News Writing and Ethics
UndergraduateGRF-CJR2002025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Question news writing styles and techniques across a range of genres. Take a closer look at effective news story structure. Investigate journalism ethics in a global media world. Hone your ability to use your personal judgement while pursuing stories.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 23 Feb 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Price from
- $2,124
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
News Writing and Ethics
About this subject
The subject includes an introduction to the skills of news style, gathering information and writing on a range of key topic areas, for a variety of news genres. The subject introduces you to the ethical issues faced by journalists and requires you to consider stories in an ethical context, against the framework of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) Code of Ethics. You will also have to analyse various theories and implications of journalistic ethics in a fully referenced essay.
At the completion of this subject you should have an awareness of:
- styles and techniques of news writing
- writing for a variety of print media
- personal judgement in information gathering
- the nature of narrative construction
- cross-cultural and gender related aspects of journalistic research and writing
- ethical issues and considerations; vii. the MEAA code of ethics
- the relationships between the mass media and other social institutions
- critical reflection on journalism practice.
- Journalism ethics
- Newsgathering and writing
- Community news
- Reporting Youth affairs
- Reporting Indigenous affairs
Learn about the different ways that information and news is gathered and reproduced. You will learn about the range of print and electronic media professions that exist in today's information society and explore global trends and issues arising from the growth of information media. The subject introduces news style, exploring how to gather information and write on a range of key topics across news genres. You will also examine ethical issues faced by journalists and consider such issues in connection to your own stories using the framework of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) Code of Ethics. These issues will be analysed and discussed in essay form.
- News Story (Community) (35%)
- News Story (Indig. Affairs) (40%)
- Online Discussion (25%)
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
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
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.