This module aims:

1. To provide students with an understanding of the social, political and economic environment within which media and communication industries and institutions operate.
2. To provide students with an understanding of labour and employment factors and issues as these pertain to media industries and institutions, and how these shape the production and dissemination of media texts.
3. To expose students to the material and regulatory environment in which media work takes place.
4. To introduce students to debates around the ways in which industrial and institutional factors influence media content.

(LO1) Students will be able to identify key social, political and economic factors that shape operations of media industries and institutions

(LO2) Students will be able to determine the range of factors impacting contemporary industries and their working practices, such as globalisation, conglomeration and deregulation..

(LO3) Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of ethical, media ownership and/or regulatory issues, including relations between industries and institutions.

(LO4) Students will be able to analyse relations between industrial and institutional structures and media content.

(S1) Students will demonstrate recall and be capable of condensing key information, concepts and idea.

(S2) Students will engage critically with major thinkers and debates with the field.

(S3) Students will engage in individual research, in this case via a case study

(S4) Students will improve research skills through a review of literature and experience a close study of media industries, case studies

This module introduces students to issues surrounding media industries and institutions. Indicative content: media industries as a concept/topic; public, private and state broadcasting in relation to the public sphere; ownership of mainstream, independent, and alternative media, including concentration of ownership; working in the media and creative industries; ethics in journalism, press regulation and freedom of speech; media convergence; drivers of industry; innovation and upgrade culture; media manufacturing and infrastructures; globalisation, digitalisation, conglomeration, marketization and effects on media professionals.

Teaching method: Lecture
Description: Lectures introduce students to concepts and issues.
Schedule directed student hours: one hour/week
Attendance recorded: Yes

Teaching method: Workshop
Description: Workshops combine discussion of set readings with practical examinations of issues about media institutions, industries and their workers. There will also be opportunities for skills development.
Scheduled directed student hours: two hours/week
Attendance recorded: Yes

Teaching Method: Collaborative Learning
Description: These sessions will be used to either screen material or supervise students as a group in skills related to the workshops, lectures and assessments.
Scheduled directed student hours: one hour/week

Self-directed learning: These hours should be used to do the assigned weekly readings, research individual case study papers and case study rationale and prepare for the final in-class test.