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Title / Gather and record information and plan news stories for publication and broadcast
Level / 5 / Credits / 25
Purpose / This unit standard is intended for people studying journalism in an off-job situation.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: define news and explain how information for news is gathered and selected for publication and broadcast; demonstrate knowledge of compilation of news contacts’ lists and compile a news contacts’ list in accordance with the relevant industry text; plan news stories for publication and broadcast; demonstrate knowledge of news media interviewing skills and plan and conduct interviews for news stories in accordance with the relevant industry text; file information for news stories for future reference; and research a newsworthy person and compile a dossier.
Classification / Journalism > Journalism Skills
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Recommended skills and knowledge / Unit 117, Write shorthand at 80 words per minute (wpm) and transcribe to produce required information
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 texts include:
–Burrows, John, A Journalist's Guide to the Law (Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 5th ed, 2006);
–Price, Steven, Media Minefield: A Journalist’s Guide to Media Regulation in New Zealand (Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 2007);
–Tully, Jim (ed), Intro:A Beginner's Guide to Professional News Journalism (Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 4th edition, 2008).
3Relevant legislation may include:
Broadcasting Act 1989;
Copyright Act 1994;
Defamation Act 1992;
Electoral Act 1993;
Harassment Act 1997;
Human Rights Act 1993;
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990;
Personal Property Securities Act 1999 (Section 173, sub-section k);
Privacy Act 1993;
Telecommunications Act 2001;
Terrorism Suppression Act 2002;
Trespass Act 1980;
Victims' Rights Act 2002;
Evidence Act 2006.
Relevant laws and legal conventions may include:
Court Newspaper Rule;
Law of breach of confidence;
Rules on reporting Parliament;
Tort of breach of privacy;
Tort of defamation;
Tort of trespass;
Evidence Act 2006.
4Assessment
Evidence is required for the finding and compiling of information for a minimum of 20 news stories of publishable standard on a range of topics, including – two stories each from three of the following four platforms – print, radio, internet, television. Each story must include at least one face-to-face, telephone, email, or social media interview.
Evidence is required that the student has produced and followed a plan for each news story. The plan will have been approved by the appropriate person within the training establishment.
5Definitions
graphics refer tobut are not limited to – illustration, photograph, line drawing, table, graph, cartoon, general artwork, infographic, video;
house style refers to the conventions used when writing text for print, radio, television, and internet;
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;
a news cycle 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;
news storyrefers to a timely and succinct account of unfolding events of public interest;
newsworthiness refers to events of sufficient interest or importance to the public to warrant reporting in the media;
a newsworthy personrefers to anyone whose status, knowledge, activities, statements, or involvement in a news event means they are topical;
notes refer to material recorded via shorthand, longhand, and voice recorder, in accordance with minimum standards for professional journalism. In the compiling of the information for the required 20 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;
plan refers to the main purpose of the proposed story and contains the who, why, what, where, and when elements of the story;
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 texts 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
Define news and explain how information for news is gathered and selected for publication and broadcast.
Evidence requirements
1.1News is identified and explained in accordance with the relevant industry text.
Rangefactors include – proximity, currency, timeliness, relevance, topicality, significance, conflict, achievement, utility, novelty, human interest.
1.2Methods of gathering information for news stories across the delivery platforms are explained in accordance with the relevant industry text.
Rangemethods include – news cycles, prime time, deadlines, breaking news.
1.3The selection and prioritisation of news is explained in accordance with the relevant industry text.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate knowledge of compilation of news contacts’ lists and compile a news contacts’ list in accordance with the relevant industry text.
Evidence requirements
2.1Information required for compilation of contacts’ lists is described.
2.2Sources of information, and the methods for recording and keeping the information secure and confidential, are explained.
Rangemethods include but are not limited to – notebook, electronic organiser, newsroom contact list, mobile phone.
2.3Contacts’ list is compiled and maintained with up to date information.
Rangeevidence is required for a minimum of 30 contacts.
2.4The contacts’ list is filed in accordance with training establishment practices.
Outcome 3
Plan news stories for publication and broadcast.
Evidence requirements
3.1News story ideas are identified in accordance with the factors listed in evidence requirement 1.1 and news sources are evaluated in terms of reliability, validity, and usefulness.
Rangenews sources may include but are not limited to – organisations, individuals, news rounds, events, trends, reports, statements, hearings, meetings, anniversaries, speeches, hui, media conferences, media releases, public notices, advertisements;
evidence is required for a minimum of three news sources.
3.2Information is gathered and analysed, angles are identified, and the relevance of information to be included is established.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – record of interviews, researched material, written reports, agenda items, decisions, statements, announcements, media releases;
evidence is required for a minimum of three items of information.
3.3Plans for the news stories are developed and approved.
Rangesources of information, resources, strategy, process, deadlines, who, what, where, why, when.
3.4Graphics that may be included with the news stories are determined.
Outcome 4
Demonstrate knowledge of news media interviewing skills and plan and conduct interviews for news stories in accordance with the relevant industry text.
Evidence requirements
4.1Key skills required for effective interpersonal communications for news media interviewing are explained.
Rangebalance, fairness, use of contacts, ability to persuade people to talk, obtaining clarity and accuracy.
4.2Use of various types of questions is explained.
4.3Limitations of different interview types are explained in accordance with the relevant industry text.
Rangetypes of interviews include – face to face, telephone, email, social media;
identification of interviewee and interviewer, security of communication, legal requirements.
4.4Plans for the interviews are developed and approved.
Rangetype of interview, interviewee, background information, cultural considerations, angles, balance, completeness, length, deadline.
4.5Interviews are arranged to meet the requirements of the approved plans.
4.6Interviews are carried out.
Rangequestioning and listening techniques elicit facts, clarify understanding, explore surround issues, recognise need for further questions, probe unexpected news angles;
interview kept on track;
information is sufficient for the story and sets issues in context.
Outcome 5
File information for news stories for future reference.
Evidence requirements
5.1Information for news stories is filed and stored securely for future reference.
Rangeinformation may include but is not limited to – direct quotations taken from notes recorded verbatim, paraphrasing taken from notes accurately reflecting content and meaning, notes and digital recordings;
evidence is required for a minimum of three items of information.
Outcome 6
Research a newsworthy person and compile a dossier.
Evidence requirements
6.1A newsworthy person is identified in accordance with the approved plan.
6.2Relevant sources of publicly available information are selected.
Rangesources may include but are not limited to – search engines, databases, reference libraries, internet news filing sites, clippings services, government and local government records, court records, company reports, speeches, media, books, journals;
evidence is required for a minimum of three sources.
6.3Collation of a dossier on the newsworthy person is planned and approved.
Rangedossier material may include but isnot limited to – full name, title, address, telephone contacts, occupation, age, birth details, marital status, interests; organisation membership, offices held, public statements;
evidence is required for a minimum of five items.
6.4Research on the newsworthy person is carried out in accordance with the approved plan and information is gathered.
6.5Researched material is collated in the form of a dossier.
Rangereference index of background material, contains copy of the interview, bound.
6.6References for selected sources are recorded.
Replacement information / This unit standard replaced unit standard 23106.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.
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CompetenzSSB Code 101571 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018