2016/17 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

COMM5540M The Reporting of Politics

30 creditsClass Size: 22

Module manager: Ms Judith Stamper
Email: j.stamper@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The module will help provide an understanding of the way politics is reported on television, radio, the print media and Internet. The module will follow the development of political reporting in Britain over the past 50 years. It examines the current public perception of politicians, the apparent disengagement of the electorate, the global nature of political activity, and the role of the media in the political process.

Objectives

The module aims to develop students’ critical engagement with the media and its social impacts. It will provide students with the historical and political context to make sense of the relationship between the media and politics.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Explain how Britain is governed and why this particular system of government has emerged over the years
2. Explain the relationship between politics and the media
3. Contribute to critical debates about the role of the mass media in British democracy
4. Critically analyse the impact of the developing technologies of mass communication

Skills outcomes
Students will be expected to assess the relationship between politicians and the media and critically evaluate the reporting of political events.

Syllabus

• A brief examination of the history of British politics and political communication.
• Analysis of the recent political scene, including the relationships between journalists and politicians
• The range of political news programme genres will be examined, and critiqued

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	2.00	22.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Tutorial	2	1.00	2.00
Private study hours			265.00
Total Contact hours			35.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

• Weekly seminar preparation (88 hours)
• Exam and essay preparation (145 hours)

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Summative feedback is given after the essays are submitted and marked and before the examination is taken. Final seminars are for monitoring exam preparation.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	4000 essay	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Summative feedback is given after the essays are submitted and marked and before the examination is taken. Final seminars are for monitoring exam preparation.

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Unseen exam	2 hr 00 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 04/10/2016

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