2022/23 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

COMM3260 Understanding the Audience

20 creditsClass Size: 48

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

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2022/23

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The module introduces students to the main approaches to understanding the relationship between audiences/users and media.

Objectives

The module introduces students to the main approaches to understanding the relationship between audiences/users and media. We will consider the development of the concept audience, exploring empirical research and theoretical arguments from a range of perspectives including how scholars have conceptualised the audience, how media industries view the audience, as well as, addressing contemporary debates about the usefulness of the category ‘audience’ in the contemporary media context.

Learning outcomes
1. Evaluate audience research and audience data from a wide variety of sources and approaches, both academic and practice-based.
2. .Demonstrate understanding of the key concepts, issues and research practices associated with audience studies.
3. Make reference to key texts from the field of audience studies to discuss and write about media audiences.
4. Describe and contribute to debates about media audiences.

Syllabus

Lectures will address the history of the field of audience studies, as well as contemporary debates. Lecture topics will include audiences and the popular, audiences from a political economy perspective and implications of convergence and datafication for audiences
Seminars will consist of activities and discussions to ensure students’ understanding of lecture material and assigned readings.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			180.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Private study time should be used for seminar preparation, researching, preparing and writing the written assignments.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

In weekly seminars – required.
In office hours – optional.
Via assessment 1 which is returned with feedback before the submission of assessment 2.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Reflective log	1,500-2,000 words	40.00
Essay	2,500-3,000 words	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

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

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 03/10/2022

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