Media Studies

The Master of Letters consists of 50 per cent coursework (24 units of credit at 6 units of credit per course) and 50 per cent dissertation (24 units of credit). Coursework normally consists of 4 courses or equivalent, based on assessment for each of not fewer than 5000 words or equivalent, in reading courses relevant to the discipline area. The word length of the dissertation will be no fewer than 15 000 words, and no more than 20 000 words.

Political Journalism

Credit: 6 Units of credit (12.5%)

Term: Terms 1 & 2

Contact: Professor Dennis Cryle

Description: The course examines the role of the press and the traditions of the "Fourth Estate" in the context of journalism theory and practice of political journalism as it is manifested in the institution of the parliamentary press galleries. The course aims to gain an understanding of the traditions and practices of political journalism and to apply theoretical concepts to the analysis of interface of media and democracy.

Theoretical Approaches to the Media

Credit: 6 Units of credit (12.5%)

Term: Terms 1 & 2

Contact: Dr Andrew Wallace

Description: This course introduces key concepts, issues and debates in contemporary cultural media and cultural studies. It provides a basic grounding in fields and concepts such as social semiotics, genre, discourse, narrative, identity, audience.

Informatics, Culture and Communication

Credit: 6 Units of credit (12.5%)

Term: Terms 1 & 2

Contact: Dr Andrew Wallace

Description: This course examines the relationship between information technology, communications and contemporary commercial and political culture. By combining readings taken from several disciplines with close analysis of case studies, this course bolsters important high level communication skills.

Media Traditions

Credit: 6 Units of credit (12.5%)

Term: Terms 1 & 2

Contact: Professor Denis Cryle

Description: This course will provide students with a broad overview of seminal developments in the field of communication and media history. Drawing on a range of prominent theorists (Innis, Carey, McLuhan, Williams), it examines the impact of a range of media technologies on society and culture through time. The Course will be based around the collection of Readings in the Set Text. Assessment will take the form of research essays in specific fields of interest.