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 credit pointsPrerequisite: JOUR11005
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 - 2018
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
Some students, particularly Digital Media students, felt that the assignments were confusing and lacked written instructions.
It is recommended that the prerequisite of JOUR11005 be added to the unit.
Feedback from Professional communication planning day, December 2017.
The handbook description may benefit from a revamp and the unit itself requires updating.
It is recommended that the unit be reviewed for potential updates.
- 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 and 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: Paperback
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.
s.pierce@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Week 1: Introducing Media Industries
What is mass media? How does it impact our daily lives? We start our study of media industries by refreshing our memory as to what the media is, and how it is connected to our daily lives.
Chapter
Chapter 1 - The Public Sphere
Chapter 2 - The First Mass Medium
Plus additional readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 2: Media Industries in the Digital Era
The way we consume news and media has evolved in the digital era. As journalists, we need to know how this affects our role in society and in shaping culture, particularly with the rise of citizen journalism and social media.
Chapter
Chapter 3 - The Fourth Estate
Chapter 4 - The Digital and Social Media Environment
Plus additional readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 3: Media Institutions, Part 1
Film and radio have been around for decades – and both have a significant influence on the way we see the world. In our first week looking at media institutions, we examine how the digital era has changed film and radio, and what this means for journalism.
Chapter
Chapter 5 - Radio: The Tribal Drum
Chapter 6 - Film: The Seventh Art
Plus additional readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 4: Media Institutions, Part 2
Television and public relations are the next two media institutions that we examine, delving into their influence in the mediasphere. Building relationships, storytelling and the power of influence – you might be surprised to find out what television and public relations have in common.
Chapter
Chapter 7 - Television: The Zoo
Chapter 8 - Public Relations: Spin Cycle
Plus additional readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 5: The Making of the News - Part 1
Journalists have plenty of power when they are shaping the news – but each different medium works within a very specific set of restrictions. This week we go back to the basics of news values, with emphasis on how cultural influences and format restrictions shape the news we consume.
Chapter
Chapter 12 - News Values and News Culture in a Changing World
Chapter 13 - Broadcast News: Keep it Simple
Plus additional readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 6: The Making of the News - Part 2
A good journalist needs a mastery of the English language – so this week we look at the technical aspects of writing for the news across all media. We also look at the importance of style, and how audiences need to differentiate news and advertising through style.
Chapter
Chapter 14 - The Elements of Writing
Chapter 15 - Subediting, News Language and Convention
Plus additional readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 7: Media, Meaning and Influence
Every bit of media that we consume has some kind of meaning. Now that we have analysed the ‘how’ of news making, we take a deeper look at the ‘why’, and the influence that news has on us.
Chapter
Chapter 9 - Media Texts
Chapter 10 - Audiences and Representations
Plus additional readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 8: Ethics in Media Industries
As creators of news, journalists have a clear responsibility to act in an ethical manner. People take ‘the news’ as fact, so ethical researching, writing and reporting is of great importance. This week we look at ethics regulations and obligations.
Chapter
Chapter 17 - Ethics in Communication
Plus additional readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 9: Law in Media Industries
Journalists have a responsibility to obey the law. But with a changing digital media landscape, the legal landscape is changing as well. This week we look at the laws that apply to journalists in Australia, including those that have changed and been brought into the spotlight in recent years.
Chapter
Chapter 18 - Media Practice, Industry Change and the Law
Plus additional readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 10: Media Convergence
Convergence is an important topic to round out this unit, as we have seen a change in relationships and a blurring of lines between different media in our digital age. This week’s content covers media convergence for both Australia and the globe at large.
Chapter
Chapter 19 - Convergence
Plus additional readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 11: Media Industries and Social Change
Postmodernity is about taking an alternative perspective and breaking with tradition. In this unit, we’ve seen how media industries have changed over the past decades. For the final unit of the term we look to the future and examine how we can challenge the traditions of media industries for a better world and social change.
Chapter
Chapter 20 - Postmodernity
Plus additional readings on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Review
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Group Discussion
Case Study: 1000 words (+/- 10%), 20 marks
Select and research one of the following topics, examining the change between old and new media.
By the end of Week 3, you will post your topic and an outline of your case study (including two proposed sources) to the Assessment 1 Discussion Forum on Moodle. You will also provide feedback on at least one other student’s outline, using the guidelines provided in the Discussion Forum.
Topic 1
Twitter gives nearly anyone the chance to report live on breaking news, regardless of traditional publication deadlines. But what did people do before Twitter? Examine how social media has changed citizen journalism and the news cycle.
Topic 2
Watch The Greatest Showman (2018). Examine how press agentry/news values played a part in PT Barnum’s success, and discuss what might have happened if the same tactics were used in today’s media landscape.
Topic 3
Are podcasts the new radio? Examine the podcast format and compare it to radio, with particular reference to the rise of digital media.
Your case study will be presented in an academic essay format.
More specific information about task details will be available in Moodle > Assessment Details.
Week 5 Friday (10 Aug 2018) 6:00 pm AEST
Upload one Word document via Moodle.
Week 6 Friday (24 Aug 2018)
Assignments will usually be marked within two weeks of submission.
- Written argument and structure
- Research and use of sources
- Contribution and feedback provided to group discussion
- Writing standard
- Referencing (APA style)
- 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
2 Written Assessment
Report: 1500-2000 words, 35 marks
In this assessment, you will analyse how the news is made. Find one story that was covered by the broadcast news (TV or radio), newspaper, and an online news site (bonus points if you can also find the original media release for comparison).
In your report, you will compare the coverage of this story across different media, looking at:
- A summary of the article
- Did the news values change?
- Did the audience and targeting of the story change?
- Was the story covered internationally? Why or why not?
- Were the key messages different?
- How did the story change across different media?
- Was any ‘important’ information left out?
This report will be presented in a professional format, in line with the academic report style.
More specific information about task details will be available in Moodle > Assessment Details.
Week 9 Friday (14 Sept 2018) 6:00 pm AEST
Upload one Word document via Moodle.
Week 11 Friday (28 Sept 2018)
Assignments will usually be marked within two weeks of submission.
- Writing standard
- Presentation and structure
- Application of unit content
- Link between response and key concepts
- Research and referencing (APA Style)
- Analyse examples of contemporary journalistic practice at international levels.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
Op-Ed and Justification: 2200 – 2500 words , 45 marks
This assessment focuses on analysing how the media shapes our conversations, given the rise of opinion-based writing, fake news and citizen journalism.
Part A: Alternative Op-Eds
Your task is to identify an op-ed piece in the news (broadcast, online or newspaper). An op-ed is a piece of writing which articulates a personal opinion, rather than the balanced reporting of a journalistic piece.
In response to the op-ed, you will craft a reply piece presenting an alternative view, while maintaining the same style as the original piece.
Following your alternative response, you will craft a second opinion piece, finding a different angle again to the first two pieces.
Your two response op-eds will each be 500 words long.
Part B: Justification
In addition to this response, you will write a 1,200 – 1,500 word justification of your choices, including (but not limited to):
- Why you chose the original piece
- Your adopted writing styles
- What medium would be most appropriate for your responses
- Your choice of alternative angles and how this theoretically shapes the conversation
- How your responses might influence the audience’s perspective
- Any ethical or legal considerations in your responses
- Whether or not your pieces would be published in the same place as the original
Your justification will incorporate academic sources and show evidence of research into news values, media industries and modern journalistic practices.
Part C: Editing
It is expected that you will spend a significant amount of time editing your op-ed for style, language and readability. An editing checklist will help you with this, and you will submit your completed editing checklist along with the final assignment.
All three parts will be submitted together as a single Word document and uploaded to Moodle on the due date.
More specific information about task details will be available in Moodle > Assessment Details.
Review/Exam Week Friday (12 Oct 2018) 6:00 pm AEST
Upload one Word document via Moodle.
Exam Week Friday (19 Oct 2018)
No Assessment Criteria
No submission method provided.
- 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
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Social Innovation
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?
