module specification

This module will provide students with an introduction to the study of the mass media and facilitate development of key academic research and writing skills. The module is organised around five blocks each of which introduces debates and discussions about one aspect of the study of the mass media, leading to a short assessment exercise.
The module is designed to facilitate the transition into undergraduate study by encouraging critical engagement and the development of basic academic skills and competencies.

This module aims to:
● Introduce students to key debates in the study of the mass media to provide a foundation for further study.
● Encourage the development of critical and analytical skills through guided study and coursework preparation
● Encourage the development of key academic writing, reading and research skills and competencies
● Prepare students for the practical study of media and communications Level 4.

The module will be divided into five blocks, each of which will address a major debate in the role of the mass media in society, leading to a summative assessment exercise. Each block will introduce a topic, place that topic in its historical context, and highlight some of the key critical debates relating to that topic. An indicative list of the blocks is given below:

● Block one: Popular culture and moral panics
● Block two: Broadcast media and audiences
● Block three: Digital media and participatory culture
● Block four: Racism, Sexism, Homophobia and the media
● Block five: News Media and political debates

Learning Outcomes LO 1 - 4

The module will use a blended learning approach combining class discussions and debates, formal lectures, and workshop support for coursework completion. Students will be introduced to the academic context through short lectures and class discussions and activities, to maximise engagement with the module and academic content. The teaching schedule will be punctuated with opportunities for one-to-one tutorials and study skills sessions in preparation for coursework submission, with a particular focus on writing and research skills.

On successful completion of this module, students will have:

LO1. Demonstrated a basic understanding of key debates in the study of the mass media.
LO2. Demonstrated basic academic skills including academic writing and research skills
LO3. Experienced working collaboratively and individually towards improving their understanding of the media.
LO4. Successfully prepared and completed a number of short critical writing exercises and demonstrated an improving understanding of critical, analytical and reflective writing.

This module uses five short pieces of critical writing to assess engagement with academic debates related to the mass media. Each of these short essays have a formative and summative function, both assessing summative understanding of a topic, and contributing to the formative development of critical, analytical and reflective writing and basic academic research skills. Each short essay will be linked to the topic for each of the teaching blocks.

Each of the assessments address all four learning outcomes by:

● Introducing students to key debates in the study of the mass media to provide a foundation for further study (each short essay will focus on one such debate).

● Encouraging the development of critical and analytical skills through guided study and coursework preparation (each short essay is designed to develop critical and analytical skills in response to key debates in media & communications). 

● Encouraging the development of key academic writing, reading and research skills and competencies (each short essay is designed to give students experience of writing and research in a managed way)

● Preparing students for the practical study of media and communications Level 4 (each short essay is designed to develop the academic skills required at level 4 and beyond)

Time will be set aside in class dedicated to coursework preparation and guidance. Summative feedback will be available through the virtual leaning environment shortly after submission, and discussion of feedback and marks will take place in individual tutorials during formal scheduled teaching time.

https://londonmet.rl.talis.com/modules/sm3017.html
Core text:
Sue Thornham, Caroline Bassett, Paul Marris,  2009,  Media studies: a reader, New York : New York University Press
Additional reading:
Daniele Albertazzi, Paul Cobley,  (2013) The Media: an Introduction, Routledge
James Curran, David Hesmondhalgh,  (2019) Media and society, Bloomsbury Publishing
James Curran, Jean Seaton,  2018  Power without responsibility: press, broadcasting and the internet in Britain, Routledge
Martin Lister,  2009,   New media: a critical introduction, Routledge
Simon Lindgren,  2017,  Digital media & society, London: Sage
Paddy Scannell,  2007,  Media and communication, London: Sage
Nick Stevenson,  2002,  Understanding media cultures: social theory and mass communication, London: Sage
John B. Thompson,  1995,  The media and modernity: a social theory of the media, Polity Press
Jeremy Tunstall,  1996,  Newspaper power: the new national press in Britain, Clarendon Press
Dale Beran, It Came from Something Awful: How a Toxic Troll Army Accidentally Memed Donald Trump into Office, St. Martin's Publishing Group