PO2TMP-The Media and Politics

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Dawn Clarke
Email: d.clarke@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The module introduces students to the practice of discussing politics through the media, to theories and concepts concerning the power of media ownership, the role of news gathering, the influence of social media and how theories of media effects show how audiences are affected by different kinds of media.   It combines lectures and seminars with participation in a radio show.  In the event the module is oversubscribed those studying politics as part of their programmes will normally be given priority.   Contact the module convenor for further details.

Aims:

The module has two broad aims:

• First, to develop students’ understanding of the roles played by the media in contemporary politics. This aim is pursued in part through engagement with scholarly writings and analysis of media practices and outputs. It is further developed by the discussion of politics through a variety of media and reflection upon that practice.

• Second, to develop students’ capacities to engage a broad audience in thinking about politics and to communicate ideas about politics to a broad audience through both research and presentation. This is intended to advance a wide range of presentational, technical, and team-working skills.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that students should be able:

• to show knowledge and understanding of theories of the nature of the media and of the relationship between media and politics;


• to show knowledge and understanding of how the news is made in practice;


• to analyse media content and identify how it has been constructed and what effects it might be expected to have;


• to plan, research, and present material on the radio in a manner that is accessible and engaging for a broad audience;


• to write in a way that is analytical and precise, but also accessible to a broad audience;


• to reflect upon how their work for the module has developed their broader skills and how they might deploy these skills and experiences in pursuit of further goals, including future employment.

Additional outcomes:
Students' team-working skills will be developed through participation in planning of the radio show in editorial meetings and through working in small teams in the development of radio reports. Students' engagement with contemporary affairs will be deepened through the expectation that they will keep up with what is happening on the international, national, and local political stages. Students will develop their IT skills, particularly in using audio recording equipment and audio editing software. Depending on their choices, they may develop specific skills of interviewing or surveying.

Outline content:
The content is indicative only and may be subject to change:
The module looks at key topics in the study of the media and media power, encompassing both theory and reality in a range of countries around the world. It includes such topics as how media agendas are set and how the media affect a variety of aspects of politics. In addition, through the production of a weekly radio show, the module engages students in thinking practically about how news agendas are set and how news stories are developed and packaged. Through reflection, it encourages students to work consciously on the various transferable skills that they can develop through the module.

Global context:
The module requires students to present on current developments in politics at the international level (as well as national and local levels), including developments that are not prominent in the mainstream media. In this way, students are encouraged to engage with contemporary world affairs beyond a mere recounting of existing media presentations.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The more conventional aspects of the module, exploring media theory and the nature of the media in practice, will be taught through lectures and seminars, structured around specified topics. In addition, students will participate in weekly editorial meetings in order to plan and prepare material for the weekly radio show which takes place during the spring term. There will also be practical workshops in the autumn term, in which students will learn about presentation and interview skills and about audio recording and editing. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	6
Seminars	5
Practicals classes and workshops	6	24
Supervised time in studio/workshop	6	11
Guided independent study:	77	65
Total hours by term	100	100	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Project output other than dissertation	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

There is no summer term examination for this module.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

There are two pieces of assessed coursework for the module. 

Media and Politics Research Project (50%)

This is an individual assignment.   Students will take a piece of media (newspaper article, documentary, podcast, film, etc) and set this into a political context linking it to the theories, concepts and ideas they have learned during the Autumn Term.   The purpose of this assignment is to allow students to do some independent research into a media topic of their choice and which might have current political and media interest and importance.   They might choose to look at how their media links to theories of media ownership and control, or how the news itself is gathered or assess contemporary debates over social media.  They can also choose some media which deals with audience effects.  They will then write a 3000 word report outlining their findings. 

Long Radio Piece and Associated Reflective Essay  (50%)

In the spring term students will prepare a broadcast piece, a radio show/podcast lasting around 50 minutes and prepared in groups of three or four students.  This will include pre-recorded as well as live elements, and should be built around a 30 minute core documentary which includes some original research on a topic chosen from a list of topics which will be suitable for the audience who listens regularly to the radio show (18-40 years of age).  Options for communicating your research include, for example, vox pops, interviews with named individuals, surveys, research into media coverage of an issue or exploration of archival materials.  You will record your programme, including your documentary in the B-Radio studio on campus, one group per week. We will aim to assign groups and weeks before the end of the Autumn Term.  The programmes themselves will all be recorded during the Spring Term.  You will also submit a reflective essay of 2000 words (+/- 10%) on how you approached the task.  The two parts of this assignment are worth a combined 50% of the module mark, 30% is given on the basis of the radio material and 20% on the reflective essay.  Both elements should be submitted on Blackboard as directed by the course convener.

Students visiting the University of Reading as part of the Study Abroad Programme will follow the same assessments as outlined above in order to achieve full ECTS credits.

Visiting students who are only studying for half credits (10 ECTS) in Autumn term will submit only the Media and Politics research project (50%).

Formative assessment methods:

• Students will engage in debates, discussions and carry out small tasks in the seminars during the autumn term where they will show their understanding of the media theories, concepts and research that they are studying that term. 


• Students will work in small groups at the beginning of the spring term and practice writing short 5 minute news items on stories which are current at the time.   These will help them learn skills of news story writing.


• Students will have a visit from a professional journalist at either the end of the Autumn or beginning of the Spring Term.  The purpose of this is for them to learn the skills of news gathering, news editing and how to produce a news story for broadcasting on a radio station.  

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:
If a student fails to pass the year at the first attempt there is an opportunity to be re-assessed on one further occasion at the next opportunity in those modules achieving a mark of less than 40%. Students who are eligible for re-assessment have the right to re-assessment in all elements even if they have previously passed one of those elements. It is expected, however, that the majority of students would probably elect not to repeat an element in which they had already passed, in which case the confirmed marks would be carried forward.

Coursework: Failed or missing coursework should be re-submitted by 1st August, emailed directly to politics@reading.ac.uk, AND submitted on Blackboard.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: There may be optional costs associated with photocopying or printing sources listed on the reading list relating to this module. Please note that the Library charges approximately 5p per photocopy.

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023