Students

MMCC2130 – News Media: Facts and Fiction

2023 – Session 1, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convener
Tai Neilson
tai.neilson@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
10HA, 193F
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
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.
  • ULO4: locate Australian news and current affairs within global media.
  • ULO3: evaluate the relationships between news, current affairs, politics and culture.
  • ULO5: reflect on the relationship between practice and theory.

General Assessment Information

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 written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Story Pitch 20% No 11:55 17/03/2023
News Report 30% No 11:55 05/05/2023
News Analysis 50% No 11:55 02/06/2023

Story Pitch

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: 11:55 17/03/2023
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.
  • locate Australian news and current affairs within global media.
  • evaluate the relationships between news, current affairs, politics and culture.

News Report

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: 11:55 05/05/2023
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: 11:55 02/06/2023
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

LECTURES AND TUTORIAL WORKSHOPS

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.

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.

RESERVING CAMERA EQUIPMENT

You will have access to camera and audio recording equipment, editing suites, and editing software in accordance with university policy and state health guidelines. A link to reserve recording equipment is available on iLearn.

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.

Unit information based on version 2023.01R of the Handbook