CMS2016 Communication, Technology and Policy

Contents

• Staffing
• Requisites
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

REQUISITES

SYNOPSIS

Technological change has had major impacts upon the modes of transmission, processing and storage of information and electronic forms of communication. This course explores the social and policy implications of the digitisation of Australian (and international) telecommunications and broadcasting. Specific policy and technology themes and debates will be selected to illustrate the choices facing the information society. The course will also examine media discourses of communication technology.

OBJECTIVES

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. explain how the means of communication are shaped by complex social factors;
2. understand the impact of communication technologies on government policy and planning;
3. understand the impacts of contemporary means of communication on politics, culture and the economy
4. analyse the changing nature of media and communication institutions from a number of theoretical perspectives;
5. engage critically with media discourses of communication and information technology.

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Hirst, Martin & Harrison, John 2007, Communication and new media: from broadcast to narrowcast, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Media International Australia, Incorporating cultural policy,
(quarterly journal)

Department of communications, information technology and the arts (Available: http://www.dcita.gov.au).

Australian communications and media authority (Available: http://www.acma.gov.au).

Copyright council of Australia (Available: http://www.copyright.org.au).

ABA update,

Communications update,

Prometheus,
(twice yearly journal)

Barr, T 2000, Newmedia.com.au: the changing face of Australia's media and communications, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

Castells, M 2000, The information age: economy, society and culture: the rise of the network society, 2nd edn, Blackwell, Oxford, vol 1.

Consalvo, M & Paasonen, S (eds) 2002, Women and everyday users of the internet: agency and identity, Peter Lang, New York.

Green, M 2001, Websites & copyright: a practical guide, Australian Copyright Council, Redfern, NSW.

Gross, LS 2000, Telecommunications: an introduction to electronic media, 7th edn, McGraw Hill, Boston.

McDonald, I 2002, Current issues 2002: a discussion paper, Australian Copyright Council, Redfern, NSW.

Morrison, V 2002, Moral rights: a practical guide, Copyright Council, Redfern, NSW.

Moyal, A 1984, Clear across Australia: a history of telecommunications, Nelson, Melbourne.

Mulgan, GJ 1991, Communication and control, Guilford Press, New York.

O'Sullivan, T, Hartley, J, Saunders, D, Montgomery, M & Fiske, J 1994, Key concepts in communication & cultural studies, 2nd edn, Routledge, London.

Webster, F 2002, Theories of the information society, 2nd edn, Routledge, London.
(e-book, available at http://ezproxy.usq.edu.au/login?url=http://site.ebrary.com/lib/unisouthernqld/Doc?id=10016859)

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

Oral presentations will be made during scheduled tutorial times. This assessment item relates to Objectives 2, 3, 4 & 5.

2.

Marks will be based on student's contribution to class discussions. This assessment item relates to Objectives 2, 3, 4 & 5.

3.

This assessment item relates to Objectives 2, 3, 4 & 5.

4.

This assessment item relates to Objective 1.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the student's responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. For this course, normal class attendance consists of two one-hour lectures and one one-hour tutorial per week.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To successfully complete an individual assessment item, a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. This statement must be read in conjunction with Statement 4 below.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval, then a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the assignment will apply for each of the first FIVE working days late, after which a zero mark will be given.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade, a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks / grades obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no exam for this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Given the details under (6) above, there are no deferred exams for this course. However, if any deferred/makeup work is granted, it would have to be submitted by a date set by the examiner.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm

ASSESSMENT NOTES

This version produced 27 May 2008.