MCH1023 : Media Studies
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Joss Hands
- Co-Module Leader: Professor James Ash
- Owning School: Arts & Cultures
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This introductory module aims to enable students to:
1. Gain critical knowledge of the role of mass media communications.
2. Reflect on the ways in which mass media industries shape and frame social and political understanding.
3. Analyse and assess some of the principal themes and issues in contemporary mass media.
4. Examine the role of politics and power of mass media in global and local contexts.
5. Consolidate and apply critical and evaluative skills concerning engagement with, and interpretation of, the outputs of mass media
Outline Of Syllabus
This module may include, but is not limited to, learning activities that are concerned with developing students’ understanding of:
1. Key theories of media.
2. Key theorists of media.
3. The history and evolution of media technologies and institutions.
4. Politics and media.
5. Identity and media.
A number of critical frameworks will be used to help make sense of the above, paying particular attention to power, politics and technology.
The module encourages students to undertake close readings of a range of specific media texts and practices and to understand how producers and consumers make sense of contemporary mass media
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | Lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | Assessment 2 End-of-module Essay (1500 words). |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | Assessment 1 Key Word exercise (750 words). |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 11 | 4:00 | 44:00 | Weekly readings and/or viewings. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Seminars. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 53:00 | 53:00 | Independent study. |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The module aims to encourage the comprehension of contemporary mass media and communications in relation to content, production, consumption and use. Lectures will introduce and develop core ideas (i.e. media theories and concepts) each week, which are then later applied through task-based seminars involving students working in smaller groups to consider a theory and/or concept in more practical detail.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | A | 100 | 2000 words. Answer one question from choice of topics covered in the module. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The essay allows students to demonstrate their ability to research and critically analyse a particular issue or topic relating to media theory. Students choose to answer one of several questions provided in the module handbook.
There will be formative feedback prior to the essay deadline, students will be invited to bring in essay plans for development and discussion, drawing on work done across the module.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MCH1023's Timetable