Bachelor of Communication Studies (Journalism)

Nic Daley

THE QUALIFICATION
Course: Bachelor of Communication Studies (Journalism)
Where: Auckland University of Technology
Contact: Ph 09 921 9999 or 0800 FOR AUT (0800 367 288)
Email: AUT
Web: www.aut.ac.nz
Cost: 2007 course costs: $4100 plus textbooks and materials
Starting salary: $28,000 - $32,000 but varies depending on publication

The course Whether TV, radio, print or online, journalists work to communicate the news locally, nationally or globally.

The journalism major is one of seven majors within the Communication Studies degree at AUT. Only 35 of 120 students are accepted into the journalism major on the basis of their grades in the second year.

First and second years focus on subjects such as communication theory, political studies, economics and sociology, although students wanting to specialize in journalism are required to take two journalism prerequisite papers in second year.

The third year core papers include editing and design, the different writing specialisations, bi-cultural reporting, media law and ethics.

Students are attached to a suburban newspaper for which they're required to write at least one article a week. These articles become part of an assessed portfolio.

Students do a full week's work experience at a large newspaper office, then do a two week internship.

Shorthand is an essential skill and students must reach 80 words a minute to successfully complete their degree. Applications for the communication studies degree close in September.

School leavers need at least 60 NCEA level three credits over four approved subjects or the equivalent. A CV and letter are part of the application process.

Graduates enter print, radio, TV and web roles, with online journalism a growth area.

AUT also has a graduate diploma in journalism. It is one of 10 journalism schools in New Zealand. There are four other New Zealand-based degrees.

THE GRADUATE
Nic Daley
Journalist for Times Newspapers
Graduated November 2004

I chose the communication studies degree because I wanted a professional degree and to work in media but wasn't sure exactly where.

Through the first two years you get a broad taste of communications - public relations, radio and TV - as well as topics such as media theory and history.

I originally applied for the TV major but then decided to do journalism because the TV major was more about production than journalism and there was a TV journalism paper within the journalism major.

We learned how to write news stories and develop interviewing skills.

Although university gets us used to deadlines, it is still not as real as it could be. We did about one story a week at university; here we write three to five a day.

The work experience provides real insight into the industry. I did a week at the Manawatu Standard, then a TVNZ two week internship, which was an incredible experience.

Shorthand was compulsory, hard but invaluable. I use a dictaphone but I can't in meetings or accident scenes and some people often don't like talking into them.

The tutors are experienced and still part of the industry so have lots of current knowledge.

My expectations about jobs were a little high. I had done a two week placement at TVNZ and really hoped to work there but they told me I should go and get local news experience, so then I applied here where I've been gaining enormous insight into newspapers and honing my skills.

THE EMPLOYER
Lisah Henry
Times Newspapers' group editor

Journalists here write three or four stories a day so they have to be prepared to work quickly in a pressured environment, handle stress well, be flexible and adaptable and have a sense of humour.

We usually don't take people on without a qualification. A recognized tertiary qualification indicates the applicant has a good grounding in journalism; knowledge of media law, news story construction and how to fit into newsrooms.

I like AUT graduates such as Nic because I know he's been through a good course that covers all the basics.

I want someone who comes in and knows what I mean when I say the intro needs to be a certain way; someone who can get on with writing.

I like to see a variety of stories in their portfolio so I can see they can write widely, although of course you don't know how much the stories have been subbed.