GI6050 - Strategic Communications and Global Media (2025/26)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2025/26 | ||||||||||||
| Module title | Strategic Communications and Global Media | ||||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2025/26(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
As public opinion has become increasingly influential and important in world politics, states and other international non-state actors have engaged with publics both abroad and at home. Due to changes in global information services, these forms of strategic communication are undergoing rapid reforms in structure and content.
The module examines the on-going evolution of global political communications. It explores the nature of international political communication, evaluating key concepts such as propaganda, place branding, soft power and strategic communications, and the role of culture in world politics more broadly, including media such as film and the internet.
The module facilitates student learning through a constructivist approach with a focus on authentic, context specific forms of engagement. Through real-world scenarios, students will hone their skills as political communicators by cooperating with one another to address the complexities inherent in the international system. Therefore, thematic topics will include an analysis of empathetic forms of communication along with matters of trust, cultural awareness, collective memory, and mutual forms of foreign policy making.
In studying this module, you will attain knowledge of strategic international political communication.
Prior learning requirements
None. This module is available for Study Abroad.
Syllabus
The syllabus will include:
Exploring strategic communications: nation branding and propaganda; the origins and evolution of cultural diplomacy; the conceptual analysis of the new public diplomacy; public information and soft power, national branding, the roles of diplomatic institutions and non-state actors in public diplomacy.
The evolving nature of international political communication; the globalisation of communications; the media and information society’s role in representing diplomacy and conflict; the setting of the media and communications agenda by states, international organisations and NGOs; celebrity diplomacy and goodwill ambassadors.
The challenges for public information: a multipolar world; the public diplomacy of specific states and organisations, such as the US, UK, Canada, China, United Nations and the EU.
All learning objectives will be covered throughout the module.
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Teaching consists of a weekly lecture followed by a seminar/workshop. Lectures will be interactive, involving a combination of taught lectures, videos, films, and occasional group work. Seminars/workshops will combine a variety of methods.
Blended Learning will be a key component of the module and will present a ‘resource’ of information relative to content and current issues as well as a tool for formative assignments and feedback. Lectures will be supported by additional materials online which will enable students to fully engage with the module, including online tasks, PowerPoint slides, lecture notes, discussion tools, full reading lists, audio-visual /documentary material, and links to first-hand documents and websites.
Reflective and independent learning will be encouraged through reflective report planning, practical activities and the regular interactive lectures and seminar discussions.
Students will be required to attend all classes, to engage in the set activities, to prepare in advance by attempting assigned readings, to complete coursework ahead of deadlines and to act on the feedback they receive.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Evaluate the major theoretical and conceptual perspectives on public diplomacy and international strategic communication for syllabus knowledge and methodological grounding.
2. Develop effective transferable skills in writing, the presentation of ideas, time management and competence in defining academic analysis in a logical and coherent manner for assessment and degree progression.
3. Research skills, including the ability to synthesise and analyse arguments and exercise critical judgement.
4. The capacity to work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management, as well as co-operating with other students to achieve common goals.
Assessment strategy
The assessments for this module are:
Coursework Essay (2000 words) - 70%
Coursework Report (1000 words) - 30%
Students will be encouraged to submit essay and report plans during the term and will receive comments within one week of submission. Dialogue is promoted for a shared understanding of academic judgements and marking criteria is provided for students to develop skills for good practice. This feedback is timely, constructive and developmental.
The final submission of the essay and report will be via Turnitin. Deadlines, marking and moderating processes are communicated via weblearn and within lectures/classes. The assessments will enable students to develop writing and research skills whilst reflecting on what they have learnt and will reinforce employability skills introduced throughout the module.