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Change in Journalism (MECM40007)
HonoursPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject seeks, through research and investigation, to encourage students to reflect on how journalism has developed and changed over time, in order to gain a critically informed perspective on its present and possible futures. Students will reflect on the question of what drives journalism history, and different perspectives that have been provided on this question, in work that has focused on the contribution of sociopolitical, economic and technological change to shaping and transforming journalism. This is addressed through engagement with key areas of research and debate surrounding journalism history, as well as a consideration of different traditions and histories of journalism in different social and political cultures. Such work provides a resource for critically informed consideration of how history has shaped the present landscape of journalism and challenges facing the field. It also supports informed engagement with the problem of how such challenges might be addressed, and journalism's possible future(s).
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- demonstrate an informed understanding of relevant research that has investigated journalism history;
- demonstrate an understanding of different arguments and positions regarding the forces that shape journalism, and how these inform different perspectives on its past, present and future; and
- demonstrate a capacity to draw on existing arguments and evidence to develop their own critical arguments and make informed contributions to debates regarding processes of change in journalism.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- the capacity to critically reflect on the relations between social structures and practices;
- the capacity to conduct research and apply knowledge to develop informed critical arguments;
- the capacity to articulate knowledge and understanding in oral and written communication; and
- the capacity to design, conduct and report original research.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Students who have previously completed 100-420 Journalism: Practice and Theory, or MECM40007 Journalism Studies, are not permitted to enrol in this subject.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
A seminar presentation and short submission
| During the teaching period | 20% |
An essay selected from a list of provided essay titles, reflecting on a particular debate relating to journalism history
| Mid semester | 40% |
A final essay reflecting on the relationship between journalism's past, present and possible futures
| During the examination period | 40% |
Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% (or 10 out of 12) classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Any student who fails to meet this hurdle without valid reason will not be eligible to pass the subject. All required written work must be submitted in order to pass the subject. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Essays submitted after the due date without an extension will be penalised 2% per day. Essays submitted after two weeks of the assessment due date without a formally approved application for special consideration or an extension will only be marked on a pass/fail basis if accepted.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Sami Shah Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 30 hours: a 1-hr lecture and a 1.5-hr seminar per week throughout semester. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
A subject reader will be available.
- Subject notes
- Admission to the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or fourth year honours in Media and Communication; Graduate Diploma in Publishing and Communications; Master of Global Media Communication; Master of Publishing and Communications; and Master of Journalism is required.
- Students wishing to enrol in this subject must consult with the subject coordinator.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Publishing and Communications (Advanced) Specialisation (formal) Media and Communications Specialisation (formal) Media and Communications Specialisation (formal) Media and Communications Specialisation (formal) Media and Communications - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022