MDIA5001 ASSIGNMENT 1 NEWS RESEARCH

Assignment 1 – Hard News Research Exercise (30%) SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

SECTION 1 – Data points

Using numbered points (example 1., 2., 3.) submit a digest of 500-750 words in length that showcases the key facts and quotes you have gathered concerning your NEWS TOPIC. The data points should show evidence of rigorous and relevant research that adds to existing knowledge and/or debate about the news topic. List each fact and quote in a separate data point. Ensure that direct quotes are an exact and unedited representation of the words used by the interviewee. Paraphrasing quotes is permitted, in which case, quotation marks MUST NOT be used.  Include in your data points newsworthy direct quotes from AT LEAST ONE INTERVIEW that you personally conducted, or more if you have conducted multiple interviews. Do not waste words. Submissions that are densely packed with high-value hard news data (for example, impactful quotes from relevant people, or new facts that advance the news agenda) will score the highest marks. Make sure your interviewees represent organisations or have direct, recent personal experience relevant to the news topic.

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MDIA5001 ASSIGNMENT 1 NEWS RESEARCH

SECTION 2 – Reference list

The data you submit MUST be accurate, up to date and properly sourced. Using numbered points cite the sources of all facts and quotes used in each data point. If you have 20 data points in Section 1, you should have 20 reference points in Section 2. If the source is an article, include the author name (if an author is listed) as well as the headline, the publication and the date and place it was published. If the source is a publication or book, a web page, newspaper or magazine article, television or radio program, a blog, or if it was communicated via social media, use the Harvard Referencing Style Guide on the 5001 Moodle course site. If the source was a statement by someone that you interviewed, simply name the interviewee. Failure to precisely identify the sources of information in each data point will lower your marks. Do NOT include the reference list in your assignment word count.

MDIA5001 ASSIGNMENT 1 NEWS RESEARCH

SECTION 3 – Reflection

• Displays a grasp of the values of journalistic research and writing and an awareness of how these should be translated into practice
• Responds directly to questions posed for the student’s reflection on practice
• Provides adequate detail in response to submission guidelines

Answer the following five questions. Do NOT include these answers in your assignment word count:

1. List the five most important questions your research needed to answer.
2. Explain in 100 words why your data satisfies the news values discussed in this course.
3. Draft a single sentence lead for a hard news story about your news topic using only the data you have submitted. The lead must be corroborated by a direct quote from your interview. Cite the relevant data point number for the quote [in brackets] at the end of your lead.
4. Embed in your submission a screen shot of a news story published in 2018 that your research has advanced and augmented
5. Provide the name, age, gender, position and telephone and email contacts of the person or persons you interviewed. State the time, date and place in which the interview took place, and whether it was conducted in-person, or by telephone, email or social media. If you interviewed a person more than once, list each interview separately.

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MDIA5001 ASSIGNMENT 1 NEWS RESEARCH

INTERVIEWS

The compulsory interview must be conducted IN PERSON in Australia. Quotes from this interview must corroborate the draft lead sentence submitted in Section 2 of this assignment. Additional interviews may be conducted by telephone, email, Skype or social media.

Interviewees MUST NOT be fellow students at UNSW or any other university unless a copy of an email approval from your tutor is included with your submission. ALL INTERVIEWS MUST BE RECORDED on a digital recorder of some kind (phone, Dictaphone, etc.). These recordings must be retained until the end of each academic year. A random audit will be conducted by teaching staff to check that claimed interviews actually took place and that the quotes provided by students are accurate and not fabricated.

SUBMISSIONS OPEN at 9 am on Friday 23rd March 2018. Submissions CLOSE at 12 noon Monday 26th March 2018. Include the following information on the COVER SHEET:

1. Your Student ID number, full name (given name followed by family name – do not use nicknames), your weekly seminar day and time..
2. An accurate word count of the number of words submitted as dot points ONLY.

Submissions must be made via the appropriate link in MOODLE. For any difficulties uploading your submission contact UNSW MOODLE SUPPORT or the IT HELP DESK. A LATENESS PENALTY OF 5% PER DAY will apply to late submissions. Applications for extensions are made via the SPECIAL CONSIDERATION system. DO NOT ask your tutor directly for an extension.

MARKING CRITERIA

Writing                10%
Research            50%
Interviewing        10%
Format                10%
Reflection           20%

ends

News topic reference

Fifth person dies in Australia’s rockmelon listeria outbreak | Australia news | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/16/fifth-person-dies-in-australias-rockmelon-listeria-outbreak

MDIA5001 ASSIGNMENT 1 NEWS RESEARCH

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