This task requires you to analyse news in order to compare genres and approaches to journalistic practice. You should select and analyse three (3) contemporary news stories (published in the last month), including:

One (1) Sports news story AND

One (1) Police or Court news story AND

One (1) Political news story.

At least one (1) of these three stories should be of extended length (more than 1000 words), either a feature item, investigative piece, media interview or current affairs segment.

You will need to submit copies of the three (3) news stories you have chosen as appendices to your essay. These appendices can be scanned copies of print articles, transcripts (if the story was broadcast), or a 'cut and paste' of an online article. The appendices of the news stories need to be in such a form that teaching staff can refer to the original material. You will also need to include the details of the news stories as references in your assessment's Reference List.

Analyse EACH of the three stories using the following criteria.

1. List the who, what, where, when, why and how of each story.

2. List and justify the dominant news values in each of the news stories.

3. List the sources used in each article.

4. Identify the target audience based on the placement / presentation of each article. Which section? Was the story front page? Was it the top link? Was it the most prominent sports story?

Compare and contrast the three stories incorporating the following information.

Compare the differences in sources used in the three articles such as quoted facts and figures, personalities and/or identities.

What are the differences in the way the stories are written and presented? Account for differences in style, format and presentation. Consider the angle or the way the story is framed.

Discuss the significance of the three (3) stories in terms of their prominence and placement in the media outlet you have chosen.

What do the prominence and presentation of the three (3) stories tell you about the readership or audience of the local or state outlets in which they appear?

You are expected to reference your discussion. The word count is 1,500 words.

A detailed marking criteria is available on the Moodle website.

Elements assessed include:

• Quality of news stories chosen
• Accuracy of referencing
• Standard of presentation including expression
• Relevance to unit concepts and textbook
• Depth of analysis (rather than description)
• Argumentation and appropriate use of examples
• Appropriate introduction and conclusion

There are two parts to this assessment: 1) Presentation and discussion (Team) AND 2) Written submission (Individual).

1) Presentation and discussion (25%) (Team): This assessment requires students to review the work of TWO journalists and present findings on that journalist to class peers.

On-campus students will choose teams in your class in Weeks 1 - 2, and distance students will nominate your journalists online no later than Week 2 (Teams for distance students will comprise students who have chosen the same journalist - to a maximum of four students per team).

Each team must support your presentation with a slide presentation. Your final slide will include references. All photographs used within the presentation must also be referenced. On-campus students will present this in class; distance students will submit their presentation to the relevant forum with embedded voice-over (maximum of 10 minutes). Guidance about creating effective presentations will be provided on the course website.

Ideally you will work in teams for this task, but if you have extenuating circumstances, you may discuss the possibility of individual work with the Unit Coordinator. You will also be required to contribute to discussions about each journalist, and this discussion will be guided by teaching staff during class/on the forum.

You will need to choose TWO journalists from the following list. The group presentation will be due in Week 10.

Nicole Hasham (Australia)
Lara Logan (USA)
Ahmad Taufik (Indonesia)
Karl Stefanovic (Australia)

The following criteria will help guide your research/structure for your presentations:

1. Provide a summary of this person's work.
   
2. Justify whether this person is a 'real' journalist using the definition of journalism in your textbook.
3. Explain whether the journalist's work reflects the ideals of The Fourth Estate.
   
4. Explain the genre for which the journalist is renowned.
5. Describe the journalist's most significant contribution to public knowledge or interest.
6. Describe the journalist's practice in terms of law and ethics.
   
7. List and explain the journalist's limitations/shortcomings.
8. Describe what you personally like the most about this journalist's work, and why.
9. Describe what you personally dislike about this journalist's work, and why.
10. Explain how the journalist might influence your approach to journalism as a profession, and why.

This is an introductory level task, and aims to: encourage you to meet and work with fellow students even if you're working by distance; introduce you to key concepts in journalism through practice; introduce you to research and presentation. It is supposed to be enjoyable. You are allowed to have fun.

All students working in a team will conduct a self and peer assessment, whereby each team member will evaluate the performance of themselves, and their peers. Details about how to conduct a self and peer assessment will be provided. This process does not influence your grade unless it is clear that there is an issue, in which case teaching staff will talk to you. We know many students don't like to work in teams for a range of reasons, but our experience is also that learning to work effectively in teams comes from experience, a bit of training and support.

All members of a team will receive the same mark for the presentation component of this assessment, but all students will receive an individual grade for contribution and participation in discussion.

2) Written submission (Individual) (25%): All students will submit an individual written report that ranks (in their opinion) six (6) journalists in order, using the ranking criteria provided on Moodle with number 1 being 'the best'. This should be 2000 - 2500 words. You must discuss each of the four journalists from Part 1, plus an additional two (2) journalists of your choice. A list of suggested journalists will be provided, but you can choose anyone who fulfils the definition of "journalist". Choose wisely, and include one international journalist. They need not be practicing as a journalist now (and they need not be alive.) You will draw upon the things you have learned during the term in your presentation and discussions, and each journalist should have a paragraph summary, followed by a sentence as to why you ranked them in the order you have. An example will be posted on Moodle. Referencing is required, and does not count towards the word count. You will need at least two sources per journalist.

A detailed marking criteria is available on the Moodle website.

Elements assessed for the team component include:

• Quality of research
• Quality of presentation
• Team participation
• Level of engagement

Elements assessed for the individual component include:

• Quality of ranking
  
• Quality of analysis
• Standard of writing
• Quality of link to unit concepts
• Referencing