 Professional development - Career dynamics
• ATS2784 News and power
• ATS2787 Digital storytelling
• ATS3265 Broadcast studio journalism
• ATS3645 Journalism and global change
• ATS2087 Lifestyle journalism
• ATS2169 Photojournalism
• ATS2255 Smartphone journalism
• ATS2647 Journalism: War, crime and trauma
• ATS2788 Audio storytelling
• ATS2790 Feature writing
• ATS2791 Editing and design
• ATS3113 Reporting the Arts circuit
• ATS3789 Video journalism
• ATS3802 Journalism practice and discourse
• ATS3808 Investigative reporting

b. One unit (12 points) from the electives listed in Part C

Part B. Core master's study (48 points)

Students complete:

a. The following two units (24 points):

• APG5095 Research and writing
• APG5640 Journalism in society

b. Two capstone units (24 points) chosen from the following:

• APG5044 Professional internship
• APG5135 Video journalism
• APG5182 Digital management and production
• APG5547 Studio production
• APG5856 Research project*

* Students electing to take the research thesis option and APG5856 should consult with the course coordinator.

Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points)

Students complete either a. or b. below.

a. The following unit/s:

• APG5848 Research thesis (24 points) or APG5849 Research thesis A (12 points) and APG5850 Research thesis B (12 points)**

** Students admitted to the course at entry level 3 who wish to complete a 24 point research thesis should consult with the course coordinator.

b. Two elective units (24 points) from the following:

• APG5099 Media innovation
• APG5184 Video-making as research
• APG5190 Global journalism: Hong Kong field school
• APG5642 Investigative journalism
• APG5653 Journalism futures: New York field school
• APG5752 Field trip in media and communications
• APG5782 Film festival study tour
• a capstone unit not already completed in Part B

Qualifications

Depending on prior qualifications:

English entry requirements

• IELTS: 7.0 overall (no band lower than 6.5); or
• TOEFL Paper-based test: 587 with a TWE of 4.5; or
• TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 94 overall with minimum scores: Writing: 24, Listening: 20, Reading: 19 and Speaking: 20.