Units

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Sample subject outline - Summer. 2012

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

A contemporary understanding of the cultural and economic significance of media and communication industries is a vital foundation for scholarship and professional practice in the media and communications industries. This unit surveys the political economies of print and electronic media industries, as well as advertising and public relations. It considers the impact of regulation on these industries and explores convergence and globalisation as frameworks for understanding change. You will be supported to develop your own strategy for maintaining current awareness of media and communication industries in the process of evaluating current public and policy debates.

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with:
- An overview of the structure, regulation and production and distribution practices of media and communication industries;
- An understanding of the relationship between media and communications, and other social and cultural institutions, including, business, government, the community, and the creative industries.
- The capacity to critically appraise issues associated with technological change, the knowledge economy, and convergence between the media, communications and IT sectors.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an applied understanding of the structure of media and communication industries, and the impact of different regulatory approaches;
2. Deconstruct the social, economic and political contexts in which media and communication industries operate;
3. Engage in informed commentary on the impact of globalisation, conglomeration and convergence on media and communications industries.

Content

This unit addresses content such as:
- Political economy of national media and communications industries (including film, TV, radio, news media, telecommunications, magazines, popular music, advertising, celebrity, public relations)
- Ownership, control, diversity and influence
- Audiences, users and culture
- Structural diversity of the media (including national, commercial and community media)
- Media representation and regulation
- Media law and policy, and theories of the 'public sphere'

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit combines a lecture/seminar format with tutorial activities designed to promote your information literacy, advocacy, and oral and written communications skills, such as information evaluation, group tutorial debates and formal essays.

Assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information see the Blackboard site for this unit.

Assessment name: In-Class Test
Description: (Formative and summative)
There will be four parts to these in-class tests, each worth 10% and will consist of a short response (500 words) to a specific question related to the day's topic. Responses should be clearly argued and not rely on personal opinion. Argumentation must be informed by a critical engagement with the reading and case study program and lecture content for this unit. These in-class tests will also be used to provide formative feedback for transitional purposes.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: TBA

Assessment name: Essay
Description: (Formative and summative)
This will be a fully referenced research paper, of 2000 words, that MUST use the QUT Harvard Style for referencing (see http:www.citewrite.qut.edu.au/cite/harvard/index.jsp). Essay questions will be based on topics and themes discussed in Week One with further details given to students in the tutorials.
Relates to objectives: 2, 3
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: TBA

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Do to the intensive nature of delivery, resource materials will be developed progressively.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 30-Apr-2012