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Unit of study_

MECO6913: Public Opinion, Policy and Public Sphere

2024 unit information

This unit analyses the relationship between professional communication and public opinion. It focuses on theories of influence and persuasion in the context of the development of policy, and how these are reflected in the public sphere. It develops the notion of the public sphere as represented by Habermas, Fraser, Schudson and others, focusing in particular on the transformation of the public sphere in terms of postmodern public relations.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Media and Communications

Code MECO6913
Academic unit Media and Communications
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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None

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

  • LO1. research and analyse the roles of various stakeholders, including states, NGOs and other civil society actors in the formation of public policy
  • LO2. critically assess the communication approaches, strategies and tactics these stakeholders employ
  • LO3. reflect on the role of the professional communicator in influencing public opinion and legitimating policy
  • LO4. interrogate theoretical positions and assumptions regarding the concept of the public sphere and processes of public opinion formation in a postmodern context
  • LO5. employ theoretical frameworks to analyse political communication
  • LO6. collaborate in discussion, debate and role-play on issues of global policy governance.

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2 2024
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2 2020
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2021
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2021
Normal day Remote
Semester 2 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2022
Normal day Remote
Semester 2 2023
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.