Overview

This module will help students answer challenging and important questions about the role of media and journalism in shaping politics and society. Embracing a range of contemporary media theories, forms, technologies and practices, students will explore enduring and cutting-edge topics that illuminate important relationships between media, journalism, politics, and society.

Topics may include: How do power-holders try to influence public feeling during important civic moments such as elections, crises or war? How does the news make us care about the suffering of distant others? Are we living in a surveillance society, and what does this do to relationships between citizens and power-holders? How is AI influencing audiences, politics and society?

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D- to D+ (40-49%) - Knowledge of key areas/principles only - Weaknesses in understanding of main areas - Limited evidence of background study - Answer only poorly focused on question and with some irrelevant material and poor structure - Arguments presented but lack coherence - Several factual/computational errors - No original interpretation - Only major links between topics are described - Limited problem solving - Many weaknesses in presentation and accuracy - Exceeds expectations for some primary criteria - Moderate factual knowledge with several weaknesses in understanding - A few ideas/arguments are presented but with weaknesses

-good -B- to B+ (60-69%) - Strong knowledge - Understands most but not all - Evidence of background study - Focused answer with good structure - Arguments presented coherently - Mostly free of factual/computational errors - Some limited original interpretation - Well known links between topics are described - Problems addressed by existing methods/approaches - Good presentation with accurate communication

-excellent -A- to A* (70% +) - Comprehensive knowledge - Detailed understanding - Extensive background study - Highly focused answer and well structured - Logically presented and defended arguments - No factual/computational errors - Original interpretation - New links between topics are developed - New approach to a problem - Excellent presentation with very accurate communication

-another level-C- to C+ (50-59%) - Knowledge of key areas/principles - Understands main areas - Limited evidence of background study - Answer focused on question but also with some irrelevant material and weaknesses in structure - Arguments presented but lack coherence - Has several factual/computational errors - No original interpretation - Only major links between topics are described - Limited problem solving - Some weaknesses in presentation and accuracy

Learning Outcomes

• Examine key theoretical concepts and debates in media studies.

• Examine the relationships between media institutions, political structures and social change.

• Outline and illustrate arguments regarding the influence of politics on media institutions, technologies and publics.

• Use evidence to support academic arguments about the role of the media and journalism in society and politics.