min1mme making media

MAKING MEDIA

MIN1MME

2016

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

The focus of this introductory subject is twofold. First, it will examine news in a variety of media forms, concentrating largely on television news. This aspect of the course will be mainly descriptive and analytical and will draw on direct examination of news texts and research literature. Second, the subject will require all students to acquire rudimentary skills in basic video and sound production and studio operation as well as writing and scripting in order to simulate a full news production within a television format.

SchoolSchool of Humanities & Social Sciences

Credit points15

Subject Co-ordinatorDavid Lowden

Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes

Subject year levelYear Level 1 - UG

Exchange StudentsYes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

PrerequisitesN/A

Co-requisitesN/A

Incompatible subjectsN/A

Equivalent subjectsN/A

Special conditions Compulsory subject for BMCJ, BMCSJ, BMCMI and an elective subject for BMCSC.

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

01. Students acquire rudimentary skills and knowledge in the operation of cameras, editing software, sound recording equipment and lighting in a studio and onsite location.

Activities:
Students practice the skills in these areas after instruction and demonstration. They plan, instigate and co-ordinate the sophisticated use of all of this equipment in a self-directed large group task.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
Teamwork(Teamwork)

02. Students develop an appreciation of the social production of newsgathering, production and distribution through the process of a news production simulation. In particular students will consolidate skills associated with; the management of time, equipment and people; building team and individual responsibility and refining interpersonal techniques required for interacting with a wide variety of the public and members of the media community.

Activities:
Students engage in a semester-long simulation game to produce a professionially appearing television news program. This requires work in a variety of teamwork configurations ranging from small groups of 2-3 to a large group of 25 which is directed at solving the set task, meeting the fixed deadline and setting aside personal differences for the bigger objectives. Students engage in a process of critical self reflection on their own work and others commentary on that same work.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Teamwork(Teamwork)
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
Speaking(Speaking)
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

03. Students evaluate the ethical, legal, commercial and industrial context of news production and distribution and reception

Activities:
Students reflect on their own practice and case studies which focus on these concepts.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

04. Students will be able to write an analytical essay based on the close examination of a single professionally produced and broadcast television news story

Activities:
Students will read and apply research concepts and ideas about news in tutorials and class discussions
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Writing(Writing)
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)

05. Students will demonstrate an introductory understanding of several methods of cultural analysis which may be applied to news and its importance over time in society.

Activities:
Students practice tasks associated with semiotic, narrative and cultural analysis with a range of cultural artifacts and objects and then applies these ideas to a contemporary news item.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)

Subject options

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Start date between: and    Key dates

Melbourne, 2016, Semester 1, Day

Overview

Online enrolmentYes

Maximum enrolment size230

Enrolment information

Subject Instance Co-ordinatorDavid Lowden

Class requirements

LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.

TutorialWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.

Assessments

Assessment elementComments%ILO*
A short-answer/multiple choice online assignment (equivalent to 1200 words)based on questions drawn from lectures and the booklet of readings3001, 03, 05
Critical research essay of 1500 wordswhich is a close analysis of an individual news item broadcast in Melbourne on mainstream television3003, 04, 05
Group Production of news and written 750 word critical reflection on that production4002, 03, 04