This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 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.

APG5398 - New communications media

12 points, SCA Band 1, 0.250 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

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

Faculty

Arts

Organisational Unit

Communications and Media Studies

Coordinator(s)

Dr Alex Lambert

Offered

Caulfield

First semester 2016 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit introduces students to the changing relationships between the media, telecommunications and computing industries. It investigates the practices of electronic publishing and its impact on the communications industry. The unit profiles both traditional media such as the book, print and broadcasting in the light of new forms of content delivery such as the web, wireless and digital broadcasting. It also explores the challenges of developing and delivering high-quality, user-focused content in a digital environment, including social media.

Outcomes

To develop an understanding of developments in contemporary media and communications technologies within Australia and the world and identify their possible consequences;
To form an understanding of the processes and effects of media convergence and the resultant changes in communications practices within the fields of journalism, publishing, television and film;
To become familiar with issues and debates around new forms of media such as questions of privacy, fragmented audiences, access to online technology and challenges to the concept and legal framework of copyright;
To be able to critically interrogate and evaluate online strategies and to understand the increasing importance of the role of social media in disseminating information, opinions and shared points of view, and building audiences online.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 100%

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 288 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Alex Lambert

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

Communications and media studies
Cultural economy
Tourism

Prohibitions

APG4398