Undergraduate - UnitATS2693 - Media and politics

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 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

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Offered	Caulfield Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Zareh Ghazarian

Notes

Previously coded PLT2170

Synopsis

In this unit, the politics of the media is studied from three broad perspectives. First, the politics of the media is investigated from the perspective of liberal democratic theory in order to understand the role of newspapers, electronic news media, entertainment and, popular culture and so on in that which we might consider 'the political'. Second, the political economy of the media is investigated with particular emphasis on the structure of media ownership in Australia. Third, the unit undertakes a study of the relationship between the Australian media and Australian politics.

Outcomes

The ability to identify the relationship between the liberal democratic tradition and the mass media, and the assumptions (and tensions) that underpin this relationship;
Understanding of the legal and regulatory framework of the Australian media industry, including its ownership structures;
The ability to identify the key literatures on media power and effects;
Identify the impact that new technologies have on the media and the opportunities and constraints this presents for democracy in Australia;
Locate the key Australian and international literatures on the media using library sources;
Develop an argument, or to provide an opinion, and to do so clearly, accurately and concisely both in written and oral form;
Develop skills of collaboration and team work through participation in tutorials.

Assessment

Written work - 100%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Zareh Ghazarian

Workload requirements

1 x 2 hour seminar

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Australia in the world
International relations
Politics

Prerequisites

Two gateway units in Politics or permission.

Prohibitions

ATS3693