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Doctor of Philosophy (Journalism)

Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy (Journalism) is for individuals with a track record of high level professional practice who wish to extend their work within a scholarly context. It is a flexible degree that allows students to pursue a detailed research project through either traditional thesis research or through a significant practical journalism project with a theoretical exegesis.

Innovative approaches to journalism and journalism studies that explore interdisciplinary academic approaches or extend journalism practice into areas such as creative non-fiction and multimedia documentary are encouraged.

Entry Requirements / Assumed Knowledge

Applicants should have a relevant first degree with Honours Class II, Division 1 or higher, or a Masters degree either in Journalism or in a related area, or possess equivalent or professional qualifications. Graduates in other disciplines at Masters level may also be considered if they can provide evidence of professional practice and research interests in specialist areas relevant to journalism theory and practice.

Applicants must submit a one page statement detailing their research history and professional experience and a comprehensive proposal of 2,500 words. Applicants will be assessed on the relevance of the proposal to the research interests of the journalism program. Other topics will be considered against the research expertise available in the Faculty. Applicants applying on the basis of professional media experience must include work samples and verification of employment from their employer(s). Guidelines for submitting the research proposal are at: www.uow.edu.au/crearts/ under Postgraduate Studies.

In certain circumstances students may be required to commence their enrolment in the Master of Arts - Research (Journalism) and seek transfer to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) when they achieve a suitable standard.

Course Requirements

Students enrol in THES924 Thesis (full-time) or THES912 Thesis (part-time).

This subject requires the submission of a scholarly thesis in the range of 80,000 to 100,000 words which involves both empirical data collection and theoretical analysis. Alternatively, submission may take the form of a significant practical journalism project in any combination of media. The length and other requirements of such a project will be determined during the proposal development process. For example, a significant print project would usually require the submission of approximately 50,000 words and could take the form of an inter-related series of features or a single piece of narrative non-fiction. A project undertaken as an audio or audiovisual documentary would usually be of 60 - 90 minutes duration depending on the complexity of material and style. The parameters of equivalent combined multimedia projects will be determined on an individual basis. An exegetical component situates the practical work in the theoretical context of contemporary journalism studies and will usually be approximately 30,000 words.

The exact nature of each submission will vary according to the student's educational and professional background and will be negotiated in consultation with the supervisor(s) and the Head of Postgraduate Studies.

Assessment is by two external examiners.

Major Study Areas

• Community Journalism

• Comparative Media Systems

• Documentary Journalism

• Journalism Education and Training

• Multicultural and Development Journalism

• Broadcast Journalism

• Political Journalism

• Journalism Ethics

• Journalism and Disability

• Literary Journalism

• Convergent journalism and new media

• Oral history and journalism

• Journalism narratives and popular culture

• Journalism and religion