News and Information Gathering
UndergraduateGRF-CJR2202025
Read all about how to source and verify research. Discuss the ins and outs of media conferences and court reporting. Cover the key journalism rounds, including politics, education, sports and finance. Identify what makes a story newsworthy.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 6 July 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 14 July 2025
- Price from
- $2,124
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
News and Information Gathering
About this subject
On the completion of this subject, you should be able to display the following skills:
- define researchable questions in the story area;
- apply knowledge of journalistic research methods;
- quickly and confidently gather the key information needed to compile a journalistic news story on deadline;
- evaluate and use journalistic information in a range of contexts;
- understand the key journalistic rounds (such as crime, police and the like);
- appreciate the importance of social issues and inclusion regarding marginalised groups such as women, Indigenous Australians, migrants, asylum seekers, same sex attracted people and people with a physical or mental disability;
- knowledge of news values to hone newsworthy story angles based on the information gathered;
- ability to display sensitivity to a news audience in a way that stories are organised and written; and
- ability to consider yourselves as capable and autonomous practitioners of journalism.
- What is news gathering?
- Key new rounds
- How to research
- Law and ethics
- Investigative traditions
- Turning information into news
- The life of a news story
- Advanced news writing
- The role of journalism in a Westminster democracy
- The future of journalism
News and Information Gathering is a practical examination of the realities of news research and news gathering in the key rounds, or specialist reporting areas that exist in real newsrooms around the world. These include reporting tasks such as media conferences and reporting court and council. The key journalistic rounds of crime and courts, politics and parliaments, councils, health and education, social issues, sport and leisure, economics and finance, science and specialties and consumer affairs will be covered.
Working with an experienced teacher you will complete practical news gathering and writing tasks. You will meet deadlines, reflect on ethical issues, apply your understanding of media law and gather news across a range of fields. The online forum component of the subject encourages you to relate your practical work to the relevant literature in the area and discuss your views with your peers. Delve into the challenges and constraints of journalistic research. In this subject you will explore difficult and complex decisions within the professional environment. You will also be presented with opportunities to work through practical problems.
The subject encourages you to develop a systematic approach to information gathering that reflects your own style and interests. While producing a range of news writing assignments, you must meet tight deadlines, confront ethical uncertainties and work across a range of fields. While studying this subject you will develop your ability to locate, evaluate and use information in a range of contexts and to display a nose for news and a professional demeanour.
- News Story (20%)
- Council or Parliament Story & Rationale (30%)
- Major Investigation (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.
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- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
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- 21
Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
and one of
GRF-CMM18 (Not currently available)
- GRF-LHS157-Research and Writing for Journalism
Others
Not suitable for incarcerated students.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateGRF-ART-DEG
UndergraduateGRF-COM-DEG
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