Graduate Diploma in Journalism
- The Graduate Diploma in Journalism is designed to prepare students who have completed a first degree for a career in journalism – print and broadcasting.
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Kiwi Asian Journalism Scholarship
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Introduction
"The Canterbury postgraduate journalism course is the finest in the country, run by New Zealand's leading journalism educator, and all the students have excellent grades in their undergraduate studies. As far as trainee journalists go, they are the brightest and the best. If past classes are any guide, many will go on to great things in print or broadcast journalism."
Paul Thompson
Group Executive Editor, Fairfax Media NZ
The graduate diploma is a one-year programme for graduates who intend to work in newspapers, magazines, radio, television, the Internet, or as communicators in the public and private sectors.
We aim to prepare students for significant careers. We provide intense practical training within an intellectually stimulating framework. We foster analysis and discussion of the mass media and the deeper issues affecting journalists. We aim to produce thinking journalists who are highly competent professionals who care about standards and ethical issues.
We go beyond the teaching of practical skills because we have a duty to offer a Graduate Diploma in Journalism course that provides an intellectual challenge for the 20 students selected from the dozens who apply. Our many guest lecturers from the profession, the community and academia contribute to the stimulating environment essential for postgraduate students.
Our aim is to give students the practical skills they need to be successful multi-skilled journalists, a sound understanding of the society in which they will function as journalists, and an understanding of the deeper issues all thinking journalists should confront.
It's hard work. It requires total commitment — about 30 hours a week. But then, we are talking about a career in the real world.
Print and broadcasting (radio and television) are given equal weight in assessment and are taught simultaneously throughout the year. Both are mandatory because we believe modern journalists must be multi-skilled and able to work in a variety of media.
The quotas of practical work are formidable and arguably, the most substantial of any journalism school in New Zealand.
Contacts
For more information about the course, please contact course co-ordinator Jim Tully (jim.tully@canterbury.ac.nz) or administrator Pat Ydgren (patricia.ydgren@canterbury.ac.nz).
Practical training
Graduate Diploma in Journalism students must complete formidable quotas of practical work as they develop their skills in both print and broadcasting news and longer form journalism.
Each story is individually vetted by our highly experienced tutors (see Course tutors) before it is submitted for publication in newspapers or magazines or broadcast on Basement Radio - our weekly news and current affairs programme on Plains FM.
We have only one classroom reporting exercise- on day three of the course. From the first Friday of the first week all stories are written for publication or broadcast.
At semester break, we have two field trips to provincial newspapers where each group of 10 students experiences the challenge of daily deadlines. Typically, three days of reporting results in 40+ published stories.
In September, students are placed for two weeks in newspaper and radio newsrooms from Auckland to Invercargill.
Print Quota
To be eligible for assessment students must produce a minimum of:
* 26 general news stories
* 20 local government stories (10 requiring attendance at a council meeting.
* 6 court reports
* 4 diversity stories
* 4 business stories
* 4 sports stories (2 must be match reports)
* 2 reviews (1 must be of live performance)
* 2 feature articles
The quotas EXCLUDE work produced on field trips to the Marlborough Express and Timaru Herald and on the two-week placement in September.
Broadcasting Quota
To be eligible for assessment students must produce a substantial portfolio of radio stories comprising news packages, voice reports, writs, audio stores, interviews and live crosses and two television news stories.
In addition, students must produce an issues-based feature for print (4000 words), radio (10-12 minutes) or television (10-12 minutes).
Teeline (shorthand)
Fast, accurate notetaking is an essential skill for journalists and Teeline is a mandatory component of the course. Our tutor ensures students reach a speed of 80 wpm and most should achieve 100 wpm or more.
Sub-editing
The course includes a 10-week module on the skills of sub-editing and layout that reinforces newswriting skills and provides students with a potential career path in news production.
Photojournalism
Students are introduced to the skills of photojournalism.
Course tutors
One of Canterbury’s great strengths is the quality of our teachers. The six tutors who contribute to the Graduate Diploma in Journalism have between them more than 130 years in daily journalism and have achieved significant editorial positions. Most are still practising journalists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need straight A's to get in?
No. We look for intelligence allied with good work habits. No one is ruled out because their degree fails to meet some arbitrary grade average. A first-class honours degree is not a passport to the course. However, a sound academic record is normally essential.
What subjects should I study?
It makes no difference to us. Take what interests you. We look for graduates in a wide range of disciplines. The industry needs more journalists with degrees in science, law, engineering, music, agriculture and so on. Obviously some subjects like media and communication, economics, history and political science are useful but we have an open mind.
What do you look for?
A sense of vocation about journalism. We look for people who know why they want a career in journalism and who have a realistic understanding of what being a journalist involves. It's not enough to say you like writing and meeting people.
How can I show my commitment?
Have you visited newspapers, radio and television stations? Have you spoken to journalists? Have you had work published? That will do for starters.
What are my chances of being admitted?
We are limited to 20 students so competition is strong. You can improve your case by thoroughly investigating journalism as a career and taking steps to show you are serious about becoming a journalist.
How heavy will the workload be?
This is a postgraduate course and so the workload and commitment expected of students is higher than undergraduate years. Students will need to commit about 30 hours a week to course work. Classes are structured during the mornings each week so students have the opportunity to find and write stories in the afternoons.
How do I apply?
Download an application form. The deadline is 15 November. Don’t miss it.