AIP347 - Media and Politics: Campaign Strategies
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Maria Rae |
| Previously: | AIP247 |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | AIP204 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 2-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 2-hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
Digital technologies have radically changed the media’s role in politics and campaigns. Social media and smartphones mean we are more connected, have greater access to news and diverse voices can be heard. But they also contribute to fake news, echo chambers, clickbait and trolling. The key theoretical question we consider is whether the media acts as a public watchdog or a political lapdog. You will examine and analyse the media’s role in traditional political campaigns as well as social movements. You will learn how politicians and activists sell their message, target an audience and interact with journalists. Students will develop and refine practical media skills relevant to running communications in a political campaign (such as creating fictional social media accounts, videos, speeches, memes and hashtags). Students will benefit from developing both an enhanced understanding of and practical skills regarding the role of the media in contemporary politics and campaigns.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Review and analyse major theoretical, conceptual, and policy debates about the nature and significance of politics and the media and the contexts in which they operate | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO2 | Communicate complex political ideas to a public audience, through a range of social, audio visual and written media, based on understanding of the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of political communication | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO3 | Employ a range of digital technologies to apply political knowledge, and to engage in the (fictional) political process by running a political campaign | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO3: Digital literacy |
| ULO4 | Employ initiative and creativity to generate approaches and solutions to complex problems of politics and media- including developing practical skills and emulating real world examples. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO5 | Apply teamwork skills parallel to the contemporary professional environment | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO7: Teamwork |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: (Group) Portfolio | 800 words or equivalent | 10% | Week 5 |
| Assessment 2: Report | 2000 words or equivalent | 60% | Week 8 |
| Assessment 3: (Group) Portfolio | 1200 words or equivalent | 30% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for AIP347 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.