Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Communications and Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Journalism in the New Media: Converged Environment
  • Unit Code

    CMM5175
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

In a constantly changing media landscape, it is convergent journalism that has become the dominant framework where the platforms of print, television, radio, online and social media work closely together in the collection, analysis and dissemination of news and information. Thisunit offers an introduction to the principles and practices of convergent journalism with a strong focus on commercial online multimedia, including text, audio and video. As well as enhancing awareness of the specifics of online multimedia production theoretically, theunit also alerts students to the business, commercial, ethical and legal issues of operating in a commercial journalism environment in Australia and Asia.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Assess local and global trends in the field of convergent journalism and incorporate these perspectives into professional contexts.
  2. Critically appraise the legal, ethical, commercial and political influences on journalism.
  3. Discuss the major theories, principles, issues and practices in the field of convergent journalism in the context of national and international developments that are impacting upon the field.
  4. Identify and analyse the journalistic requirements for research and information gathering, demonstrating a knowledge of research principles, methods and trends.

Unit Content

  1. An analysis of commercial, ethical and legal considerations.
  2. An introduction to the convergent journalistic process from identifying to interpreting.
  3. An introduction to the key concepts of agenda-setting, production and the use of sources.
  4. An introduction to various media platforms that operate within the convergent framework.
  5. Workshops that analyse current and global future directions of convergent journalism.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures and Tutorials.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PresentationIn Class Presentation50%
EssayAssignment50%

Text References

  • ^ Tanner, S. & Richardson, N. (2013). Journalism research and investigation in a digital world. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
  • Bainbridge, B., Goc, N., & Tynan, L. (2011). Media and journalism: New approaches to theory and practice. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Website References

^ Mandatory reference


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CMM5175|1|1

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Communications and Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Journalism in the New Media: Converged Environment
  • Unit Code

    CMM5175
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

In a constantly changing media landscape, it is convergent journalism that has become the dominant framework where the platforms of print, television, radio, online and social media work closely together in the collection, analysis and dissemination of news and information. Thisunit offers an introduction to the principles and practices of convergent journalism with a strong focus on commercial online multimedia, including text, audio and video. As well as enhancing awareness of the specifics of online multimedia production theoretically, theunit also alerts students to the business, commercial, ethical and legal issues of operating in a commercial journalism environment in Australia and Asia.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Assess local and global trends in the field of convergent journalism and incorporate these perspectives into professional contexts.
  2. Critically appraise the legal, ethical, commercial and political influences on journalism.
  3. Discuss the major theories, principles, issues and practices in the field of convergent journalism in the context of national and international developments that are impacting upon the field.
  4. Identify and analyse the journalistic requirements for research and information gathering, demonstrating a knowledge of research principles, methods and trends.

Unit Content

  1. An analysis of commercial, ethical and legal considerations.
  2. An introduction to the convergent journalistic process from identifying to interpreting.
  3. An introduction to the key concepts of agenda-setting, production and the use of sources.
  4. An introduction to various media platforms that operate within the convergent framework.
  5. Workshops that analyse current and global future directions of convergent journalism.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures and Tutorials.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PresentationIn Class Presentation50%
EssayAssignment50%

Text References

  • ^ Tanner, S. & Richardson, N. (2013). Journalism research and investigation in a digital world. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
  • Bainbridge, B., Goc, N., & Tynan, L. (2011). Media and journalism: New approaches to theory and practice. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Website References

^ Mandatory reference


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CMM5175|1|2