module specification

SM5090 - Media and Communities (2025/26)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2025/26
Module title Media and Communities
Module level Intermediate (05)
Credit rating for module 15
School School of Computing and Digital Media
Total study hours 150
 
30 hours Assessment Preparation / Delivery
75 hours Guided independent study
45 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
Coursework 50%   1500 word essay, 12 minute video essay or 20 minute audio essay based on questions set by the tutor.
Coursework 50%   10-minute audio document and 1000-word critical commentary.
Running in 2025/26

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
Period Campus Day Time Module Leader
Autumn semester North Monday Morning

Module summary

This module combines critical engagement with theories of community and participatory culture; study of how media have been used to rebel and empower; and training in research and media practice.

Students will study the theory and practice of community media, oral history, and documentary traditions. They will engage in interviewing, audio recording and editing.   They will research community-based organisations and initiatives. They will use a range of media in researching, producing and presenting their own audio document.

The module aims to:
● Enable students to develop a critical understanding of participatory culture and contemporary citizenship, with particular focus on community media, including their use by different social groups, and community development
● Enable students to research into community-based organisations and initiatives
● Enable students to research, produce and present their own audio document

Syllabus

The teaching strategy will consist of lectures introducing a topic combined with that enable students to engage in more in-depth work. Typically, the syllabus will cover the follow:

• Theories of community and community development
• History and theory of participatory culture
• Social movements and participatory and rebellious media
• The political economy of media and communities
• Politics of representation
• Significance of oral history
• Independent research for audio document
• Theory and practice of interviewing
• Research ethics
• Sound recording
• Editing sound
• Scriptwriting for radio
• Research, production and presentation of audio document
• Evaluation of process of producing audio document

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

Teaching methods include formal lectures, seminar discussion, screenings, library sessions and tutorials.  Students are expected to attend lectures and seminars: in the seminars they will at times work in small groups and be given practice in listening to each other’s contributions and offering constructive criticism, and in chairing and reporting discussion to the plenary seminar group. The teaching and learning strategy aims to encourage an inclusive and supportive learning environment that respects and values the contributions of individual students and provides opportunities for individual intellectual development through a variety of learning opportunities.

The module booklet will be available online, as will lecture outlines and some readings. WebLearn or its equivalent will also be used for communication with students individually and as a cohort. In addition to guided reading, students are expected to read and to use variety of sources (primary and secondary) and use seminars and tutorials to raise issues, questions and seek feedback.

A blended learning strategy will be employed to enhance the learning experience, facilitate communication between students and tutors and develop collaboration among students. The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) will be used as a platform to support online activities including on-line discussions, evaluation of online resources, and access to electronic reading packs. The VLE will also be used to facilitate formative assessment and related feedback, as well as a tool to integrate useful online learning materials provided by research institutions, academic publications, professional organisations and other relevant sources.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to

LO1) Critically appraise concepts of community, community development, participatory culture and representation
LO2) Evaluate the theory and practice of community media and oral history
LO3) Conduct independent research drawing on a range of sources and the conceptual frameworks and methods taught
LO4) Produce and evaluate an audio document on an issue of concern to a community group or organization

Bibliography