COMMS 201 : Journalism Studies

Arts

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores journalism, communications and the news media, examining the history and contemporary state of such practices from a theoretical, rather than practical, perspective. Students gain knowledge about the profound impact that social, political and technological shifts have had on the field of communications today and discuss their implications for popular, professional and citizen journalism.

Course Overview

The course introduces you to some of the key issues, debates, and controversies in journalism studies today. It examines journalistic practices and their contexts largely from a theoretical perspective although there is a practical component to the class. The course is organised into three blocks. The first looks at what journalism is, how it has changed through history and what it means to write the news. The second block explores the thought that being a journalist means holding and exercising a certain level of power over others. The third block is concerned with the modern challenges that journalism faces. It explores the profound impact of social, political and technological shifts (such as globalisation and tablodisation) on journalism today.

In the next 12 weeks, we will explore the role that journalism plays in society. In particular, we will ask questions that address the relationship between news and power, race and ethnicity, gender, entertainment, online media, globalisation and social movement. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 60 points at Stage I in BA courses Restriction: FTVMS 225

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Analyse the key debates surrounding the role that journalism plays in democratic societies. (Capability 1.1, 1.3 and 2.1)
  2. Explore the history of journalism and its emergence. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 3.1)
  3. Explore how the news is constructed through a series of news conventions.
  4. Critically analyse the impact of commercial and state ownership of the media on news production. (Capability 1.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 5.2)
  5. Evaluate how the news represents gender, race and class within the community. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 4.1)
  6. Demonstrate an ability to write a news item based on a real press conference. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 5.1 and 6.3)
  7. Understand defamation law and news ethics. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.3, 3.2 and 5.1)
  8. Explore the rise of celebrity news and its impact on newsgathering. (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1 and 3.1)
  9. Analyse the impact of the digital age and social media on news production. (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.3 and 3.1)
  10. Describe and discuss the production and distribution of sports news as a case study in news production. (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 25% Individual Coursework
Professional Development 25% Individual Coursework
Quiz 1 25% Individual Coursework
Quiz 2 25% Individual Coursework

Assignment 1 is a short essay, Assignment 2 requires the writing of a short news item based on a real-life press conference by a 'newsmaker', and the two Quizzes are in-class tests, one held towards the mid-semester break, the second towards the end of the course.

Next offered

Semester 1, 2021.

Learning Resources

Readings
There is no prescribed text. Instead, you are assigned 1-2 articles or chapters per week that you are required to read prior to your lecture and tutorial. The weekly readings are posted on this Canvas page under Reading Lists. You must read those articles listed in Talis as 'essential resources' and are encouraged to read those listed as 'further resources' which can include documentaries all of which engage with and investigate the role of news media and journalism. There are plenty of additional readings listed within each week's syllabus module under the Module tab.
Weekly readings will form the basis of what we will discuss in tutorials each week. One way of making sure that your engagement with the weekly reading is satisfactory is to take thorough notes and conduct a rigorous analysis of what you are reading.
Please use the further readings in the Weekly modules as a starting point when you write your assignments. You are also expected to undertake your own independent literature research in preparation for assessments.
Recommended Texts and Resources
The following are some useful texts that will help you navigate some of the key concepts of the course. They are all available either as digital copies in the library database, or they are on Short Loan, part of the main library system.
Allan, Stuart (ed.) (2010). The Routledge Companion to News and Journalism, London: Routledge.
Calcutt, Andrew and Hammond, Philip (2011). Journalism Studies: A Critical Introduction, London: Routledge.
Fenton, Natalie (2010). New media, old news journalism & democracy in the digital age, London: SAGE.
Hannis, G. INTRO: (2014) A practical guide to Journalism in NZ. Auckland: Massey Texts.
Hirst, Martin, Sean Phelan and Verica Ruper (eds.) (2012). Scooped: The Politics and Power of Journalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, Auckland: AUT Media.
Johnson, Emma, Giovanni Tiso, Sarah Illingworth and Barnaby Bennett eds. (2016). Don't Dream it's Over: Reimagining Journalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, Wellington: Freerange Press.
Phillips, Angela (2015). Journalism in context: Practice and Theory for the Digital Age, London: Routledge.
Street, John (2011). Mass Media, Politics and Democracy, 2nd ed., London: Palgrave.
Turner, Graeme (2016). Re-inventing the Media, London: Routledge.
Wahl-Joregensen, Karin and Thomas Hanitzsch (2009). The Handbook of Journalism Studies, London: Routledge.
Zeilzer, Barbie and Stuart Allan (2010). Keywords in News and Journalism Studies, Berkshire: Open University Press.
Television and Radio
Regular and current discussions about journalism in New Zealand can be heard on:
Mediawatch (National Radio, 101.4 FM, Sundays at 9 am) or podcast at: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch
Nine to Noon, with Kathryn Ryan: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/library
Media Take (Maori Television): http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/media-take
Online 
Public Address: http://publicaddress.net/
Scoop: http://www.scoop.co.nz/
The Standard: http://thestandard.org.nz/
Tumeke: http://www.tumeke.org/aotearoa
The Hui, tv3.co.nz
Inernational News Sources
Aljazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/
(see The Listening Post for a media critique show)
BBC News: http://www.bbc.com/news/
The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/
New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/
https://www.thebigq.org/
https://theconversation.com/au
The Intercept: https://firstlook.org/theintercept/
Open Democracy: http://www.opendemocracy.net/
Propublica: http://www.propublica.org/
Wikileaks: https://wikileaks.org/
Journals
A number of peer-reviewed academic journals regularly publish up-to-date research on issues of relevance to this course. These include:
 Columbia Journalism Review
 Global Journalist
International Studies in Documentary Film
Journal of Communication Enquiry
Journalism Quarterly
Journalism and Mass Communication
Journalism Studies
Media Culture and Society
New Media and Society
New Zealand Journalism Review
 All titles above are accessible electronically via the library. When undertaking research for this course, you should also use the library databases to undertake broader searches (for instance ‘new media and gender’, ‘social media and social control’ etc.). If you undertake broader searches, however, make sure that you are addressing the key issues of this course. Do come and discuss this with us if you are in doubt.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, each week you can expect two hours of lectures, a one-hour tutorial, five hours of reading and thinking about the content and two hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 03/12/2019 01:48 p.m.