CWB301 Political Communication
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | CWB301 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | Completion of 72 credit points of study |
| Equivalent(s): | KCB302 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $835 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,360 |
| International unit fee | $3,924 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2020, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | CWB301 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | Completion of 72 credit points of study |
| Equivalent: | KCB302 |
| Coordinator: | Aljosha Karim Schapals | aljosha.schapals@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit surveys the theory and professional practices of political and governmental communication, especially through the media and communications industries. It examines contemporary and historical political issues and communications in Australia and internationally from the perspectives of democratic theory, media influence, strategic image and issue management, and popular culture. The unit comprises an overview of theoretical approaches to political communication, the construction of political discourse, and the mobilisation of audiences/voters; an understanding of the relationship between communication strategies and the management of politics, with cases drawn from Australian and international politics; and the capacity to critically appraise strategic issues such as political persuasion, electoral strategy, popular culture, and public opinion formation.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an applied understanding of key political structures and institutions and how they shape political discourse and associated communication practices.
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the main democratic functions performed by the media.
- Demonstrate an applied understanding of how theories of political communication and popular culture inform politics, parliament and political campaigns.
- Apply knowledge and communication skills in a variety of contexts and modes relevant to political communication.
- Engage in critical, creative, and analytical thinking in relation to the theory and practice of political communication.
Content
Lectures, readings and seminars will cover a number of related issues in the field, such as:
- Introduction: Political communication in historical and contemporary perspective
- Politics and the media: journalism, democracy and the public sphere
- Theories and practices of media role and influence in politics and popular culture
- Political and electoral systems, parties and organisations in Australia and other countries
- Image and issue management: How politicians use the media and how the media uses politicians
- Rhetoric of campaign politics and political advertising
- Electronic democracy and social networking
- Critical perspectives on mediated politics: tabloidism, infotainment and spin.
Learning Approaches
The unit combines a lectures, seminars and online resources with activities designed to promote your conceptual understanding of political communication strategies. A series of weekly study questions and readings will guide your study and class discussion. A field trip to Queensland’s Parliament House at Gardens Point should be undertaken early in the semester, especially for those wishing to apply for a political internship in semester 2.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will gain formative feedback on your progress during tutorial exercises and discussions throughout the semester.
You will gain written feedback on Assessment items 1 and 2.
You will gain formative feedback throughout the semester.
Assessment
Overview
The formative assessment approach of ongoing class activities enables learners to become confident evaluators of the progress of their own work and of the work of others. The assessment is designed to be challenging, realistic and meaningful. An authentic approach to assessment is taken and assessment is linked to the courses' content and outcomes. Assessment outcomes demonstrate applied and critical understanding of the key content.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Presentation (oral or group)
Group seminar project on a political communication topic. Recorded oral presentation uploaded to Blackboard or sent by email.
Assessment: Quiz/Test
Take home examination, including short answer and essay responses.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
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.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Recommended
Weekly readings will be available online and from the Course Reserve collection.
Recommended References
Bennett, W.L. (2012). News: The politics of illusion (9th ed). Boston, MA: Longman.
Blair, T. (2010). A Journey. London: Random House.
Economou, N. & Tanner, S. (2008). Media, power and politics in Australia. French’s Forest: Pearson.
Errington, W., & Miragliotta, N. (2007). Media and Politics: An introduction. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Louw, E. (2010). Media and political process. (2nd ed). London: Sage publications.
Mandelson, P. (2010). The third man: Life at the heart of New Labour. London: Harper Collins.
Powell, L., & Cowart, J. (2013). Political campaign communication: Inside and out. (2nd ed). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Stockwell, S. (2005). Political campaign strategy: Doing democracy in the 21st Century. Melbourne: Australian Scholarly Publishing.
Tanner, L. (2011). Sideshow: Dumbing down democracy. Melbourne Scribe.
Ward, I. & Stewart, R.G. (2010). Politics one (4th ed). South Yarra, Australia: Palgrave Macmillan.
Young, S. (2004). The persuaders: Inside the hidden machine of political advertising. Melbourne: Pluto.
Young, S., ed. (2007). Government communication In Australia. Sydney: Cambridge University Press.
Young, S., (2010). How Australia decides. Sydney: Cambridge University Press.
Risk Assessment Statement
All students and staff are required to complete the Tier 1 CIF General Health and Safety Induction for access to campus buildings and facilities. This must be completed online.
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
No responsibility will be taken for absence incurred in other QUT course units as a result of this program.