Students
MMCC2130 – News Media: Facts and Fiction
2021 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Tai Neilson
Contact via Email
193F 10 Hadenfeld Ave
TBA
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Using cutting-edge media facilities, this unit introduces students to hands-on news production practices and the critical analysis of news and current affairs across different media forms. Topics covered include: news values; the doctrine of objectivity; the public sphere; broadcast news and mass media, tabloid media; narrative; and ethics. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: evaluate and apply key theories of news and current affairs to news production and newsroom practices.
- ULO2: analyse historical and technological changes to news media.
- ULO3: evaluate the relationships between news, current affairs, politics and culture.
- ULO4: locate Australian news and current affairs within global media.
- ULO5: reflect on the relationship between practice and theory.
General Assessment Information
Late Penalty
As per Arts Faculty Guidelines: late assignments will lose marks on a 2% per day basis. Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (including weekends) after the original submission deadline.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Story Pitch | 20% | No | Week 4 |
| News Report | 30% | No | Week 9 |
| News Analysis | 50% | No | Week 13 |
Story Pitch
Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 20%
You will plan and develop a pitch for a television news story.
Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- evaluate and apply key theories of news and current affairs to news production and newsroom practices.
- evaluate the relationships between news, current affairs, politics and culture.
- locate Australian news and current affairs within global media.
News Report
Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: Week 9
Weighting: 30%
Students will produce news stories.
Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- evaluate and apply key theories of news and current affairs to news production and newsroom practices.
- reflect on the relationship between practice and theory.
News Analysis
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 41 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 50%
Students will analyse a news article and write an essay that addresses a prompt.
Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- analyse historical and technological changes to news media.
- reflect on the relationship between practice and theory.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
This Unit has Lectures and Workshop/Tutorials.
Please Note: Lectures commence in Week 1. Tutorials/Workshops commence in Week 2.
Please attend all classes.
Technical assistance and demonstrations are given in tutorial/workshops and students need to attend these throughout the semester. There will be online and in-person options for tutorial/workshops. Our news production facility, the Futures Lab, has a news studio, live editing control room, audio recording booth, and editing suits, which are managed by Mike Baber who will assist with this instruction.
REQUIRED READING
All of the required readings and links to multimedia texts are available through Leganto in iLearn. You should read and take notes on the required materials before the lecture each week.
http://libguides.mq.edu.au/leganto
NOTE that you MUST access Leganto via the block in iLearn in the first instance. This is how the system verifies you as a student in this unit.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook