25368 version 1

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Write feature stories and prepare for broadcast on radio

Level / 6
Credits / 20

PurposeThis unit standard is for people who are employed in news media outlets and who are required to write feature stories for broadcast on radio.

People credited with this unit standard are able to: identify feature stories for broadcast on radio, produce a brief for each story, and gather information for the stories; and write feature stories and prepare for broadcast on radio in accordance with the approved brief.

Subfield / Journalism
Domain / Applied Journalism
Status / Registered
Status date / 20 March 2009
Date version published / 20 March 2009
Planned review date / 31 December 2013
Entry information / Recommended: Unit 25361, Develop rounds, gather information, and plan stories for publication or broadcast for journalism, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry.
Standard setting body (SSB) / Competenz
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0002

This AMAP can be accessed at

Special notes

1Evidence presented for award of credit must be in accordance with the required standards for applied broadcast journalism, found in the current edition of the Radio Code of Broadcasting Practice (Wellington: New Zealand Broadcasting Standards Authority, July 2008) available at – for radio mode.

2Industry text:

Tully, Jim (ed), Intro:A beginner's guide to professional news journalism (Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 4th edition, revised 2008). This publication can be obtained from Competenz website

3This unit standard has been designed for learning and assessment in the workplace. For assessment against this unit standard candidates will submit a portfolio of feature stories that they have prepared and written from information gathered using practical skills learned during their workplace training. The stories submitted will have been completed within times set by the news media outlet, and will have been broadcast on radio as part of a bulletin or as a package.

4Evidence is required for three feature stories representing a selection of the various story options which may include written scripts, voicers, packages, live Q&As (question answers)or live reports.

5Definitions

the appropriate person refers to the person within the news media outlet who ensures that stories meet the industry standards. This person may be the senior producer, chief reporter, bulletin editor, or editor;

a brief describes the main purpose of the proposed story and contains the who, why, what, where and when elements of the story. Approval for the brief will be given by the appropriate person in accordance with industry standards;

a feature story(also known as an analysis item or backgrounder) is a story that does not necessarily break news, but takes an in-depth look at a subject. It offers a broader perspective of a news event or issue, or profile of a person in the news or important to a community, and may or may not be time-critical. It may be a written script, a voicer, a package, a live Q&A (question and answer), or a live report;

industry standards referto the required standards for applied journalism and the industry texts and sources cited in the special notes as well as documented policies and procedures set down by the workplace.

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Identify feature stories for broadcast on radio, produce a brief for each story, and gather information for the stories, in accordance with industry standards.

Rangefeature stories may include but are not limited to – hard news, features, news profiles, human interest, sports, business, special interest.

Performance criteria

1.1Feature stories are identified from eventsand items of interest, and a brief for the development of each story is produced and approved.

1.2Information for feature stories is gathered and recorded to meet the requirements of the approved brief.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – use of storyboarding, graphics and sound material, actuality grabs and audio cuts;

direct quotes, reported speech, paraphrases, summaries;

documented facts;

packages (graphics, breakouts, vox pops);

context/background information about people referred to in news stories – full name, age, gender, occupation, honorific, marital status;

voiceovers, audio cuts of interviews, wild sound editing for bulletin or package;

statistical and numerical information is included as appropriate.

Element 2

Write feature stories and prepare for broadcast on radio, following the approved brief.

Performance criteria

2.1Feature stories are drafted in accordance with industry standards.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – introduction; clarity; conciseness; writing for the ear; formal presentation and speech conventions including standard grammar, punctuation, and pronunciation; no jargon, slang, or clichés; duration; in context; editorial legal and ethical guidelines; complex data; numbers expressed in plain language; in-house style guides.

2.2Opinion and controversial facts are clearly identified and attributed.

2.3Feedback on the draft stories is sought from the appropriate person, before deadline for editing, and all information related to the production of the stories is stored in accordance with industry standards.

2.4Feature stories are revised to incorporate changes required from the feedback.

2.5Final draft of each feature story meets the requirements of the approved brief, and is in accordance with industry standards.

2.6Recorded material required for the broadcast is confirmed as operational before the recording begins.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – sound, video, graphics.

2.7Interviews are prepared and undertaken in accordance with industry standards.

2.8Delivery of voiced items is integrated into feature stories.

2.9Communication is made with other team members to ensure the broadcast runs smoothly.

Rangemay include – duty editor, bulletin editor, sound technician.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP 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.

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 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018