| AQF Level |
Level 9 Masters by Coursework Degree |
| CRICOS Code |
081910B |
| Overview and Aims of the Program |
The Master of Future Journalism is designed for students who wish to extend their depth of knowledge and understandings of the practice of professional journalism in the convergent media age. The program offers aspiring and experienced journalists the opportunity to develop expertise in the skills required to expand their careers. These include fundamental journalism practice – ethics, news, reporting, writing; working with multiple media forms including audio, video and web-based; and journalism innovation including aggregation, curation, social media and data journalism. The program enhances the students’ knowledge, understandings and skills in the practice of professional journalism.
The program will be implemented under the oversight of a board of advisers comprising industry and academic partners. The student cohort will study a unified program that prepares them for professional practice at a high level; ensuring that they are equipped to be journalists in a time when the profession itself is in the midst of significant change. |
| Graduate Capabilities |
The Graduate Capabilities Framework articulates the fundamentals that underpin all of Macquarie’s academic programs. It expresses these as follows:
Cognitive capabilities
(K) discipline specific knowledge and skills
(T) critical, analytical and integrative thinking
(P) problem solving and research capability
(I) creative and innovative
Interpersonal or social capabilities
(C) effective communication
(E) engaged and ethical local and global citizens
(A) socially and environmentally active and responsible
Personal capabilities
(J) capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
(L) commitment to continuous learning |
| Program Learning Outcomes |
By the end of this program it is anticipated you should be able to:
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
1. demonstrate a depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in contemporary journalism (K, C)
2. integrate and synthesise information from a range of sources and environments (T, I)
3. ethically connect with the role of journalism and democratic citizenship (E, A)
4. respect and engage in diverse disciplinary approaches to and contexts of contemporary journalism (E, A)
SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES
5. engage with current debates surrounding the practice of journalism (K, T, P)
6. systematically enquire and creatively question the practice of journalism (I, J, L)
7. research, evaluate and communicate diverse knowledge through contemporary journalism practices and produce material in a range of audio, visual, textual and social media forms (T, P, C)
8. work independently and/or collaboratively in the complex and evolving contemporary journalism practices (I, E, J)
9. reflect on and adapt to an increasingly converged, digital environment (P, L). |
| Learning and Teaching Methods |
The program employs a range of learning and teaching methods through which students meet outcomes. Unit learning outcomes are aligned with the program level outcomes and graduate capabilities. These include:
• Lectures: These are delivered in both face to face and online/recorded modes. Some units offer students the choice of online or the face to face lectures. Other units have lectures that are entirely online. This provides maximum flexibility to students and allows for students to review lecture materials by consulting online versions.
• Tutorials: These provide an opportunity for students to interact with academic staff and student peers around selected readings, materials, and topics. Learning is structured around interaction, guided discussions, and set tutorial tasks. They provide an opportunity for students to apply knowledge to tasks or to solving problems
• Workshops: Students engage with production skills through structured lab and studio-based teaching. Learning is centred around developing conceptual understandings of, and practical skills in, contemporary production tools and approaches.
• Teaching materials: The program uses a range of teaching materials to support and direct student learning. These are accessed in person or via the online teaching management system (iLearn).
a. lectures (face-to-face and recorded)
b. traditional paper-based and electronic readings
c. text books
d. audiovisual material
e. group task handouts/worksheets
f. online workshop manuals
g. industry speakers.
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| Assessment |
The course draws upon a range of formative and summative assessment types and approaches. Types of assessment include:
• Participation: students are assessed on their contributions in seminars and online forums. Participation is assessed through engagement with discussions, debates, tasks through learning teaching methods including lectures, tutorials, workshops and online tasks. Through participation students engage with a commitment to learning and develop reflective practices.
• Essays: students are assessed on their capacity to research and synthesise information from multiple sources and develop coherent arguments and responses to topics.
• Project Reports: these assignments assess a student’s capacity to write clearly and reflectively about their projects.
• Production assignments: students are assessed on production skills associated with journalism authentic production context
• Presentations: these assess students’ ability to present and articulate information in a range of formats and contexts. Students present to staff, peers and industry guests.
• Other: other assessments include blogs, reflective journals, production diaries and minutes of group meetings.
A range of student feedback mechanisms are employed including in class formative assessment, out of class summative assessments, participation from staff in online forums and individual student consultations, where appropriate. |
| Recognition of Prior Learning |
Macquarie University may recognise prior formal, informal and non-formal learning for the purpose of granting credit towards, or admission into, a program. The recognition of these forms of learning is enabled by the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy and its associated Procedures and Guidelines. For recognition of prior informal and non-formal learning, please refer to the relevant RPL Plan, which describes the evidential requirements and approval processes for recognising prior learning for entry or credit in this program.
For undergraduate RPL plans visit www.goto.mq.edu.au/nonschoolrpl
For postgraduate RPL plans visit www.goto.mq.edu.au/pgrpl |
| Support for Learning |
Macquarie University aspires to be an inclusive and supportive community of learners where all students are given the opportunity to meet their academic and personal goals. The University offers a comprehensive range of free and accessible student support services which include academic advice, counselling and psychological services, advocacy services and welfare advice, careers and employment, disability services and academic skills workshops amongst others. There is also a bulk billing medical service located on campus.
Further information can be found at www.students.mq.edu.au/support/
Campus Wellbeing contact details:
Phone: +61 2 9850 7497
Email: campuswellbeing@mq.edu.au
www.students.mq.edu.au/support/health_and_wellbeing/contact_us |
| Program Standards and Quality |
The program is subject to an ongoing comprehensive process of quality review in accordance with a pre-determined schedule that complies with the Higher Education Standards Framework. The review is overseen by Macquarie University's peak academic governance body, the Academic Senate and takes into account feedback received from students, staff and external stakeholders. |
| Graduate Destinations and Employability |
Students are prepared for career trajectories including a range of media:
• digital
• print
• broadcasting
• online
• offline. |
| Assessment Regulations |
This program is subject to Macquarie University regulations, including but not limited to those specified in the Assessment Policy, Academic Honesty Policy, the Final Examination Policy and relevant University Rules. For all approved University policies, procedures, guidelines and schedules visit www.mq.edu.au/policy. |
| External Benchmarks |
This program has been benchmarked via a desktop survey of similar programs in the sector. These include:
• Melbourne
(http://graduate.arts.unimelb.edu.au/degrees/19-master-of-journalism/degree-structure)
• UTS
(http://www.uts.edu.au/future-students/find-a-course/courses/c04106)
• QUT
(https://www.qut.edu.au/study/international-courses/master-of-journalism)
• Monash
(http://www.monash.edu.au/study/coursefinder/course/3932/)
• Sydney
(http://sydney.edu.au/courses/master-of-media-practice)
• Curtin
(http://courses.curtin.edu.au/course_overview/postgraduate/Master-Journalism)
• UWA
(http://www.studyat.uwa.edu.au/courses/master-of-international-journalism)
Extensive stakeholder/industry consultation took place via interviews with newsroom heads at the ABC, SBS and the Nine Network.
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| Accreditation |
This is an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accredited qualification.
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