2015/16 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

COMM5135M Critical Issues in Media and Communication

30 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Dr Nancy Thumim
Email: n.thumim@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

Pre-requisites

COMM5140M

Media and Communication Theory

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

By the end of the module, students should be able:
(1) to develop critical insights into major issues in the field of media and communications;
(2) to apply theoretical knowledge to contemporary issues;
(3) critically to analyse the relationship of media and communication theory to real-world issues;
(4) critically to evaluate key theoretical and analytical paradigms in media and communication theory.

Throughout the module students will exercise and develop skills in oral
presentation, teamwork, organization, and peer review, as well as their general academic and research capabilities.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to demonstrate:
- Understanding of the academic research process; including the ability to synthesize research rationale, theory, method and analysis.
- Understanding of the nature and requirements of working in an academic research team
- Understanding of the requirements of effective research presentation; written and oral

Skills outcomes
- Skills in the application and use of media and communication theory
- Skills in communicating media and communication research in verbal and visual presentation and in written form
- The ability to maintain a reflective record of the research process

Syllabus

The module requires students to use key theoretical ideas in media and communications in applied group research projects under the supervision of the module leader.

The module enables students to address contemporary issues and critically to engage with theory in a sustained way.

Group presentations in a formal academic style conference and individual essays together provide students with experience of two key modes of academic research presentation.

The module begins with a series of lectures which showcase the application of theory to critical issues and its presentation. These lectures are research led, drawing on research taking place in the School. Students then move on to develop their own interests.

Critical Issues explored in recent years include:

- Copyright and Creativity in the digital age
- Journalism in crisis: Leeds ecology project
- Audiences and Reality TV
- Mediation and Self-representation

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	1	2.00	2.00
Mini Conference	1	7.00	7.00
Group learning	10	2.00	20.00
Lecture	5	2.00	10.00
Tutorial	4	0.50	2.00
Private study hours			259.00
Total Contact hours			41.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Students should dedicate approximately 20 hours to preparing and reading for the initial substantive classes, 150 hours preparing for the group research project, 25 hours preparing for the presentation, 4 hours contributing to the research group blog and 60 hours preparing the individual research report.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress is monitored via regular meetings of the research groups with the module tutors and by weekly contributions to a research group blog.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Group Project	30 Minutes presentation	40.00
Report	1 x 3,500 - 4000 words	50.00
In-course Assessment	Evaluation of contribution to group project	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

If a presentation receives a failing grade resulting in a module fail it can be replaced by a 3,500-4,000 word research report on a new individual topic.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 13/05/2016

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