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Unit of study_

MECO1002: Digital Media and Communications Landscapes

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit explores media policy, industry change, and work practices. Within this framework, it explores concepts of labour and practical responses to workplace dynamics. Students will review their digital media footprint and develop professional branding strategies.

Unit details and rules

Unit code MECO1002
Academic unit Media and Communications
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Margaret Van Heekeren, margaret.vanheekeren@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Profile of media work
See MECO1002 Canvas site for assessment details
30% Week 08
Due date: 27 Sep 2021 at 23:59
1250 words equivalent, inc. 750w text
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Assignment Research essay
See MECO1002 Canvas site for assessment details
40% Week 13
Due date: 14 Nov 2021 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Literature review quiz
See MECO1002 Canvas site for assessment details
30% Weekly 1250 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6

Assessment summary

Note: the assessments are correct as listed below but differ from the Handbook. As a result of student feedback expressing concern at the number of assessments early in semester, assessments one and two have been combined into one assessment: Profile of Media Work. 

  • Literature review quiz: Complete a weekly quiz based on the weekly textbook and/or prescribed readings.
  • Profile of media work: To design a 3-page (A4) illustrated profile of media work in Australia. The profile will answer the question, 'What are the parameters and requirements of work in a career in Australia's media and communications industries?' 
  • Research essay: To research and write an essay that answers one question from a list of six options and analyses policy and regulatory practices in Australian media and communications.

All assessment tasks are compulsory and all must be submitted to be eligible to pass the unit.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

All late assessments will be penalised at a rate of 5% per day. Any assessments submitted 10 days or more after the due date will receive a 0 mark.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Mapping Lecture and tutorial (1 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 02 Business models Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 03 Industry organisation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Competitive pressures Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 05 Labour market dynamics Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 06 Policy and regulatory practices Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Self-regulation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Data collection, online privacy and digital rights Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Content creators Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Branding, celebrity and influence Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 11 Media critics and advocates Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Telling Australian stories Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Reimagining the digital media and communications landscape Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: Lectures will be recorded and will be made available via Canvas
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Textbook: Carah, N. (2021). Media and Society: Power, Platforms and Participation.London: SAGE

The textbook is available in ebook or hard copy from Booktopia. Both versions are $48. 

Please ensure re purchase the 2021 second edition as this is version that will be used for weekly readings and the Literature Review Quiz assessment.

All additional readings for this unit can be accessed through the Readings tab  on Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate disciplinary literary in media political economy, including business models, industry organisation, policy and regulation, labour market dynamics, content creation, access, voice, diversity and use
  • LO2. explain ways digital platforms are disrupting traditional business models and their consequences
  • LO3. identify and discuss the parameters and requirements of work in Australia's media and comms industries
  • LO4. read and critique recommended academic readings and media coverage on key issues of debate around Australian media and communications
  • LO5. research and analyse policy and regulatory practices in at least one Australian media sector
  • LO6. communicate learning outcomes in diverse formats including discussion and debate in lectures and tutorials, conceptual media production, and academic writing.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The 2020 S2 USS revealed students found the number of assessments due in the early part of semester too challenging. As a result, two of the assessments have been combined into one, reducing the number of assessments overall to three. Students also wanted more support for the visual component of the second assessment. Time has been allocated in tutorials in the weeks leading up to the assessment to provide students with introductory design and layout learning.

Work, health and safety

If there is a return to campus during semester students should familiarise themselves with University of Sydney procedures for safety during the pandemic. The procedures, and other advice is available here: https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/coronavirus-infection-university-of-sydney-advice.html

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.