MM397: Management in Media Industries

Module code: MM397

Module provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Marrisa Joseph, email: m.joseph@henley.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Anna De Amicis, email: a.deamicis2@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 18 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module engages in a detailed analysis of the media industry. Fundamental economic questions are considered, along with the strategic choices facing media organisations. Students are introduced to the key challenges facing firms within the industry, and are invited to consider the role of media organisations in shaping contemporary society.

The module aims to provide students with an enhanced understanding of:

• What the media industries look like, and why.
• The commercial challenges facing media organisations, and how these are addressed.
• The wider public impact of media organisations, and debates about media and society.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will have demonstrated that they are able to:

• Recognise the fundamental economic drivers that shape the media industries.
• Understand how the various sectors are structured and explain the characteristics of leading firms.
• Analyse the processes by which media content is produced, distributed and consumed.
• Assess various challenges faced by media organisations and appraise how effectively these are addressed.
• Critically evaluate the social role of media organisations in shaping public perceptions, and the implications of this for firms themselves and for wider society.

Module content

The classes provide a broad overview of media industries. How the landscape for the media is mapped out, the fundamental economics of the industries are explained, alongside different forms of business organisations.  In addition, we will focus on key issues and themes that relate to the management of media businesses. These include: the production and distribution of media content; patterns of media consumption; regulation of media organisations; and the emergence of multinational media enterprises. There are also opportunities for students to reflect on the broader social and political impact of media businesses.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. The lectures will be larger classes in which the core content is presented, though it is intended that these will be interactive sessions involving plenty of opportunity for class discussion. There will typically be at least one guest lecture from a practicing manager from a relevant organisation. The seminars will be small group sessions in which specific topics or cases are discussed in greater depth, or in which students will be able to receive specific support and guidance (feed-forward) relevant to their coursework assignments.

Study hours

At least 25 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% in order to pass.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will receive feedback on their assignments in time to be able to apply relevant advice and guidance.

Reassessment

Additional costs