Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit explores the scholarly debates that address news organisations, journalism practices, and the processes of production and consumption of news and current affairs, the relationship between the media and ideas about democracy, and the relevance of media theory for professional journalism. A comparative theoretical approach is used to examine questions about journalism from both producers and consumers perspectives, and shifting relations between the two in the context of new media technologies and changing social contexts. Students' develop capacities to undertake research in journalism studies. At all points, a major concern is the mutual implications of journalism theory and professional journalistic practice for each other, for journalists and for audiences.

Objectives

On satisfactory completion of this subject students will be able to:

1. understand some of the major scholarly approaches to and debates about researching and thinking about journalism practice in social context
2. contribute constructively and critically to face-to-face and online discussions of the subject matter of the course
3. conduct a small, original research project in journalism studies
4. produce written work for assessment that demonstrates a critical knowledge of the major scholarly debates in journalism studies, and a capacity to apply those debates to original research in the field.

Assessment

Participation in online discussion group (1200 words): 30%
Tutorial report and presentation of research work-in-progress (800 words): 20%
Research essay (2500 words): 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Akhteruz Zaman

Contact hours

2 hour seminar per week