Credit Points 10

Description This subject aims to bring about meaningful change in the news media landscape – to give hope, and a voice to the voiceless while serving the public’s right to know -by engaging students in transformative storytelling. Focusing on Howdunit, students will work with marginalised communities and bring their own skills and knowledge from a variety of disciplines such as science and health to develop stories using the journalism skills of accuracy and ethical research. Industry professionals will guide students during their viva voce and help with broadcasting and publishing work for global audiences.

School Humanities & Comm Arts

Student Contribution Band

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 3 subject

Pre-requisite(s) COMM 1018 News and Media Today

Assumed Knowledge

Basic understanding of news media, news writing and writing.  Knowledge of legal issues affecting journalism and journalism ethics.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a deeper understanding of community dynamics.
2. Frame ideas around building capacity through storytelling and use of media.
3. Identify problems and issues at local level.
4. Explore problems and issues with national and global initiatives.
5. Apply the concepts of constructive news and solutions learning in storytelling.
6. Initiate and lead change through local community voices.
7. Share knowledge, reflect on practice, and help build resilient self and communities.
8. Foster constructive approaches and solutions learning in their fields of academic specialisation.

Subject Content

1. Understanding national and global dynamics and mobility in the making of local communities.
2. Critically incorporating specialist skills in subject areas to formulate stories using professional journalistic storytelling methods.
3. Evaluation of unfamiliar material, and basic to advanced understanding of evidence and research methods. 
4. Developing ability to pitch ideas and present research with confidence in a competitive environment to publish and broadcast.
5. Write clearly and coherently using narrative, descriptive, and analytical methods.
6. Understand national and international political, economic, cultural, religious, and social institutions/issues.
7. Ability to use research and data form a variety of disciplines, as evidence to present constructive news and solutions stories for public consumption.