Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
The course provides students with an understanding of different theories of mass media systems, their philosophical foundations and basic principles. It looks at varying relationships of mass media to politics and society and their important role in social and political change. The media systems of different countries and regions, as well as global media issues are addressed.
This course is designed to introduce students to the theoretical and practical issues that inform international journalism and mass communication. Specifically, the course examines the different ways journalism is practised in different cultures and explores the underlying factors that influence such practices, including technological changes that have transformed journalistic practices across the world.
STUDENTS UNDERTAKING INTERNSHIPS AND WORK EXPERIENCE: Students undertaking internships and work experience should make every effort to avoid clashes with tutorials and assessment due dates. Where a clash with assessment occurs, students may be eligible to apply for an extension of assessment due date.
Course requirements
Assumed background
It is assumed that students enrolled in this course would have successfully completed an introductory journalism course or any other Level-1 undergraduate Journalism or Arts course in an approved university in Australia or overseas.
It is also assumed that: students already have some basic computer literacy skills; students are competent with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint; and students are able to use email and Web browsers. Another basic assumption is that students will check their UQ student email account (e.g., name@uqconnect.edu.au) regularly for any urgent information or changes relating to this course.
It is also assumed thatﾠstudents who undertake this course of study will have achieved a university entrance level standard of written and spoken English, including grammar and spelling.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Associate Professor Levi Obijiofor
Tutor
Dr Kylie Navuku
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Additional Timetable Information
Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with:
- Your name
- Your student ID
- The course code
- A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)
- Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP
Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive and well-founded knowledge of journalistic practices andﾠmedia systems in different countries across the world. This includes the exploration of global media issues such as respect for press freedom and free speech, andﾠthe varying relationships of news media to politics and society, recognising various mechanisms of media control in different countries.ﾠThe courseﾠanalyses the impact of new technologies on journalistic practices across the world and the factors that influence foreign news coverage in various cultures, seeking toﾠbroaden students' knowledge of theﾠuse of the Internet as a research tool and as anﾠinformation resource.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
critically examine varying systems of news media in different countries;
LO2.
identify various levels of press freedom and mechanisms of media control in various countries;
LO3.
understand how new technologies impact journalistic practices, especially foreign news reporting and the factors that influence the coverage of foreign events across cultures;
LO4.
compare and contrast news media systems across cultures;
LO5.
utilise a variety of research tools, including scholarly journals and the Internet.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Tutorial Participation
|
10% |
Week 2 - Week 13 |
| Essay/ Critique | Problem-Based Assessment Task | 40% 1,000 words maximum |
13/09/2024 4:00 pm
This task will be posted on Blackboard at 4pm on Monday, 9 September 2024. All times listed are Brisbane times. |
| Examination |
End-of-Semester Examination
|
50% |
End of Semester Exam Period 2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024 |
Assessment details
Tutorial Participation
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
Week 2 - Week 13
Task description
Participation in tutorials is an important element of learning in this course. To do well, you need to participate actively in tutorials. Rolls will be taken during tutorials.
Participation will be measured by your verbal contribution in class and your ability to undertake assigned tasks. You may miss one tutorial without penalty; please refer to the 'Deferral or extension' section below for more information.
Relevant reading material will be posted on Blackboard to assist you to achieve your learning objectives. Students are required to read specified material intended for discussion in a particular tutorial session and be prepared to actively participate in tutorial discussion. Important issues about the course and assessment tasks will be discussed in tutorial sessions. It is essential that you attend tutorial classes and be prepared to make valuable contributions to the discussions.
USE OF AI/Machine Translation: This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
You may miss one tutorial without penalty but in excess of one missed tutorial, you will be required to provide supporting evidence (as per the UQ extension guidelines) to the course coordinator via email. Failing to do this, you will lose marks for non-participation. Students who miss a tutorial and provide appropriate supporting evidence will be required to complete a substitute task. Details will be available on Blackboard.
Late submission
Late submission is not possible for this piece of assessment.
Problem-Based Assessment Task
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40% 1,000 words maximum
- Due date
13/09/2024 4:00 pm
This task will be posted on Blackboard at 4pm on Monday, 9 September 2024. All times listed are Brisbane times.
Task description
The topic of the Problem-Based Assessment Task will be covered in lecture and/or tutorial before the task is administered to students.
The task will be released on Blackboard on Monday, 9 September 2024 at 4pm.
The due date to submit the assignment is Friday, 13 September 2024 at 4pm.
WORD LIMIT: The limit for this assignment is 1,000 words (MAXIMUM). There is no 10% leeway.
SUBMISSION: Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA: Please see the Blackboard for detailed Assessment Criteria.
MARKS AND FEEDBACK: You will receive an email from the Course Coordinator to advise when your marks and feedback are ready in Grade Centre.
USE OF AI/Machine Translation: This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Please submit via Turnitin on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
End-of-Semester Examination
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
The purpose of the End-of-Semester Examination is to test your knowledge and understanding of the issues covered in this course -- in lectures, tutorials, and specified reading material. Accordingly, the examination will cover topics taught in lectures, tutorials, and specified topics taken from any specified reading material.
The examination will comprise of short-answer essay questions.
The examination has a value of 50%.
The End-of-Semester Examination will be scheduled by the Central Examinations Office. The examination will occur during the End-of-Semester Examination period.
It will be a Closed Book examination – no written materials will be permitted. The examination will be paper based.
PLEASE NOTE: Guidelines for the End-of-Semester Examination will be presented at the final lecture in Week 13. Please endeavour to attend the lecture for advice on how you should prepare for the examination.
USE OF AI/Machine Translation: This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Materials | None |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- PLEASE NOTE: The approved referencing style to be used for assignments in this course is the APA referencing style (7th edition). APA stands for American Psychological Association.
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (22 Jul - 28 Jul) |
Lecture |
Week 1 Lecture: Introduction to the course, the structure of lectures and tutorials, the nature of assignments and assessment criteria -- Levi Obijiofor This lecture provides you with an overview of the course, including topics that will be covered in lectures and tutorials, and a brief introduction to the assessment tasks. Powerpoint slides of lectures will be posted on Blackboard, as well as the ECHO360 audio of lectures. Tutorial slides will also be posted on Blackboard. |
Tutorial |
Week 1: NO TUTORIALS Tutorials start in Week 2. |
|
Week 2 (29 Jul - 04 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 2 Lecture: How Australian news media report the world -- Levi Obijiofor READINGS Lecture slides and audio will be posted on Blackboard. |
Tutorial |
Week 2 Tutorial: Tutorials start this week. We will present an overview of tutorials, lectures, as well as the guidelines for assessment tasks. |
|
Week 3 (05 Aug - 11 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 3 Lecture: Dangers of modern war reporting -- Levi Obijiofor READINGS Lecture slides and audio will be posted on Blackboard. |
Tutorial |
Week 3 Tutorial: In this week's tutorial, we shall examine the question: Who is a foreign correspondent? |
|
Week 4 (12 Aug - 18 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 4: NO LECTURE DUE TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY You are encouraged to engage in self-directed reading and learning. |
Tutorial |
Week 4: NO TUTORIALS DUE TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY You are encouraged to engage in self-directed reading and learning. |
|
Week 5 (19 Aug - 25 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 5 Lecture: Journalists' safety, risk assessment, and strategies for surviving in a dangerous zone -- Levi Obijiofor READINGS Lecture slides and audio will be available on Blackboard. |
Tutorial |
Week 5 Tutorial: This tutorial will discuss risk assessment, why it is important to freelance foreign correspondents, and challenges of undertaking risk assessment in a 24-hour news environment. |
|
Week 6 (26 Aug - 01 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 6 Lecture: Doing international journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of North Korea and South Korea -- Guest Lecturer: Dr Richard Murray READINGS Lecture slides and audio will be available on Blackboard. |
Tutorial |
Week 6 Tutorial: This week's tutorial will analyse insights presented by ABC Foreign Correspondent Isabella Higgins in a Reuters Institute video interview titled Putting Indigenous rights on the news agenda. The video is one hour long but we will only watch a segment of the interview and discuss issues that emerged from that interview. The video link is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPcvPcd9oQQ. Please endeavour to watch the video and be prepared to participate in the tutorial discussion. |
|
Week 7 (02 Sep - 08 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 7 Lecture: Special lecture to clarify the Problem-Based Assessment Task -- Levi Obijiofor READINGS Lecture slides and audio will be available on Blackboard. |
Tutorial |
Week 7 Tutorial: This week's tutorial will discuss initial steps a journalist should take before taking up appointment as a foreign correspondent. |
|
Week 8 (09 Sep - 15 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 8: Lecture: Guerrilla journalism: Working as a journalist in a country under military dictatorship -- Levi Obijiofor READINGS Lecture slides and audio will be available on Blackboard. Read -- Olukotun, Ayo (2002). Authoritarian state, crisis of democratization and the underground media in Nigeria. Foreign Affairs, 101, pp. 317-342. Photocopy of article is on Blackboard. Read -- Olorunyomi, Dapo (1996). Defiant publishing in Nigeria. Media Studies Journal. Available at: http://www.lehigh.edu/~jl0d/J246-99/nigeria96.html |
Tutorial |
Week 8 Tutorial: In this tutorial, we will issues relating to cultural bias in international news reporting, drawing on Western media reportage of Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East, and other parts of the world. |
|
Week 9 (16 Sep - 22 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 9 Lecture: Politics of the debate over a New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) -- Levi Obijiofo READINGS Lecture slides and audio will be available on Blackboard. Read -- Levi Obijiofor’s summary of the debate: The politics of the New World Information and Communication Order. Available on Blackboard. Read -- Many Voices, One World: Towards a new more just and more efficient world information and communication order (2004). Report by the International Commission for the Study of Communication Problems. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. Read also: Conclusions and Recommendations , pages 253-275. LIBRARY CALL NUMBER: HM1206 .I58 2004. |
Tutorial |
Week 9 Tutorial: This tutorial will discuss challenges that confront foreign correspondents reporting from other cultures: Their lives, times, tasks, and living conditions. |
|
Mid Sem break (23 Sep - 29 Sep) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 10 (30 Sep - 06 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 10 Lecture: International environmental journalism & mass communication -- Guest Lecturer: Dr Kylie Navuku READINGS Lecture slides and audio will be available on Blackboard. |
Tutorial |
Week 10 Tutorial: This tutorial will discuss foreign correspondents and challenges of technology. RECOMMENDED READINGS The following recommended readings are posted on Blackboard. Read -- Gatekeeping, gatewatching, real-time feedback -- New challenges for journalism -- by Axel Bruns Read -- Future of journalism -- In an age of digital media and economic uncertainty -- by Bob Franklin Read -- User-generated visibility -- Secondary gatekeeping in a shared media space -- by Jane B. Singer |
|
Week 11 (07 Oct - 13 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 11 Lecture: Anne Kruger reflects on her experiences working for the CNN in Hong Kong during SARS, including coverage of the Occupy Central protests, as well as looking at how Australia imported falsehoods from the US for elections and during COVID. READINGS Lecture slides and audio will be available on Blackboard. |
Tutorial |
Week 11: NO TUTORIALS DUE TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY |
|
Week 12 (14 Oct - 20 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 12 Lecture: Media roles in Africa -- Levi Obijiofor READINGS Lecture slides and audio will be available on Blackboard. |
Tutorial |
Week 12 Tutorial: This tutorial reflects on strategies of war coverage, such as "Pool System" and "Embedded System" of war reporting. The tutorial will also examine ethical and moral challenges of serving as an "embedded" journalist during a war. |
|
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 13 Lecture: a). End-of-Semester Examination guidelines and preparation b). Course and Teaching Evaluation -- Student Evaluation of Course and Teaching (SECaT) Survey. Students will be requested to complete the Course and Teaching Evaluation Surveys (SECaT). |
Tutorial |
Week 13 Tutorial: DROP-IN TUTORIAL: Students are encouraged to attend this week's drop-in tutorial to ask any question about the course. The tutorial is not compulsory and students who do not attend will not lose any mark for absence. |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.