MDIA 3343 - Journalism Capstone

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025

This course will allow students to undertake a journalism `passion project? in which they explore different ideas around journalism production, theory and practice. Students will produce a piece of journalism by choosing their own medium, approach and style. They will then reflect on this production, and what their particular project adds to and says about journalism today. The course will provide students with cutting edge journalism practice skills while situating their work in wider theoretical debates around best practice and the future of journalism.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MDIA 3343
    Course Journalism Capstone
    Coordinating Unit Media
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Up to 3 contact hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites (MDIA 2338 or MDIA 3328) and MDIA 3333
    Assessment Journalism Project Proposal, Major Journalism Project, Reflection on Major Project, Participation
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr John Budarick

    Dr John Budarick
    Dr Kathryn Bowd
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    Gain practical experience producing journalism through different platforms
    Understand anf reflect on different approaches to and styles of journalism
    Develop a critical, theoretically informed approach to journalism practice
    Synthesis different sets o data and information into a coherent project
    Engage in critical self-reflection
    Produce high quality academic work to a deadline
    Produce work to industry standard
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    4 5 6 7

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    6

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    4 5 6 7

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    2 3

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    1

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    All required content will be made available in the My Uni page for the ocurse
    Recommended Resources
    Recommended resources will be provided through the course My Uni page
    Online Learning
    Course content, including some lecture and tutorial material will be delivered online. Other material will also be posted online on the My uni site for the course.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Course content will be delivered both face to face and online. A 3 houweekly workshop.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Weekly workshop - 3hours per week
    Workshop preperation - 3 hours per week
    Assignment preperation - 3 hours per week
    Learning Activities Summary
    3 hour weekly workshop
    Specific Course Requirements
    Completion of MDIA 2338 and MDIA 3333 are pre-requisites
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    project Proposal 20%
    Major project 50%
    Project reflection 20%
    Participation and professionalism 10%
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Assessment is based o a major project of industry standard
    Assessment Detail
    The assessment tasks will consist of critical reflection pieces and a piece of industry standard journalistic work.
    Submission
    All written assessment will be submitted through the Turnitin portal
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.