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Unit outline_

MECO6926: International Media Practice

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

This core unit of study in the Master of Media Practice takes an international media focus, developing knowledge of a wide range of media contexts in both the global South and global North. Drawing on comparative media theories, it enables students to map, analyse and debate similarities and differences in media markets, management and regulatory arrangements, professional media practices, and user cultures, to enhance graduate employability across global labour markets. Students are equipped to critically examine disparities in media access and infrastructure, emergent mechanisms of media governance, and debates about the role of media professionals in social progress across world regions.

Unit details and rules

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

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Penny O'Donnell, penny.odonnell@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Penny O'Donnell, penny.odonnell@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Mei Li, mei.li@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation group assignment Seminar Report
Upload report and pose questions to facilitate class discussion
20% Ongoing
Due date: 08 Aug 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 06 Nov 2022
1200 words (slides). Must attempt
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Media analysis
Critically analyse news on global issues from geopolitical perspectives
35% Week 07
Due date: 18 Sep 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 04 Oct 2022
2100 words +/-10%. Must attempt
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO1 LO4 LO5 LO7
Assignment Narrative writing
Create a counternarrative on an assigned global issue related to MECO6926
45% Week 13
Due date: 06 Nov 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 22 Nov 2022
2700 words +/-10%. Must attempt
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5 LO6 LO1 LO2 LO3 LO7
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

More information can be found in 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 is for a very high standard, a Credit is for a good standard, and a Pass is for an acceptable standard.

A detailed marking rubric for each assignment is located in MECO6926 Assignments on Canvas.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Demonstrates the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard as defined in the  assignment rubric.

Distinction

75 - 84

Demonstrates the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard as defined in the  assignment rubric.

Credit

65 - 74

Demonstrates the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard as defined in the  assignment rubric.

Pass

50 - 64

Demonstrates the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard as defined in the  assignment rubric.

Fail

0 - 49

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

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.

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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 Welcome to MECO6926 and overview Independent study (1 hr) LO7
Week 01 Changing contours of visibility, influence & agency in global media dialogue Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO7
Week 02 Digital media globalisation Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO7
Week 03 New contours: Southern media infrastructures and user access Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO7
Week 04 New contours: BRICS contraflows Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO7
Week 05 Accommodation & resistance to Western media thinking & perspectives Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 06 New research directions: Critical analysis of variation & influence in geopolitical news reporting Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 07 New research directions: Conceptualising media ethnocentrism as a wicked problem Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 08 Key theories related to changing patterns of global media dialogue Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 09 New professional media practices: Understanding global media dialogue as narrative struggle Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 New professional media practices: Identifying masternarratives and developing counternarrative literacy Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 New professional media practices: Creating new narratives about global issues Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 12 Critical public opinion in the fourth wave of digital media globalisation Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 13 Review & future directions in international media Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

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.

  • Preparation: Students are encouraged to identify their target learning rewards, seek assistance with learning challenges, and use diverse strategies to achieve their goals.

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

Required readings can be accessed via the Reading List available on the MECO6926 Canvas site.

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. identify key definitions, concepts, research findings, and media channels related to international media practice
  • LO2. identify and understand key economic, political and technology processes that relate to the growth of diverse international media channels
  • LO3. understand and discuss the link between international media history, Southern conceptual thinking, and the influence of diverse new voices
  • LO4. demonstrate ability to present and report on a current topic in international media practice to engage classmates
  • LO5. demonstrate ability to critically analyse variation in Southern and Western news reporting on global issues to understand their relative influence
  • LO6. demonstrate ability to create new narratives about global issues to challenge South-West geopolitical stereotypes
  • LO7. develop and apply critical reading, research, argumentation, cultural competence, and professional writing skills

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
LO1         
LO2         
LO3         
LO4         
LO5         
LO6         
LO7         

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

In-class presentation of a seminar report posing questions to facilitate class discussion introduced in Semester 2, 2022 in response to student feedback.

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.