AUT - Journalism Major: Bachelor of Communication Studies
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Journalism Major: Bachelor of Communication Studies
The Journalism major provides graduates with the broad base of skills needed to cope with today’s rapidly changing news media environment. The strength of the major is in its professional focus, alongside a grounding in broad communication theory. You will write stories for real publications, often beating the professionals to the punch.
You will gain experience in news reporting, different writing specialisations, bicultural reporting, media law and ethics. The core papers cover news gathering and court and local government systems. Students learn how to take notes in shorthand. Options include broadcast journalism, magazine journalism, photo journalism, new media journalism, editing and design and news production.
As a student in the Journalism major, you will have access to the journalism newsroom and the award winning Te Waha Nui newspaper in print and online. During the final year of study, you can experience running a real newsroom and undertake one of a range of internships to prepare you for transition to work in the news industry.You will be encouraged to publish your stories and undertake a 1 week field trip and an internship in your final semester.
An honours year is also available if you wish to study further.
WHAT THIS MAJOR COVERS
Through real-world writing assignments and the papers studied, you will experience what it is like to work in the journalism industry. Our learning philosophy is ‘the classroom is a newsroom, our newsroom is a classroom’. This model will be on stream for senior students in 2013 in the new WG media centre. At AUT you have an opportunity to learn on-the-job; you will be encouraged to extend your skills with live reporting exercises. Core papers studied in this major are principles of news journalism, principles of broadcast journalism, media communication theory, news reporting, public affairs reporting, specialist writing,broadcast and news reporting.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
- Freelance journalism
- Journalists on daily and community newspapers, magazines and online media
- News reporting
- Specialist writing
- Television and radio journalists
PAPERS
Most papers last one semester and are worth 15 points. Students must complete 120 points each year (360 points for the entire degree). In each year students study core (compulsory) papers, and select other papers from a range of options.
Year One - 120 Points total
Introduces essential theory and practice as a basis for later specialisation. This focuses on media and interpersonal communication and the relationships between communication, technology and New Zealand society.
CORE PAPERS
145701 Interpersonal Communication (15)
145708 Media Communication I (15)
145717 Image and Sound (15)
145718 Media Production Workshop (30)
285008 Applied Media Ethics (15)
SELECT TWO
145705 Principles of Writing (15)
145709 Introduction to New Zealand Literature (15)
145719 Introduction to Popular Culture (15)
145720 Performance Communication (15)
285706 New Zealand Political Studies (15)
915101 Te Kākano I (15)
Year Two - 120 Points total
Students undertake more practical work in all the communication disciplines while continuing to develop critical theory. This allows students to focus their studies more specifically but still keep options open for their final choice of a major. Majors and minors begin in Year Two. Students are required to complete 90 points for a major and 60 points for a minor (if desired). We recommend that options are kept open by choosing the two prerequisite papers for each of three majors.
CORE PAPERS
146719 Intercultural Communication (15)
146723 Media Communication IIA (15)
JOURNALISM PREREQUISITE PAPERS
146751 Principles of News Journalism (15)
146752 Principles of Broadcast Journalism (15)
OPTIONAL PAPERS:
Choose from other papers as listed in the Bachelor of Communication Studies Table of Papers in the AUT University Academic Calendar.
Year Three - 120 Points total
In Year Three, students major in one of a number of fields including advertising creativity, communication and public relations, creative industries, journalism, digital media, professional communication, radio and television. Following the broader focus of Year Two, the majors now go deeper into the applied theory and practice of these various communication fields. Students who have begun a minor in Year Two will also complete this in Year Three alongside their major. An internship or industry project may be offered as part of the Year Three programme.
All Year Three students must study Media Communication III plus the equivalent of 60 points in their major to reach the 90 points required to complete a major. The remaining 45 points may be used to complete a minor or to study additional elective papers of the student’s choice.
Entry to a Year Three major may be restricted if applications exceed places available. Preference will be given to students who achieve good academic results and show aptitude in the relevant prerequisite papers in Year Two.
CORE PAPERS:
147717 Media Communication III (15)
JOURNALISM MAJOR PAPERS:
SELECT 105 points - a minimum of 60 points from your MAJOR and 30 points from your minor (if desired).
147796 Specialist Writing (15)
147799 News Reporting (15)
147830 Journalism Law and Ethics (15)
147831 Public Affairs Reporting (15)
OPTIONAL PAPERS:
Level 5:
915404 Sound Production (15)
915405 Technology and Composition (15)
Level 6:
116232 Photography (15)
386626 Advertising Media Planning (15)
466650 Project Management (15)
916100 Technology and Creative Expression (15)
Level 7:
147723 Persuasive Communication (15)
147732 Editing and Design (15)
147734 Magazine Journalism (15)
147753 New Media Journalism (15)
147777 The Music Industries (15)
147782 Issues in Cross-Cultural Communication (15)
147787 News Production (15)
147788 Performance for Camera (15)
147789 Radio Journalism (15)
147790 Photo Journalism (15)
147791 Television Journalism (15)
147792 Advanced Copywriting (15)
147813 Radio and Society (15)
147814 Knowledge Management (15)
147816 Promotional Culture (15)
147825 Reporting the Pacific Region (15)
147826 Maori and Pasifika Media Industry (15)
147827 Sponsorship and Promotion (15)
147832 Advanced Advertising Art Direction (15)
387932 Strategic Advertising Management (15)
487964 Integrated Marketing Communications (15)
AND/OR any specified BCS minor or other level 5-7 papers.
Enrolment in papers is subject to meeting requisite requirements and availability of papers.