ALJ714 - Journalism for Social Change
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Kristy Hess |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 2-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 2-hour online seminar per week (recordings provided) |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
How can we empower ourselves to be ethical consumers and producers of news in a changing social world? When reporting on the issues that really matter, how might we tell stories that engage audiences and inspire action? This unit investigates the relationship between journalism and social change, with an emphasis on practice and analysis. Topics may include racial justice, climate change, homelessness, refugee rights, and gender inequality. You will learn about constructive journalism – a reporting style that focuses on solutions as well as problems. By the end of the unit, you will be able to identify and analyse examples of constructive journalism, and understand how to track their impact. You will also produce your own example of constructive journalism and reflect on your practice as a change agent.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Interrogate the impact of social change on the professional practice of journalism | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking GLO8: Global citizenship |
| ULO2 | Track the social impact of news stories | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO3 | Critically evaluate examples of constructive journalism and analyse their social impact using a range of theoretical tools | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Create and critically reflect on your own news content, applying theoretical approaches to journalism for social change | GLO2: Communication GLO3: Digital literacy GLO5: Problem solving |
These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year.
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Analysis of news coverage and impact | 2500 words or equivalent | 50% | Information not yet available |
| Assessment 2: News story and reflection | 2500 words or equivalent | 50% | Information not yet available |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for ALJ714 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.