Undergraduate - UnitATS1902 - News media and social theory

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

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Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	Journalism
Offered	Caulfield First semester 2013 (Day) Caulfield First semester 2013 (Off-campus) Caulfield Second semester 2013 (Day) Caulfield Second semester 2013 (Off-campus)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Bryce Weber (semester 1); Professor Chris Nash (semester 2)

Synopsis

This subject introduces the intellectual and social history of ideas and practices that underpin contemporary debates and research about the role of news and information media in society. Starting with the Enlightenment, it explores debates about the circulation of information, freedom of expression and their role in constituting political, cultural and economic relations. It explores and compares a range of theoretical approaches and their critiques, including liberalism, marxism, materialist and discursive paradigms, and locates them within their historical and geographic social contexts.

Outcomes

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

demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge of the unit subject matter;
demonstrate a capacity to make effective usage in written and oral presentation of the relevant academic literature;
demonstrate an ability to research, discuss and analyse issues in a clear, concise and rigorous way;
collaborate constructively with fellow students in learning and discussion processes, including online forums;
produce their written work to deadline making effective use of the conventions of scholarly presentation (references, bibliography, etc);
work independently and in groups to achieve their learning outcomes;
demonstrate a critical awareness of the strengths, limitations and socio-professional implications of scholarly practice in journalism studies.

Assessment

Minimum requirement: Attendance and participation
Minor Project (invigilated, 1600 words): 40%
Class presentation and report (invigilated, 1000 words): 20%
Major project (2000 words): 40%