Master of Journalism Graduate Publishes Textbook

Journalist and adjunct lecturer Rob Layton recently graduated from his Master of Journalism degree at Bond, with some of his research projects aimed at publishing a textbook on editing and design for print and online production.

The book – ‘Editing and News Design. How to Shape the News in Print and Online Journalism’ - has just been published by Palgrave Macmillan and is already being used as a text in journalism programs. Rob undertook his MJ in the ‘newsroom mode’ designed for working journalists. His subjects supervised by Professor Mark Pearson and involved market research into the editing and design textbook market and the development of a proposal to publishers for the text. Once the proposal was accepted, further subjects were built around the writing and design of the various chapters for the text. The book has attracted testimonials from prestigious journalists and authors, including former editor of the ‘Sunday Times’ of London, Sir Harold Evans, and leading newspaper designer Dr Mario R. Garcia.

Sir Harold wrote: “Rob Layton has written a lucid and concise guide to all aspects of design and editing. Valuable at all levels.”

Dr Garcia wrote the foreword to the text, in which he stated: “Rob Layton’s book is the guide to early 21st century multi-platform storytelling. His passion for the craft and how he engages you as you get his message give this book added value, becoming a reminder that passion is the lesson for which there is rarely a chapter, but which is an essential ingredient for successful careers, productive lives and, of course, personal happiness.”

Bond Journalism students will get to know the work intimately as it has been prescribed as the textbook for the subject Photojournalism, Editing and Publishing.

- Professor Mark Pearson