Graduate Diploma of Journalism

2019 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2019 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2019 course information
Award granted	Graduate Diploma of Journalism
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2019. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2019. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Cloud Campus	Yes
Duration	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	046736B Burwood (Melbourne)
Deakin course code	A649
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Whether you want to start your journalism career or update your professional skills to work across all media platforms, Deakin's Graduate Diploma of Journalism is for you. Positioned as a top quality, contemporary program of study, the course integrates journalism theory and practice to enable you to learn how to take advantage of new opportunities in the media and communication industries.

You will be taught by experienced journalists with expertise across all key media platforms: print, television, radio and digital media. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to research, write, edit and publish news and feature stories, and work in Deakin's state-of-the-art digital newsroom and broadcast facilities.

When you graduate, you will have a portfolio of work which showcases your knowledge and skills as a journalist and expert communicator. On completion of the course, you can also take the opportunity to deepen your journalism expertise by seeking credit towards study in Deakin's Master of Communication.

The Graduate Diploma of Journalism will build and enhance the professional skills you need to meet head on the opportunities and challenges of the contemporary news and media industries.

Career opportunities

The Graduate Diploma of Journalism is designed for people looking to break into journalism or who are already working in industry and are seeking to upgrade their qualifications or to refresh or advance their professional communication skills. The course recognises that media professionals of the future will require versatile skill sets that enable them to adapt to ever-changing industry environments and, in doing so, be active participants and content creators across multiple media platforms. Whether you want to work in newspapers, online, radio and television, specialist publishing or corporate communications, the Graduate Diploma of Journalism will provide you with the essential knowledge and skills needed to craft engaging and important news stories.

Graduates are likely to find work across a wide range of industry sectors with entertainment and content production companies (including news and other media organisations), multimedia businesses, government departments, and not-for-profit organisations. Graduates may be employed or work on a freelance basis. Roles may include news reporter, mobile journalist, producer, editor, sub-editor, blogger, copywriter, corporate communicator or media advisor.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Communication (A539)

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate a specialised, developed knowledge of how to identify, research, plan and produce newsworthy stories suitable for print, broadcast and online media and advanced skills for analysing theoretical issues raised by news stories and the social role of journalism, both nationally and internationally.
Communication	Demonstrate advanced communication skills, including the specialised, developed ability to interview, write, produce and present stories for print, broadcast and online media in a style appropriate for the specific publication and audience and to write and present material for both professional and scholarly contexts.
Digital literacy	A specialised, developed knowledge of how to conduct academic and news related research and critically analyse, synthesise and disseminate this information using a range of technologies, including social media, for a variety of local and global audiences.
Critical thinking	Demonstrate advanced understanding of how to select, critically analyse and evaluate information relating to scholarly contexts, as well as the construction of news stories. Demonstrate a specialised, developed awareness of different publication styles and media audiences in Australia and internationally.
Problem solving	An advanced knowledge of how to critically analyse unpredictable and sometimes complex problems and situations and generate pragmatic and creative solutions in professional and scholarly contexts.
Self-management	Demonstrate initiative and resourcefulness when sourcing and following-up news stories. Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility and accountability under time pressure and an ongoing commitment to reflective learning about journalism and journalistic practice.
Teamwork	Demonstrate a developed knowledge of how to work collaboratively with journalistic colleagues, other professionals and community members and build personal contacts and networks.
Global citizenship	Demonstrate specialised legal, ethical and cultural knowledge when engaging in journalistic practice in a range of diverse cultural, social and political environments.
Approved by Faculty Board November 2017

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma of Journalism, students must successfully complete 6 credit points from the units listed below and 2 credit points of electives.

Electives may be chosen from the remaining units below or from any other postgraduate course in the School of Communication and Creative Arts; students who intend to move from the diploma into the Master of Communication are strongly advised to take ACX701 Communication Concepts for their two elective credit points.

Students must also complete:

AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)