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Module Descriptors

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Session: 2022/23

Last modified: 28/04/2022 17:34:31

Title of Module: News: An International Perspective

Code: JOUR10006 SCQF Level: 10
(Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework)		 Credit Points: 20 ECTS: 10
(European Credit Transfer Scheme)
School:School of Business & Creative Industries
Module Co-ordinator:Dr Margaret  Hughes

Summary of Module

This module will explore how the UK news media reports on world affairs and events, and look at how the foreign news media reports on the UK.

The aim of the module is to provide students with an opportunity to critically analyse the roles and responsibilities of journalists, news organisations and politicians in how international news is gathered and presented.

It will provide students with the opportunity to explore how news is created and presented in a range of international settings and will look at issues around regulation and operation across the globe.

It will also examine how the news media internationally acts as gatekeepers who set the agenda for public and political debate on a range of issues related to how we see the world. It will seek to explore the challenges presented by governmental and corporate interference in news and how news is told through a range of political, economic, social and cultural lenses.

The module builds on advanced research and presentation skills already developed in order to present informed, critical discussion and debate of topical, and sometimes controversial, issues that affect the practice of journalism from an international perspective.

Predominant teaching methods will be tutor-led lectures supported by tutorials and seminars. Students will examine the content of news media artefacts to explore and discuss dominant themes.

Students will produce a portfolio of journalistic content that explores the themes and issues covered, as well as submit an essay that focuses on theoretical perspectives.


Module Delivery Method
Face-To-FaceBlendedFully OnlineHybridCHybridOWork-based Learning
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Face-To-Face
Term used to describe the traditional classroom environment where the students and the lecturer meet synchronously in the same room for the whole provision.

Blended
A mode of delivery of a module or a programme that involves online and face-to-face delivery of learning, teaching and assessment activities, student support and feedback. A programme may be considered “blended” if it includes a combination of face-to-face, online and blended modules. If an online programme has any compulsory face-to-face and campus elements it must be described as blended with clearly articulated delivery information to manage student expectations

Fully Online
Instruction that is solely delivered by web-based or internet-based technologies. This term is used to describe the previously used terms distance learning and e learning.

HybridC
Online with mandatory face-to-face learning on Campus

HybridO
Online with optional face-to-face learning on Campus

Work-based Learning
Learning activities where the main location for the learning experience is in the workplace.


Campus(es) for Module Delivery
The module will normally be offered on the following campuses / or by Distance/Online Learning: (Provided viable student numbers permit)
Paisley:Ayr:Dumfries:Lanarkshire:London:Distance/Online Learning:Other:

 

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Term(s) for Module Delivery
(Provided viable student numbers permit).
Term 1

 

Term 2check markTerm 3

 

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Learning Outcomes: (maximum of 5 statements)

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

L1. Critically evaluate and discuss the key concepts, theories and principles surrounding the newsgathering and the presentation of news content from an international perspective.

L2. Critically evaluate a range of information resources relevant to the study of news from an international perspective.

L3. Produce a portfolio of journalistic content to a high professional standard that explores themes relevant to international news.

Employability Skills and Personal Development Planning (PDP) Skills
SCQF Headings During completion of this module, there will be an opportunity to achieve core skills in:
Knowledge and Understanding (K and U) SCQF Level 10.

Critical understanding of how foreign news is gathered, framed and disseminated by the UK news media.
Critical evaluation and analysis of UK news media coverage of international events, politics and culture.

Critically evaluating and analyzing the news media from an international perspective.

Practice: Applied Knowledge and Understanding SCQF Level 10.

Demonstrating a broad and integrated understanding of a wide range of classical and contemporary concepts and theories relevant to an understanding of the news media in an international context.

Demonstrate the ability to engage in discussion and debate of key areas related to the news, such as models of media effects and theoretical perspectives on the news media.

Demonstrating originality in the creation of structured debate

Generic Cognitive skills SCQF Level 10.

Retrieving a variety of primary and secondary sources relating to the study of the news media in the UK and internationally.

Using and developing a range of enhanced research and inquiry skills and practices associated with theoretical analyses, including engaging with and analysing a range of texts and electronic sources in the production of assessments relating to the news media.

Working independently with clarity of intellectual thought.

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills SCQF Level 10.

Communicating complex arguments and ideas effectively in both oral and written form through informal class discussions, engagement and debates, communication via the VLE and through the production of assessment

Producing journalistic artefacts to a high professional standard as part of assessments

Use a range of IT applications to support and enhance work

Engaging with VLE to access course calendar and module material.

Autonomy, Accountability and Working with others SCQF Level 10.

Exercising autonomy and initiative while fulfilling assessment criteria through research and the production of the assessment.


Engaging with peers, taking into account own and others’ roles and responsibilities in relation to preparation and discussion in seminar classes.

Developing and extending time management skills in the preparation for seminars and assessments.

Pre-requisites: Before undertaking this module the student should have undertaken the following:
Module Code:
Module Title:
Other:
Co-requisitesModule Code:
Module Title:

* Indicates that module descriptor is not published.

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Learning and Teaching
Student-centered exposition supported by video/online resources where theories and concepts are introduced and applications of knowledge are illustrated.

Seminars of small groups where feedback on lecture material is encouraged, areas of difficulty are identified and clarified.

Also using seminar papers to consolidate learning on specified topics.

Students given support to develop alternative methods of assessment such as short films/podcasts etc.

The students will be directed to appropriate source material related to a topic to carry out independent research that will then form part of an assessment.
Learning Activities
During completion of this module, the learning activities undertaken to achieve the module learning outcomes are stated below: 		Student Learning Hours
(Normally totalling 200 hours):
(Note: Learning hours include both contact hours and hours spent on other learning activities)
Lecture/Core Content Delivery24
Tutorial/Synchronous Support Activity12
Independent Study164
200 Hours Total

**Indicative Resources: (eg. Core text, journals, internet access)

The following materials form essential underpinning for the module content and ultimately for the learning outcomes:

Chomsky, N. and Hermann, E.S., (2010) Manufacturing Consent: the Political Economy of the Mass Media. Vintage

Klein, N. (2014), The Shock Doctrine. Penguin

McQuail, D. (2010). Mass Communication Theory. Sage Publications

McQuail, D (2013). Journalism and Society. Sage Publications

Powers, M. (2018) NGOs as Newsmakers: The Changing Landscape of International News (Reuters Institute Global Journalism Series), Columbia University Press

(**N.B. Although reading lists should include current publications, students are advised (particularly for material marked with an asterisk*) to wait until the start of session for confirmation of the most up-to-date material)

Engagement Requirements

In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement Procedure at the following link: Academic engagement procedure

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Supplemental Information

Programme BoardArts & Media
Assessment Results (Pass/Fail) No
Subject PanelArts & Media
ModeratorDr James Mahon
External ExaminerDr John Price
Accreditation Details
Version Number

1.02

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Assessment: (also refer to Assessment Outcomes Grids below)
Assessment 1 – A portfolio of digital journalistic content exploring news in an international context (LO3) - 50% of total mark
Assessment 2 - An essay that critically analyses and evaluates the range of theories around international news media (LOs 1 & 2) – 50% of total mark
(N.B. (i) Assessment Outcomes Grids for the module (one for each component) can be found below which clearly demonstrate how the learning outcomes of the module will be assessed.
(ii) An indicative schedule listing approximate times within the academic calendar when assessment is likely to feature will be provided within the Student Handbook.)

Assessment Outcome Grids (Footnote A.)

Component 1
Assessment Type (Footnote B.) Learning Outcome (1) Learning Outcome (2) Learning Outcome (3) Weighting (%) of Assessment ElementTimetabled Contact Hours
Portfolio of written work  check mark500

Component 2
Assessment Type (Footnote B.) Learning Outcome (1) Learning Outcome (2) Learning Outcome (3) Weighting (%) of Assessment ElementTimetabled Contact Hours
Essaycheck markcheck mark 500
Combined Total For All Components100% 0 hours

Footnotes
A. Referred to within Assessment Section above
B. Identified in the Learning Outcome Section above

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Note(s):
  1. More than one assessment method can be used to assess individual learning outcomes.
  2. Schools are responsible for determining student contact hours. Please refer to University Policy on contact hours (extract contained within section 10 of the Module Descriptor guidance note).
    This will normally be variable across Schools, dependent on Programmes &/or Professional requirements.

Equality and Diversity

UWS Equality and Diversity Policy
(N.B. Every effort will be made by the University to accommodate any equality and diversity issues brought to the attention of the School)

2014 University of the West of Scotland

University of the West of Scotland is a Registered Scottish Charity.

Charity number SC002520.

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