Unit rationale, description and aim

All politics is mediated through different media lenses. In recent decades the number of different media outlets and approaches to covering the news has radically altered. The rationale for this unit is to help students understand the interplay between politics, media and the public.

This unit explores the complex interplay between politics and the media. It examines how the media impacts politics - through topics such as election coverage, political journalism and media effects; how politics impacts media - through topics such as press regulation and public broadcasting; and how this interaction plays out by looking at issues around  political advertising and communication; misinformation & fake news; free speech and censorship; humour/satire and social media. The unit pays particular attention to what the move from traditional to digital communications has meant for democratic politics.

At a time when the media and communications industries seem more pervasive in political life than ever before, this unit aims to help  students make sense of the shifting media and political landscape in Australia and beyond.

2026 10

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.

Prerequisites

Nil

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Describe the nature and significance of the relati...

Learning Outcome 01

Describe the nature and significance of the relationship between politics and the media
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2

Critically discuss diverse political perspectives ...

Learning Outcome 02

Critically discuss diverse political perspectives on the shifting relationship between politics, the media, and community trust in political processes.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC6, GC7

Apply concepts and theories used in the study of p...

Learning Outcome 03

Apply concepts and theories used in the study of political science to the analysis of interests, ideas, institutions and political behaviour in a way that informs practices of engaged citizenship
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC7

Demonstrate the capacity to Employ relevant resear...

Learning Outcome 04

Demonstrate the capacity to Employ relevant research techniques to gather and analyse ethical solutions to political problems through evidence-based argument and evaluation of secondary sources. Alternatively – Analyse political problems through research informed evidence-based argument and evaluation of sources
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC7, GC9, GC10, GC11

Content

Topics will include: 

  • Print media and news production 
  • Digital media 
  • Communications theories 
  • Political communications 
  • Political journalism 
  • Public broadcasting 
  • Press regulation and ownership of media 
  • Foreign interference in election campaigns
  • Artificial intelligence and political communications
  • Relationship between politics and the media, particularly with respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and/or marginalised, disadvantaged, and vulnerable communities
  • Social media and activism 
  • Research techniques for investigating topics on politics and media/communications

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment tasks for this unit have been designed to contribute to high quality student learning by both helping students learn (assessment for learning), and by measuring explicit evidence of their learning (assessment of learning). Assessments have been developed to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. These have been designed so that they use a variety of tasks to measure the different learning outcomes at a level suitable for second year study in politics and international relations.  

The quizzes require students to demonstrate understanding of content and debates covered in lectures, tutorials and readings. The media monitoring task requires students to make connections between the media around us and the analytical frameworks about politics and communication studied in the unit. The major research task is a written task that requires student to use both research and analytical skills to investigate media interests, ideas, institutions and political behaviours.

The three assessments work together by combining core media literacy skills (media monitoring) with an understanding of key theories/frameworks (quizzes) and then bringing these two skills together in the final research task.

Overview of assessments

Assessment 1: Quizzes Students are required to d...

Assessment 1: Quizzes

Students are required to demonstrate an understanding of the contents and debates in the lectures and readings, as well as the context in which these debates operate, through a series of three quizzes throughout the semester.

Weighting

15%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2

Assessment 2: Media monitoring Students will be ...

Assessment 2: Media monitoring

Students will be required to actively monitor the media, and provide 3 short reports (200 words each) across the course of the semester, including an oral component in the tutorial, and then a final overarching report at the end of semester, which may also include an oral component.

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC3, GC6, GC7, GC9, GC10, GC11

Assessment 3: Major written task/research task S...

Assessment 3: Major written task/research task

Students are required to apply research skills as well as concepts and theories used in the study of political science to the analysis of media interests, ideas, institutions and political behaviour. 

Weighting

45%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC3, GC6, GC7, GC9, GC10, GC11

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit provides a variety of learning experiences to engage students and facilitate learning. Lectures provide content, introduce theories and outline case studies that illustrate the connection between media and politics. They provide a structured framework that ensures all students receive essential knowledge in a cohesive manner, setting the stage for deeper exploration in tutorials. Students benefit from a structured approach to learning, where foundational concepts are clearly articulated and contextualized. This approach supports students in developing a comprehensive understanding before engaging in critical discussions and practical exercises

In tutorials students will benefit from discussing contemporary events and topics, responding to stimulating questions and discussions, trying hands-on research techniques, and other skills development exercises in a collaborative or social learning environment.

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Boczkowski, Pablo J. and Papacharissii, Zizi (eds.) (2018) Trump and the Media. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 

Chadwick, Andrew (2017) The Hybrid Media System: Politics and Power. 2nd edition. New York: Oxford University Press. 

Esser, Frank and Stromback, Jesper (eds.) (2014) Mediatization of Politics: Understanding the Transformation of Western Democracies. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Hallin, Daniel C. and Mancini, Paolo (eds.) (2011) Comparing Media Systems Beyond the Western World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

Highfield, Tim (2016) Social Media and Everyday Politics. Cambridge: Polity. 

Iyengar, Shanto (2015) Media Politics: A Citizen’s Guide. 3rd edition. New York: W.W. Norton. 

Kenski, Kate and Jamieson, Kathleen Hall (2017) The Oxford Handbook of Political Communication. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

McNair, Brian, Flew, Terry, Harrington, Stephen and Swift, Adam (2017) Politics, Media and Democracy in Australia: Public and Producer Perceptions of the Political Public Sphere. New York: Routledge.  

Papacharissi, Zizi (2014) Affective Publics: Sentiment, Technology, and Politics. Oxford: Oxford Unviersity Press. 

Young, Sally (2011) How Australia Decides: Election Reporting and the Media. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

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