Course coordinator
Dr Skye Doherty
Class is the best time to ask questions and get advice on assessments. If you need to meet outside of class, please make an appointment via email.
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
This course introduces design-led methods in a journalistic context.
Journalism Design introduces students to creative and design-led approaches to journalism practice. It encourages students to consider the challenges and opportunities of technology and to explore novel responses.
Course requirements
Assumed background
It is assumed that students will have successfully acquired concepts covered in Level 1 and Level 2 Journalism courses.ﾠ
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
Students enrolled from 2017 in B Journalism or B Communication must have completed COMU1140.
Students in the B Journalism or B Communication pre-2017 must have completed JOUR2811 + JOUR2822 + JOUR3833.
Restrictions
Restricted to students in the BJ and BJ duals and BCommun Journalism Minor students.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Skye Doherty
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Short courses in using the designated hardware and software will be available during O Week.
Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with:
- Your name
- Your student ID
- The course code
- A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)
- Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP
Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to introduce design as a practice that can drive journalism innovation.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Conceptualise and design novel ideas for journalism practice
LO2.
Understand and apply design-led methodologies
LO3.
Evaluate designed artefacts in the context of technological innovation
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Design Brief | 30% |
3/04/2025 4:00 pm |
| Quiz |
Quiz
|
20% 30-minute quiz |
29/04/2025 - 1/05/2025
The quiz will be available for three days in Week 9. It will open at 9am on Tuesday April 29 2025 and will close at 4pm on Thursday May 1 2025. You will have one attempt and no more than 30 minutes to complete the test. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Portfolio | Journalism Design Portfolio | 50% |
27/05/2025 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Design Brief
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
3/04/2025 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
Each student should identify an issue, story or opportunity at the intersection of journalism and technology and three avenues for further exploration. The brief should:
- Identify the topic you plan to explore and why it is worth examining;
- Describe the current situation: people, technologies, practices, storytelling approaches, underlying values. Identify any tensions, challenges or unexplored potential.
- Identify three paths for investigating the issue eg: contexts to research or concepts to explore.
Please consult the Design Brief task sheet on Blackboard for more detail, including structure and grading.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Quiz
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20% 30-minute quiz
- Due date
29/04/2025 - 1/05/2025
The quiz will be available for three days in Week 9. It will open at 9am on Tuesday April 29 2025 and will close at 4pm on Thursday May 1 2025.
You will have one attempt and no more than 30 minutes to complete the test.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
An online quiz will test your understanding of material covered in this course. Questions will be drawn from the lecture material and will cover topics in weeks 1 to 8. Questions will include a combination of multiple choice, multiple answer and true/false. The quiz will be set up so you can complete it any time between Tuesday and Thursday of week 9. You will have one attempt and no more than 30 minutes to complete the test.
Please consult the Quiz task sheet on Blackboard for more detail, including structure and grading.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
The quiz will be available for three days in Week 9. It will open at 9am on Tuesday April 29 2025 and will close at 4pm on Thursday May 1 2025
You will have one attempt and no more than 30 minutes to complete the test.
You must complete the quiz during the exam window or late penalties will apply.
The will will be available via Blackboard - Assessments section.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Students unable to undertake the online quiz at the required time may be able to apply for a deferred examination. Deferred exams will be held during Exam Week 1, available from 9am on Tuesday June 10 2025 and will close at 4pm on Thursday June 12 2025.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Journalism Design Portfolio
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Portfolio
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
27/05/2025 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
This assessment has three components:
- Description of your design artefact/s [300 words plus at least two images]
- Report on your design process [800 words plus at least three images]
- Written reflective essay [600 words]
Description of artefact/s
Each student should produce one or more design artefacts that communicate a design concept. The artefacts should demonstrate an idea for using a computing technology in a journalistic context, that is, to address an issue, report a story or provoke new thinking about existing practice. The artefacts can be digital or physical. All artefacts need to be retained for 30 days after the release of grades. Any files hosted on a third-party platform should be downloaded or exported.
Design process
Explain how you developed the artefact, ie: how you used (or did not use) the JxD process. Explain the contextual research, processes of making and any evaluation (feedback) you undertook. Articulate what you learned as a result of these steps and how insights and evidence that emerged at each stage informed subsequent design decisions.
Reflection
Write a reflective response to this question:
What does your prototype or the design process tell you about the future of journalism?
Answer the question with reference to theory and practice. Draw on your own project as well as academic literature discussed in the course modules or consulted separately. Your work this semester will have resulted in insights or new ideas for journalism. We want you to position that concept within a broader context of theory and practice and consider its value to journalism.
Please consult the Design Portfolio Task Sheet on Blackboard for more detail, including structure and grading.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
All artefacts, whether digital or physical, need to be retained for 30 days after the release of grades. Any files hosted on a third-party platform should be downloaded or exported.
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Sketch book | Students should purchase an A4 or A5 sketch book and drawing tools eg: graphite pencil and fine-point pen. The book should be unlined, sketch paper. These are available in the university book shop | |
| Laptop | Workshop rooms do not have computers. Students should bring their own device to class. | |
| APA referencing guide | Available via UQ Library: http://www.library.uq.edu.au/help/referencing-style-guides |
Additional learning resources information
File Management
The School does not accept any responsibility for student work in progress on university computers. Students are responsible for management of their own work files, including saving, back up and storage. The School strongly recommends students purchase a portable USB hard drive on which to work and store work. This device must be self powered as we cannot guarantee access to mains power for peripherals. These are available from the normal retailers of peripherals.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 1: Introduction: concepts, process, sketching Learning outcomes: L01 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 2: Journalism: is it valuable? Learning outcomes: L01 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 3: Self-directed learning – see activity on Bb (class interruption due to Cyclone Alfred) Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 4: Human-centred computing and Innovation Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 5: Research for design: context and people Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 6: Developing concepts: analysis, ideation, documentation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 7: Communicating concepts: user journeys, prototypes Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 8: Futuring: Design fiction, speculation, world building Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 9: NO CLASS - complete the Quiz assessment |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Seminar |
Week 10: Reflecting on practice Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Seminar |
Week 11: Open studio: assessment consultation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Seminar |
Week 12: Open studio: assessment consultation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 13: NO CLASS - Design Portfolio due |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
Course guidelines
Communication Expectations
While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.
- Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.
- You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.
- You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.
- You can send email at any time, however please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).
- Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.