Reference no: EM134018707 , Length: Word Count:750

News Media

Overview

You will act as a student journalist for The Student Dispatch, which is a website that showcases the best student writing from UON students in Singapore. You will produce one integrated news package: a 750-word digital news story with photographs. Choose a single newsworthy idea that suits both formats.

This mirrors current newsroom practice, where material is adapted across platforms. Your interviews must supply usable quotes for the story and sufficient material to support the gallery.

The assessment has three parts: the pitch, the text story and the digital story. (Note: Even though digital stories frequently include audio and/or video content, you do not need to include any original audiovisual content in your news story. However, you may link to secondary sources that comprise audiovisual content.)

Assignment details

Stage 1: The Story Idea Pitch

Before you work on your story idea pitch document, please consult your tutor on the feasibility of your story idea during tutorial time to obtain approval.

Once you have gotten approval to work on this story, use the provided template for your pitch submission.

In your pitch, explain why the story is newsworthy, stating the peg, angle, and relevant news values. Outline the background research you intend to do and list the specific sites or sources you will consult. Identify at least two appropriate interviewees, giving full names and contact details (email and/or phone) and explaining why they are relevant to your story. Draft at least five tailored questions for each interviewee (do not reuse the same set). Conclude by describing how the written story will differ from the photo gallery in focus, structure, or emphasis.

You are highly recommended to interview people who are EXPs (either experts in your topic, or people with experience in your topic). For such interviewees, you are allowed to conduct this interview over email.

Stage 2: Text News

In the second part of this assessment, you will write a 750-word news story.

Even though this is the first version of the news story you will write, it should not be treated as a draft. It is a polished and finalised news story in the style of an article you would read in a printed newspaper.

Your digital story, which is the next stage of this assignment, involves you developing your text story into a digital story as it would run on a website.

The text story must demonstrate a news peg/hook, news values, direct and indirect quotes that show evidence of interviews with at least two relevant sources, and evidence of research to give background and context for the story.

The story should be written in an inverted pyramid style with a strong and relevant lead. Attention should be paid to narrative development, and clear, concise and error-free writing achieved through diligent proof-reading.

Attention should be paid to the journalistic attributes of independence, accuracy, fairness and balance. This is especially the case if the story has more than one perspective. The story should not give any indication of the opinion of the writer, if they have one, and the piece should not 'editorialise' in any way.

In addition to the text, the story should have
a meaningful heading of no more than 10 words.
an original relevant image that is captioned and attributed (only 1)
contact details (phone and email) of your interviewees (Include these at the end of the story. These are not intended for publication but for the tutor to check authenticity if it is deemed necessary.)

Examples of news stories can include:

A (student/youth) reaction story to a recent news event or announcement
A reaction story to a recent study, survey, report
A story that's related to the time of the year or a celebration/fest in that period
Recent issues faced by youths/students/international students
Latest trends/viral moments

A good way to look for ideas would be to look at the local newspapers to see what's being reported in the news lately, and ask yourself: How can I add to this topic? Whose voices are missing in the reportage of this topic?

Research & writing

Do not proceed to research and write your story until your idea has been approved by your tutor. You do not need to wait for the story pitch assessment to be marked and returned, you can proceed with verbal feedback after Week 6 class.

Although you are working on your text story first, think ahead to your digital story when you are researching and interviewing.

Although you can only submit 1 photo with your text story, you will need 10 for your digital story. Plan and take these shots well in advance of the digital deadline. They should include your two interviewees, and may include multiple images of them in different settings. There will be other images that explain the story (location, generic images etc) that you will also need to take. All images in your digital story must be captioned and attributed to you as the photographer.

When you are researching, look for documents and websites that you can link to in your digital version. These might include reports, speeches, websites, media releases or other media stories. Pay attention to how news reports attribute their research (it is not the same as academic referencing).

Ensure the people you interview and photograph know who you are and what you are doing. You require their permission to record them (for accuracy) and photograph them (verbal is acceptable in news media). You can take any photographs you like in a public place, but be sensitive about invasions of privacy and mindful of recording illegal acts and your own safety.

It is not a requirement of this assessment that you do publish the story on The Student Dispatch, however please set out with that goal in mind. You will also need the permission of your sources to publish the story (again, verbal is acceptable).

Stage 3: Digital News

The digital news story is the final part of this assessment and adapts the text story for a digital platform.

In preparing their digital news story, students should:
Rewrite the text of their story based on tutor feedback (to the second part of the assessment)
Include digital elements that enhance the readability of the story
Work on the WordPress site for The Student Dispatch in draft mode

The digital story is essentially the same story as the text story, but improved and adapted for the digital platform.

Attention should be paid to digital devices such as use of:

Main heading and secondary heading
Write-off/standalone, summary or introduction
Subheadings
Images (photographs) and other graphic elements such as 'pull quotes'
Hyperlinks
Font, point size and colour.
SEO

You are recommended to shoot at least 30 photographs that relate directly to your story. Do not photograph yourself interviewing subjects or conducting research. From your shoot, select the best 10 photos-shot by you-to form a coherent, professionally sequenced gallery.

You may include additional visuals not taken by you (e.g., historic images, screenshots, computer-generated graphics) if they add narrative value, but they do not count toward the required 10 and must be properly credited.

Each photograph must be accompanied by a caption that is written in accordance with business communication and journalistic conventions. A well-written caption offers information beyond what can be seen in the photo and does not merely describe the photo.

For students seeking additional guidance on coursework writing assignments or general assignment help, planning the story structure and research process early can support successful completion of the assessment requirements.