Overview
This unit aims to provide you with a range of perspectives on Australian and international media industries. It analyses contemporary and political contexts, important issues such as media ownership and diversity, courses and independence, as well as identifying professional and technological changes in media practices and organisations. The unit encourages an understanding of the institutions and industries in which media practitioners work, and promotes student research and writing skills in order to further their training and awareness.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: Minimum of 36 Units of Credit
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2017
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student evaluation
It would be useful to have more written course notes.
Additional unit notes will be made available in writing.
Feedback from Student evaluation.
The assessment requirements could have been more clear.
All assessment items will be reviewed for clarity of expression.
- Analyse examples of contemporary journalistic practice at international levels.
- Review how controversial current affairs are treated by Australian and international media.
- Critically evaluate the effect of social media and technological development on media industry policies and ethics.
n/a
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 35% | |||
2 - Group Discussion - 20% | |||
3 - Written Assessment - 45% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | |
1 - Communication | |||
2 - Problem Solving | |||
3 - Critical Thinking | |||
4 - Information Literacy | |||
5 - Team Work | |||
6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
8 - Ethical practice | |||
9 - Social Innovation | |||
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures |
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||||||||
2 - Group Discussion - 20% | ||||||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 45% |
Textbooks
MEDIA & JOURNALISM: New approaches to theory and practice
Edition: 3rd (2015)
Authors: J. Bainbridge, N. Goc and L. Tynan,
Oxford University Press
Australia
ISBN: 9780195588019
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
Media and Journalism: New Approaches to Theory and Practice is a complete introduction to media and journalism, exploring the changing relationship between these areas. It introduces key concepts and theoretical approaches in media studies, as well as provides practical training to develop key journalism skills. This approach ensures that you will develop both the broad knowledge base and professional skills required for future careers in journalism, public relations and communications. A link for the purchase of the e-version of this text will be made available on the unit website.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
t.kerslake@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Week 1: Introducing Media industries.
In this first week, we begin to examine what happens to a news story once it has been produced. We consider the definitions of media and the mediasphere and explore the world's first mass medium: Print.
Chapter
Chapter 1 The Public Sphere, Bainbridge.
Chapter 2 The First Mass Medium, Goc.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Access the unit text:
Jason Bainbridge, Nicola Goc, Liz Tynan, Media and Journalism: New approaches to theory and practice (2015) (3rd.edn), Oxford University Press, Australia.
If preferred, a link to the digital version of this text will be available on the unit website.
Module/Topic
Week 2: The movement into the digital era.
This week we shall be looking at the Fourth Estate. How have the journalism industries become such a powerful social force? Will this influence change in an online world?
Chapter
Chapter 3 The Fourth Estate, Goc
Chapter 4 The Digital and Social Media Environment, Bainbridge.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 3: Media Institutions.
Chapter
Chapter 5 Radio: The Tribal Drum, Tynan
Chapter 6 Film: The Seventh Art, Bainbridge
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 4: Media Institutions (cont/d).
Television is now accessible across more platforms than ever before and is healthier than ever before. Why? We also consider the major role that Public Relations (PR) now has in the public sphere.
Chapter
Chapter 7 Television: The Zoo, Bainbridge
Chapter 8 Public Relations: Spin Cycle, Tynan
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 5: Commonalities and differences.
This week, we explore the production commonalities shared by different media industries and what it is they ultimately do. We consider the role of the audience and the way media industries are connected to economics and power.
Chapter
Chapter 9 Media Texts, Bainbridge
Chapter 10 Audiences and Representations, Bainbridge
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Break Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 6: The making of the News.
This week we look at how a news story is broadcast via a modern TV studio. We also consider how different industries treat news stories and the culture of the newsroom, before turning to the specifics of Broadcast News
Chapter
Chapter 12 News Values and News Culture in a Changing World, Gillman
Chapter 13 Broadcast News: Keep it Simple,Tynan
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 7: The making of the News (cont/d).
George Orwell once famously said, ‘Good prose is like a window pane’. He meant by this that clarity is the prime requirement of good writing. This week we examine how news stories, once written, are presented by different media.
Chapter
Chapter 14 The Elements of Writing, Tynan
Chapter 15 Subediting, News Language and Convention, Tynan
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 8: Social Contexts.
Media industries do not act without rules. Aside from the watchdog role journalism plays, media industries themselves operate in frameworks of legislation, regulation and obligation. This week we consider the place of ethics in media industries.
Chapter
Chapter 17 Ethics in Communication, Goc and Tynan
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment 1 Written Assessment
Case Study Due: Week 8 Friday (8 Sept 2017) 6:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Week 9: Social Contexts (Cont/d).
The implications of legal issues in media industries are profound and this week we focus on the essentials of the interaction between the presentation of news and the law.
Chapter
Chapter 18 Media Practice, Industry Change and the Law, Dwyer
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 10: Social Contexts (Cont/d).
Once an historical process that is now accelerating, convergence is the coming together of what were separate media systems into a global megaconduit of endlessly flowing data, stories and images.
Chapter
Chapter 19 Convergence, Bainbridge
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment 2 Group Discussion
J-Blog and Forum Discussion Due: Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2017) 6:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Week 11: Social Contexts (Cont/d).
What does Postmodernism have to do with the media? It offers an alternative point of view and thinks outside the box. Postmodernity is about the potential and the possibility of media industries to make positive social change. You are a living, breathing example of postmodernism.
Chapter
Chapter 20 Postmodernity, Bainbridge
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 12: Review
There is no new information this week as we will be reviewing the key issues and examples we have discussed through the term.
Chapter
Conclusion, The View From Here.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment 3 Written Assessment
Research Essay Due: Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017) 6:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Case Study - 1700 – 1900 words (35 marks)
Discuss ONE (1) of the following topics in a case study format. Use at least one contemporary example (national or international) to illustrate your discussion.
Topic 1
What is meant by the 'Tabloidisation' of news? How has the growth of soft news affected this development?
OR
Topic 2
Watch The Social Network (2010) http://europix.net/movie/the-social-network-online-free-hd-with-subtitles-europix . How have we become dependent upon media as a method of communication?
OR
Topic 3
Watch this animated evolution of the front page of The New York Times from 1852 to the present. http://www.openculture.com/2017/03/every-front-page-of-the-new-york-times.html . Discuss the evolution of visual news in regards to Framing Theory.
For more details in the preparation of a case study, please review the assignment task on the Moodle website.
Week 8 Friday (8 Sept 2017) 6:00 pm AEST
Online essay due in week 8 of term
Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2017)
Assignments will usually be returned within two weeks of submission.
Assessment Criteria:
• Preparation and research
• Presentation and essay writing
• Referencing
• Clear identification of key concepts and theory
• Argument.
- Analyse examples of contemporary journalistic practice at international levels.
- Critically evaluate the effect of social media and technological development on media industry policies and ethics.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Ethical practice
2 Group Discussion
J-Blog / Forum Discussion - approx. 1000 words (20 marks)
- Use an existing academic blog or begin a new WordPress blog: https://wordpress.com/start/themes
- Create a series of four (4) current affairs discussions (approx. 250 words each) based on four of the options given below.
- At least one of these posts should have an Australian focus.
- These posts may be produced as text+ news images or video+ text or photography+ text. Use only one style per post.
- Upload the link of each new post to the Moodle discussion forum for critical evaluation and feedback.
- Only one post per week to be uploaded for discussion. Last post to be uploaded by Week 9.
-
All posts must be formally referenced in the APA style. Minimum of two references per post.
Blogpost options:
- Hard News vs Soft news: Which is better?
- Radio and Prank culture
- Television advertising and Agenda Setting Theory
- Film and Sexism
- Creative documentary and the rise of Narcissism
- Social media and Ethical uncertainty
More details on the preparation of this assignment task may be found on the Moodle website.
Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2017) 6:00 pm AEST
Online submission due in week 10
Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017)
Marks and feeback will normally be returned within two weeks of assignment submission
Assessment criteria:
Preparation and research
Presentation and quality of writing
Referencing
Clear identification of key concepts and theory
Argument.
- Review how controversial current affairs are treated by Australian and international media.
- Critically evaluate the effect of social media and technological development on media industry policies and ethics.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
Research Essay - 2300 - 2500 words (45 marks)
3. Discuss at least two of the following areas within the essay:
- Contemporary politics
- The Internet
- Television news
- Satire
- Social anxiety
Consider the following questions to help focus your research and analysis:
- What are the various definitions of fake news?
- Whom do we trust for authentic news and why?
- Where is fake news most obvious?
- What are the different negatives of fake news?
- How can we prove what is real and what is not?
Max. file size 100mb.
More details on the preparation of this assignment task may be found on the Moodle website.
Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017) 6:00 pm AEST
Online submission of a report in week 12.
Exam Week Friday (20 Oct 2017)
Marks and feeback will normally be returned within two weeks of assignment submission
Assessment Criteria:
Preparation and research
Presentation and report writing
Referencing
Clear identification of key concepts and theory
Argument
- Analyse examples of contemporary journalistic practice at international levels.
- Review how controversial current affairs are treated by Australian and international media.
- Critically evaluate the effect of social media and technological development on media industry policies and ethics.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.