CYB114 Understanding Media Industries


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Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Unit code:CYB114
Credit points:12
Equivalent:CYB102
Coordinator:Amanda Lotz | amanda.lotz@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This unit introduces the core concepts, analytical frameworks, and professional practices necessary to understand how the media industries operate as complex economic and cultural phenomena. This includes a comprehensive overview of media industry structures and functions, production and distribution processes, regulatory and technological conditions, ecological implications, and labour practices. You will also explore the political, economic, and cultural foundations of the media industries in national, regional, and global contexts. You will engage with media industry professionals as guests where appropriate to establish a capacity for the subsequent study of and employability in the media industries.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Describe and explain the theoretical and practical implications of the media and entertainment industries in political, economic, and social contexts
  2. Identify, compare, and contrast media industry structures and functions, production and distribution processes, regulatory and technological conditions, and labour practices
  3. Apply key analytical frameworks and media industries scholarship to explain the political, economic, and cultural significance of the media industries
  4. Demonstrate professional communication and collaboration skills when working in a team

Content

This unit may address:

  • The political, economic, and cultural foundations of the media industries
  • Business models in the media industries
  • The relationships between media production, distribution, and consumption
  • Power dynamics in the media industries
  • Labour politics in the media industries
  • Sustainability and the media industries

Learning Approaches

In this unit, you will learn by engaging in lectures, tutorials and self-study. In lectures, you will learn foundational knowledge of, and critical perspectives on, media industries. In tutorials you will apply your understanding in activities and discussions. You must prepare for tutorials by engaging with the lecture material and completing any prescribed reading in advance.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive feedback on your progressive understanding of key issues and debates in weekly tutorials. You will be provided with a Criterion Referenced Assessment sheet for all assessment that will explain your assessment’s achievement. Furthermore, you will be given verbal feedback on assessment where appropriate.

Assessment

Overview

There are three assessment tasks for this unit. The Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue assessment will allow you to demonstrate the communication skills required for a career in the communication industries. The Media Industries Report will focus your learning around the theories, regulatory and technological conditions, and/or professional practices found in media and entertainment industries. Based on unit learning materials, a Final Examination will test your critical understanding of the media and communication industries.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue

This task requires you to demonstrate your developing critical communication skills and capacity for professional dialogue through a series of formal peer group exercises within your tutorial sessions.

Exercises will relate to unit content, readings and key concepts and expectations for how you contribute will be clearly outlined in the assessment criteria sheet.

Weight: 10
Length: This activity is conducted within the normal tutorial duration.
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Progressive across the semester
Designated assessment weeks will be communicated by the unit coordinator at the start of the unit.
Related Unit learning outcomes: 4

Assessment: Media Industries Report

You will prepare and deliver a report that describes and analyses a critical issue affecting the media industries.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 40
Length: 1500 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 7
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Assessment: Final Examination

You will complete a final examination that will test your understanding and application of key terminology and ideas from the unit. Material for the examination will be drawn from lectures, readings, and tutorial activities.

 

Weight: 50
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Central Examination Period
Central exam duration: 1:40 - Including 10 minute perusal
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

All students are requested to visit and review the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages.

You will be advised if a unit requires additional mandatory health and safety inductions.  

Resources

This unit has required readings. All readings and other learning resources will be posted to the unit’s Canvas page.

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Havens, T., and Lotz, A. (2016). Understanding Media Industries. 2nd Edition. (Oxford: Oxford UP)

Recommended text(s)

Hesmondhalgh, D. (2007). The Cultural Industries. 2nd Edition. (London: Sage).

Other

To enable your full participation in units that utilise virtual learning environments, for example participating in online activities and engaging with online learning materials, you will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection, webcam, headset and microphone, as well as a learning environment where you are able to fully participate undisturbed when required. 

Risk Assessment Statement

For risks associated with using campus buildings or QUT facilities, refer to the HiQ Health and Safety information.

You are advised to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.

Please be advised that this unit may include the presentation and scholarly analysis of material and subject matters that may be considered confronting, such as certain representations of race, class, gender and violence. QUT counselling support is available should you feel the need to avail yourself of these services.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

KC40 Bachelor of Communication

  1. Demonstrate capacity to understand and critique the historical, cultural, technological, and regulatory implications of digital media, entertainment, communication, and news industries.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Media Industries Report, Final Examination
  2. Demonstrate capacity to engage with and apply specialised knowledge of one or more areas of digital media, entertainment, communication, and news industries, including the relationship between disciplinary theory, research methodologies, and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Media Industries Report, Final Examination
  3. Demonstrate capacity to engage with and apply diverse ways of knowing the world in local and global contexts, including Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Media Industries Report, Final Examination
  4. Demonstrate effective communication skills with the ability to adapt strategies across different media and professional settings and for diverse audiences.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue, Media Industries Report, Final Examination
  5. Critically interrogate the economic and cultural power of digital media, communication, entertainment, and news to make ethical, sustainable, and inclusive contributions to diverse workplaces, communities, and audiences.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Media Industries Report, Final Examination
  6. Identify, develop, and sustain effective and responsible leadership strategies and teamwork skills that generate value for yourself and others.
    Relates to: ULO4, Critical Engagement and Professional Dialogue
  7. Identify, develop, and sustain effective professional networks in the media and communication industries.
    Relates to: ULO2, Media Industries Report, Final Examination