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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of current affairs, the role of the news media, and newsroom requirements
Level / 5 / Credits / 5
Purpose / This unit standard is intended for people studying journalism in an off-job situation.
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate knowledge of: current affairs and news reporting in New Zealand;the role of the news media in relation to government, political, or economic processes in New Zealand; and the structure, functions, and professional practices of a newsroom.
Classification / Journalism > Journalism Skills
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Recommended skills and knowledge / Unit 27218, Gather and record information and plan news stories for publication and broadcast; and Unit 27219, Write a variety of news stories for publication and broadcast.
Explanatory notes
1All evidence requirements must be in accordance with the minimum standards for professional journalism, found in the current editions of: Statement of Principles (Wellington: New Zealand Press Council, 2006)available at – for print journalism; the Codes of the New Zealand Radio Code of Broadcasting Practice (Wellington: New Zealand Broadcasting Standards Authority, 2008) available at These standards encompass – the Radio Code, the Free-to-Air Television Code, the Pay Television Code.
2Industry text:
–Tully, Jim (ed), Intro:A Beginner's Guide to Professional News Journalism (Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 4th edition, 2008).
3Relevant texts include but are not limited to:
–Electoral Commission available at:
–King, Michael, The Penguin History of New Zealand (Auckland: Penguin Books, 2003);
–Shaw, Richard and Eichbaum, Chris, PublicPolicy in NewZealand: Institutions, Processes and Outcomes (Auckland: Pearson Education, 2005);
–Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand available at:
4This unit standard requires candidates to undertake a period of work experience in a New Zealand news media outlet newsroom which will range from five to ten working days. Evidence for outcome 3 of this unit standard must be gathered from this work experience.
5Definitions
breaking news refers to how news stories develop as more facts and comment become available;
convergence refers to the procedures and processes for integrating news gathering and news writing and image-taking techniques, by the same person, to produce, from the same event, news stories for print, radio, television, and internet;
government refersto central government or territorial local government;
minimum standards for professional journalism refers to the conventions under which the media operateandmay include but are not limited to – stories of publishable standard, meet agreed deadlines and length and are legally, ethically and culturally sound;
news cycles refers to the period in which a news outlet gathers news;
news rounds may refer to general news reporting or relate to a sector of special interest in the community within which a news organisation will expect journalists to find news;
a newsworthy personrefers to anyone whose status, knowledge, activities, statements, or involvement in a news event means they are topical;
newsworthiness refers to events of sufficient interest or importance to the public to warrant reporting in the media;
notes refer to material recorded through shorthand, longhand, and voice recorder, in accordance with minimum standards for professional journalism. In the compiling of the information for the required stories the notes must display evidence of a steady progression of shorthand use, to the minimum requirement of 80wpm;
platforms refer to the delivery modes of radio, print, internet, and television;
professional practices refer to the way in which journalists are expected to conduct themselves in a news media outlet newsroom and while on assignment;
publishable standard refers to the standard required by news media outlets for them to consider publishing the material. It will meet standards described in the industry text and may include but is not limited to – news cycles; news rounds; breaking news; newsworthy person; newsworthiness; notes; platforms; reliability, validity and usefulness; news values; introductions (impact, succinctness); structure (appropriate for story type and platform; arranged logically); grammar; spelling; punctuation; house style; word selection (jargon and clichés avoided); attribution (mix of direct and indirect quotes including paraphrasing); understanding (issues in context, key questions answered); editorial requirements; balance; fairness; language used in news media publications and broadcasting;
reliability, validity,and usefulness,when referring to a news source, mean that the bona fides of the person, organisation or reference are established as a credible, knowledgeable, accurate, and authoritative source.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of current affairs and news reporting in New Zealand.
Evidence requirements
1.1News stories are identified, analysed, and explained in terms of news reporting in New Zealand.
Rangestories may be from breaking news, hard news reports, backgrounders, news features, or profiles and may be found in community, regional daily and national newspapers, business newspapers, news and current affairs magazines, internet news sites, radio and television news and current affairs broadcasts;
analyses may include –mode and speed of dissemination, depth, scope, balance, accuracy, news thresholds, continuity, newsworthiness, durability;
evidence is required for five news stories which do not include government, political, or economic stories.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate knowledge of the role of the news media in relation to government, political, or economic processes in New Zealand.
Evidence requirements
2.1A current topic related to government, politics, or the economy is analysed in terms of the role of the news media.
2.2The analysed topic is explained in terms of news media practices.
Rangeexplanation will be given in written form and may be presented as, but is not limited to – blog, written report, referenced essay.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate knowledge of the structure, functions, and professional practices of a newsroom.
Evidence requirements
3.1The newsroom is described in terms of its structure and function.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – convergence, news management, news gathering, story flow, deadlines, function of editorial staff (editor, chief reporter, reporters, bulletin editors, subeditors).
3.2The newsroom is described in terms of standard professional practices.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – punctuality, grooming, telephone manner, communication with supervisors, health and safety requirements, out-of-town assignment protocols; employer expectations (including conduct in the office).
Replacement information / This unit standard replaced unit standard 23108.Planned review date / 31 December 2016
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 21 July 2011 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0002
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMRs). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
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CompetenzSSB Code 101571 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018