CQUniversity Unit Profile
COMM12016 Media Industries
Media Industries
All details in this unit profile for COMM12016 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

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

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

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

Distance

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 35%
2. Group Discussion
Weighting: 20%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 45%

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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

Feedback

It would be useful to have more written course notes.

Recommendation

Additional unit notes will be made available in writing.

Feedback from Student evaluation.

Feedback

The assessment requirements could have been more clear.

Recommendation

All assessment items will be reviewed for clarity of expression.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Analyse examples of contemporary journalistic practice at international levels.
  2. Review how controversial current affairs are treated by Australian and international media.
  3. Critically evaluate the effect of social media and technological development on media industry policies and ethics.

n/a

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

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 and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

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

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

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.

Teaching Contacts
Tris Kerslake Unit Coordinator
t.kerslake@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 10 Jul 2017

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.

Week 2 Begin Date: 17 Jul 2017

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

Week 3 Begin Date: 24 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

Week 3: Media Institutions.

Media industries are the engine rooms of our culture. They support the production of images, words and stories that inform and entertain us. This week we begin to look at how different media offer us different ways of seeing the world.

Chapter

Chapter 5 Radio: The Tribal Drum, Tynan

Chapter 6 Film: The Seventh Art, Bainbridge

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 31 Jul 2017

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

Week 5 Begin Date: 07 Aug 2017

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

Vacation Week Begin Date: 14 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

Break Week

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 21 Aug 2017

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

Week 7 Begin Date: 28 Aug 2017

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

Week 8 Begin Date: 04 Sep 2017

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
Week 9 Begin Date: 11 Sep 2017

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

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 Sep 2017

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
Week 11 Begin Date: 25 Sep 2017

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

Week 12 Begin Date: 02 Oct 2017

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
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 09 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 16 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Case Study

Task Description

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.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Friday (8 Sept 2017) 6:00 pm AEST

Online essay due in week 8 of term


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2017)

Assignments will usually be returned within two weeks of submission.


Weighting
35%

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Criteria:

• Preparation and research
• Presentation and essay writing
• Referencing
• Clear identification of key concepts and theory
• Argument.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Upload via Moodle and the Turnitin process

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • 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.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Ethical practice

2 Group Discussion

Assessment Title
J-Blog and Forum Discussion

Task Description

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.


Assessment Due Date

Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2017) 6:00 pm AEST

Online submission due in week 10


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017)

Marks and feeback will normally be returned within two weeks of assignment submission


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria


Assessment criteria:

Preparation and research

Presentation and quality of writing

Referencing

Clear identification of key concepts and theory

Argument.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit assignment online via Turnitin

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • 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.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Team Work
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Research Essay

Task Description

Research Essay - 2300 - 2500 words (45 marks)

1. Plan, research and produce an illustrated essay on the following topic: Fake news: The spread of misinformation.
(You may use photographic images researched from various news sources to add depth and nuance to your main argument in the essay.)
2. Incorporate both an Australian and an international perspective.

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.



Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017) 6:00 pm AEST

Online submission of a report in week 12.


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (20 Oct 2017)

Marks and feeback will normally be returned within two weeks of assignment submission


Weighting
45%

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Criteria:

Preparation and research

Presentation and report writing

Referencing

Clear identification of key concepts and theory

Argument


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit assignment online via Turnitin

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • 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.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

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.

What can you do to act with integrity?