Advanced Diploma in Journalism
Communication Studies and Language - Communication Studies
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose:
The purpose of the Advanced Diploma in Journalism is to provide a practically-oriented advanced journalistic qualification with strong theoretical foundations. The key competencies that learners will develop through this program include:
- Critically engaging with news as a product of the mass media industry.
- Developing critical thinking skills necessary for independent and in-depth investigation of socio-cultural, politico-economic, and ethico-philosophical issues for investigative journalism.
- Understanding the digital/multi-media landscape and its impact on mainstream news production and independent journalistic copy.
- Enhancing skills in high-quality critical column writing to articulate insights into socio-cultural and politico-economic issues.
- Acquiring practical skills essential for news production in broadcast, online, and audio-visual formats, simulating real-world newsroom conditions to build practical competency.
Rationale:
The media, including printed, audio-visual, digital, and social media, significantly influence citizens' perceptions, attitudes, and behavior. Accurate reporting can positively contribute to societal development, while incorrect reporting or misuse can lead to negative consequences such as societal unrest or misinformation. The Advanced Diploma in Journalism aims to produce reporters capable of balanced reporting within a theoretical framework of social-cultural complexity and politico-economic issues.
Graduates of this program will be prepared for roles such as News Producers, Visual/Textual Journalistic Content Producers, and Government/Corporate Communication and Liaison Officers. They will be equipped to conduct credible investigative research and assume junior leadership positions in various organizations where clear and insightful communication is essential.
Additionally, the program provides learners with transferable skills sought after in diverse media and communication professions, including law, finance, government, media, and education. These skills include analytical thinking, creativity, self-criticism, independent thinking, and effective communication - all valuable for further higher education studies and professional advancement.
Furthermore, the Advanced Diploma in Journalism serves as a pathway to the Bachelor of Arts Honours in Journalism, offering learners vertical articulation opportunities for advanced studies in the field.
Outcomes
- Comprehend how the mass media industry shapes perceptions through its representations.
- Develop investigative journalism research skills through close and careful reading, thinking, and critical assessment of material (both theoretical and popular), relating to contemporary issues within South Africa, Africa, and internationally.
- Develop innovative means of working with and augmenting existing mainstream, multi-media and other news dissemination platforms.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Understand visual communication and literacy within the context of Journalism.
- Understand Journalism as an industry and as an academic discipline within the context of South Africa and Africa.
- Understand the South African political landscape as well as geography and general knowledge as applied in the journalism context.
- Apply theory in practice within the discipline of Journalism, and employ ethical decision-making processes to professional choices.
- Understand the problematic dynamics underpinning reporting on contemporary issues, as reflected in popular media.
- Evaluate how different media sources approach news and communicate it in relation to their different contexts.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Interpret and evaluate information from diverse socio-cultural and politico-economic contexts.
- Use the hypothesis-method to generate investigative journalistic content for news stories and documentaries.
- Produce journalistic material on a firm theoretical base in relation to politico-economic, socio-cultural and ethico-philosophical issues.
- Use theoretical comprehension and investigative journalistic research skills in relation to multi-media innovation.
- Develop clear interview questions, summarise collated information, and create draft news stories within designated structures.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Understand the digital and mobile journalism environments.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills by innovatively generating, compiling and disseminating journalistic material in broadcast, online and audio-visual formats.
- Create concepts for new programmes that utilise the convergence capacity of multi-media tools.
- Display spoken and written linguistic competency to function as a beat reporter.
- Synthesise contextualised print media content, broadcast reports, and specialised reports or features for distribution.
Integrated Assessment:
- Formative assessments through tests, essays, tutorials, and practical assignments.
- Summative assessments through formal written examinations.
- Final mark assessment based on a 50/50 proportional ratio of the class mark to the examination mark.
- Projects integrating knowledge and skills acquired through theoretical modules.
- Continuous assessment through log books, weekly tasks, and evidence of work done.
- Summative assessment based on synthesised project evaluated internally and externally.
- Assessment of group/individual work and presentation according to industry norms.
- Continuous updating of individual learner log books for personal and professional reflection.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Advanced Diploma
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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