You will submit:

• a Portfolio that is made up of three blog posts from the Community of Inquiry Blog (apx equiv 500 words each; weeks 1-7).
• a 250 word overview/introduction that reflects on the work completed and contextualises the work within key debates and discussions.

Format: Submit your portfolio as a Word document with text and links to your MECO 826 blog posts via Turnitin submission link in iLearn. 

Detailed instructions will be issued each week to guide your posts.

• Analysis:  Demonstrate that you can identify and critically analyse the practice of data journalism, its products (including visualisations and interactive reporting) and its history.
• Case Studies: Your ability to choose appropriate examples to analyse and evaluate concepts and approaches to news gathering and storytelling.
• Context:  Your post will demonstrate that you can situate literacies in journalism within debates about journalism and its social function.
• Presentation: Clarity of expression and  appropriate use of the platform.

Assessment Style & Feedback:

This is a formative assessment. You will receive informal feedback on your posts each week. Your formal feedback will include a grade out of 100, a qualitative rubric and written comments.

Each Student will pitch their data-driven story idea to the class in week 9. You will have 10 minutes to present and another 10 minutes for discussion.

Students should post all relevant presentation materials to your Blog prior to class including links to relevant data sets, tools and back up research. You will use this post to talk the class through your idea and plan. (You may use presentation platforms or Powerpoint slides but it is not required.)

You should also acknowledge and discuss any existing pieces of Data Journalism or Visualizations that inspired your approach.

Assessment Criteria:

• Research: The breadth and depth of your background research and your ability to identify relevant datasets
• Reporting: Demonstrate that you have developed a workable plan to report your story
• Storytelling: Show that you understand how you use data to find stories and/or how you use data to tell stories.
• Innovation: Your plan includes suitable use of the tools and products of data journalism
• Presentation and Persuasion: Quality of your pitch as a form of persuasive communication

A data driven feature or series of stories that should include a headline, an introduction and three-four original visualizations* including links to all relevant data sets and sources.  (*You may storyboard any ideas that you are unable to produce due to technical limitations but please discuss this approach with your lecturer ahead of time.) (apx 1500 words)

A reflection that explains your process and decisions and critically assesses the benefits, challenges and limits of data driven journalism.  Also discuss how you would promote your project via social and online media. Please cite relevant literature.  (apx. 750 words)

You should post your project to the blog (or a link to it if you have posted it at an external site) and submit a copy as a Word document via the Turnitin submission link in iLearn.

Assessment Criteria:

• Research:  The quality of the research you conducted including your background research, your ability to identify suitable datasets or gather suitable data
• Reporting: The quality and relevance of your reporting including your choice of sources and selection of facts and quotes
• Visualizations/Interactivity: The success of your visualizations or interactives as a form of effective non-fiction storytelling
• Reflection and context:  Show that you can contextualise your project within the key debates of the field including ethics, audience engagement, effective storytelling and efficiency.
• Social Media:  Demonstrate an  understanding of how to promote and redistribute your feature in social media channels.

This is a summative assessment:  Feedback will include a grade out of 100, a qualitative rubric and a comment about your project.