News and Politics
UndergraduateGRF-CMM182021
Course information for 2021 intake
Venture into the arena of politics and current affairs. Explore the relationship between the media and political institutions. Produce a story informed by ethical and impartial journalistic practice. Develop and extend your journalistic writing voice.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
News and Politics
About this subject
At the completion of this subject you will be able to:
- write in a journalistic style
- research and produce a news story
- navigate Australian political institutions
- understand and think critically about how the mass media interacts with political institutions
- understand the ethical requirements of journalism
- draw on a theoretical framework to examine news in a democracy and
- appreciate your own biases and consider them rationally.
In order to build the skills required by the professional journalist, this subject requires you to deliver assessment on deadline and exercise initiative when applying methods of research and information gathering to news story assignments.
- What is news: professional definitions
- What is news: democracy and the public sphere
- What is news: business and political economy
- What is news in the 21st century
- News writing: news values, inverted pyramid, writing leads
- News gathering: research and the interview
- News ethics and media law
- Public relations spin and responding to media releases
- News and social media
- Reporting crime, justice, health and mental health
- Reporting on the environment, energy and natural disasters
- Reporting politics and social justice
- Building your professional portfolio
CMM18 News and Politics introduces you to the conventions of news writing and journalism and challenges you to read news and current affairs critically. This subject combines an overview of Australian political systems and the media with a broad theoretical framework on the role of the media in a healthy democracy. You learn the principles and practice of news and politics though Weekly Learning Modules containing a short lecture and Weekly Learning Activities (WLAs) including multi-media options to Read, Watch, Listen and Explore each weekly topic, and take part in weekly discussions on the Discussion Board. You are expected to keep across current affairs on a daily basis and to challenge yourselves by reading news and current affairs in a critical fashion within the theoretical and practical framework supplied in News and Politics. You will combine development of practical news writing skills with study of politics and the media.
NOTE: Required texts are supplied through Griffith University as online resources for OUA students.- Community/Social News Story (30%)
- Political News Story (30%)
- Online Discussion (20%)
- Essay (20%)
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.
Learn more about Griffith University.
Explore Griffith courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 18
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 20
Entry requirements
No entry 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.
Why study a single subject?
Bite sized study
Try studying a particular area to see if online study suits you, or upskill in just a few months with a single subject that you’re interested in.
Pursue a dream
With thousands of single subjects to choose from, you can find topics that get you on the path to your higher education goals fast.
Gain Uni credit
Most single subjects are part of a full degree. That means if you’re keen to keep learning, you can gain credit for the subjects you’ve successfully completed.
Single subject FAQs
What’s a single subject?
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
Can anyone help me choose a subject?
Our student advisors are more than happy to help you plan your online study. Get in touch with an advisor by:
How do I pay for my subjects?
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
How do I enrol?
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
When is the cut-off date for enrolling?
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.