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Students

MMCC8026 – Data Journalism

2022 – Session 2, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Casual Lecturer
Uzma Aleem
uzma.aleem@mq.edu.au
Contact via email
see ilearn
Uzma Aleem
uzma.aleem@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MMediaComm or MCrInd
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit focuses on innovative approaches to finding, reporting, producing and interacting with media stories through basic data analysis and data visualization. Students will critically analyse and gain practical experience in finding data-sets, using data-driven reporting techniques and producing effective and informative visualisations. The unit also covers user experience, interactivity and the rhetorical use of big and small data in media practice.

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: analyse the practice of data journalism, its products (including visualizations and interactive reporting) and its history.
  • ULO2: demonstrate an advanced knowledge of how to gather, analyse and interpret data as a journalist.
  • ULO3: apply advanced reporting and storytelling techniques to find and produce stories that inform, educate and entertain.
  • ULO4: evaluate and analyse new literacies in journalism.
  • ULO5: situate the focus on data and visualization within debates about journalism and its social function.

General Assessment Information

Submission of Assessments via Turnitin

  • All work must be submitted as a single document (Doc or PDF) online via the Turnitin submission box on iLearn. Your work may contain hyperlinks and images. 

Late Assessment Submission Penalty  

  • Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.    
  • This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 
  • PLEASE NOTE:  This is a new University-wide assessment policy update effective July 25, 2022. 

Applying for Special Consideration

  • If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration. These are assessed by the Faculty. For eligibility rules and procedure see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration
  • If you are requesting an extension it can speed up the process if you propose a reasonable new due date for their consideration. 
  • If special consideration is awarded please indicate this on the first page of the document you submit (You can cut and paste the email sent to you by faculty). This will be checked against the list provided to the convenor by the faculty. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI assisted?
Writing Project 40% No 31/08/2022 23:55 No
Data Visualization in Context 60% No 04/11/2022; 17:00 No

Writing Project

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 32 hours
Due: 31/08/2022 23:55
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?:

 

The writing project identifies and critically analyses a recent example of data journalism in the context of key discussions and debates. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse the practice of data journalism, its products (including visualizations and interactive reporting) and its history.
  • demonstrate an advanced knowledge of how to gather, analyse and interpret data as a journalist.
  • apply advanced reporting and storytelling techniques to find and produce stories that inform, educate and entertain.
  • evaluate and analyse new literacies in journalism.
  • situate the focus on data and visualization within debates about journalism and its social function.

Data Visualization in Context

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 48 hours
Due: 04/11/2022; 17:00
Weighting: 60%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?:

 

This portfolio contains original data visualisations and written analysis. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse the practice of data journalism, its products (including visualizations and interactive reporting) and its history.
  • demonstrate an advanced knowledge of how to gather, analyse and interpret data as a journalist.
  • apply advanced reporting and storytelling techniques to find and produce stories that inform, educate and entertain.
  • evaluate and analyse new literacies in journalism.
  • situate the focus on data and visualization within debates about journalism and its social function.

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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

  • This class is delivered as a 2-hour Seminar. You may enroll in either a face to face seminar or an online seminar. The content is identical.
  • Readings and resources are accessed via iLearn (Look for schedules in the weekly sections. A leganto link will be available for Library readings) 
  • Both the online and face to face seminar require you to bring your own device (laptop or tablet) that can acesss the internet. Be sure to install any necessary software or sign up for platform access before class.  You can borrow laptops from the library https://www.mq.edu.au/about/facilities/library/facilities
  • Paper, pencils and coloured pencils or markers will be needed in some classes. Be sure to check what you need before you attend class.
  • On Campus classes will be expected to maintain social distancing and partake in all COVID-safe practices. Your lecturer will be wearing a mask in the on-campus classroom and encourages on-campus students to wear masks in the classroom.
  • If you are unwell DO NOT come to campus; Attend the online seminar instead.
  • A recording of the lecture-style portions of the online seminar will be recorded for review.  In general, student activities will not be recorded.
  • If you miss a seminar catch up by watching the recording and attempting the exercises on your own.
  • Attendence is expected and assumed and supports the development of you assessments. There is no need to inform your lecturer if you miss a class. Managing your attendence is your responsibility.
  •  There is no participation grade in this unit but the assessments are designed to assess your engagement, comprehension and application of  all aspects of the class including content relayed in the seminars as well as in the readings and production tasks.  

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:

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Changes from Previous Offering

 4/8/22: Updated convenor details

Changes since First Published

Date Description
15/08/2022 New Convenor appointed

Unit information based on version 2022.03 of the Handbook