COM3423 - Media Audiences

Leader: Dr Susan Yell

Offered

Gippsland First semester 2007 (Day)
Gippsland First semester 2007 (Off-campus)
Malaysia First semester 2007 (Day)
Singapore First semester 2007 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

As for COM2423.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. demonstrate a developed grasp of the social conditions, material practices, products and outcomes of various media;
2. demonstrate an awareness of the connections between communications technologies and the formation of audiences, citizens and communities;
3. utilise the understandings in Objectives 1 and 2 to describe and analyse historical, current and likely future trends in audience formations;
4. identify and evaluate a range of theoretical approaches to understanding audiences;
5. demonstrate sound knowledge of some audience research techniques, issues and choices; and
6. utilize the understandings in Objectives 4 and 5 to design a research project.

Assessment

Participation in online discussion group (500 words): 10%
Research design proposal (2000 words): 50%
Exam (2 hours): 40%
Students taking this unit at Level 3 will be expected to demonstrate a more sophisticated understanding of research paradigms for the research design assignment. They will be expected to demonstrate (in their online postings and in the exam) a more sophisticated understanding of Objectives 1, 2 and 3.

Contact hours

2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prerequisites

COM1010 and COM1020 or equivalents

Prohibitions

GSC3402, GSC3423, COM2423