AMST40580 News Media Today

Academic Year 2021/2022

We are living in a golden age of media. More people have greater access to a wider variety of content at faster speeds on multiple platforms than any other time in history. This module will give students an overview of the key issues impacting today’s news media system. The boundaries between new and old media are constantly being re-negotiated. Students will learn how different mediums are co-evolving together and how this is creating new opportunities for different players to get involved in the political narrative formation process that shape the way we understand specific news events. The course will examine the different dynamics shaping U.S. and international media landscapes. It will also examine issues such as freedom of expression, disinformation campaigns and computational propaganda and how they impact the media in different parts of the world.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the module, students will understand how today’s news media system is evolving and what that means for the future of news production and consumption. They will have a much better understanding of global news trends and how political and geopolitical issues shape the presentation of news around the world. Throughout the course, students will discuss developing stories, ways to cover them, and what treatments resonate with the audience. Presentations, discussions and essay preparation will aid students in developing further skills in researching, oral communication of ideas, textual/visual analysis and critical interpretation. The course will develop students’ abilities to produce interdisciplinary work, combining journalism, visual and social media and international affairs. Presentations, discussions and essay preparation will aid students in developing further skills in researching, oral communication of ideas, textual/visual analysis and critical interpretation.

Indicative Module Content:

The boundaries between new and old media are constantly being re-negotiated. Students will learn how different mediums are co-evolving together and how this is creating new opportunities for different players to get involved in the political narrative formation process that shape the way we understand specific news events. Topics covered will include:

hybrid media
political narrative formation
the U.S. media landscape
freedom of expression
disinformation campaigns
computational propaganda

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24

Autonomous Student Learning

176

Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Weekly seminars, with discussions based on syllabus readings/topics. Students presentations each week on a trending story with analysis of why the story matters and how it can be understood within the framework of the hybrid media system. These presentations will be a maximum of 10 minutes and students will have to hone their presentation skills in order to deliver a succinct yet coherent analysis of the news story of their choice.

For their final project, students will have the option of either writing a 5000-word essay applying the concepts of the hybrid media system to a news story or to write a news report on a topic of their choice based on real-time interviews they conduct themselves. All students will be required to “pitch” their story to the class in Week 11 of the course. The pitch should be short and informative. Once they have their pitch approved, they will work on their final project. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: < Description > Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

30

Essay: 5000 words Unspecified n/a Graded No

70


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on draft work and post-assessment.