Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Political Communication

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM2058

City Campus

Postgraduate

335H Applied Communication

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008

COMM2058

City Campus

Postgraduate

345H Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 1 2022

Course Coordinator: Dr John Postill

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 5007

Course Coordinator Email: john.postill@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 9 Level 5

Course Coordinator Availability: Please check with course coordinator


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None.


Course Description

This course introduces you to the principles and practices of political communication. During the course you will examine globalisation and new technologies, and the way these dramatic changes affect civic engagement and political participation. You will also explore the effects of political communication, including concrete evidence regarding persuasion, political beliefs and behaviour.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES


Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • describe and interpret the role of communication in governance and citizenship in liberal democracies domestically and internationally;
  • identify and analyse the influence of globalisation, mass media and new technologies in transforming political communications around the globe; and
  • critically analyse the effects of political communication on civic engagement, political participation and voter turnout.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in learning that involves a range of activities such as studios, project work, lectures, tutorials, class discussion, individual and group activities.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.

The University Library has extensive resources for Media and Communication students. The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies http://rmit.libguides.com/media-and-communication.

The Library provides guides on academic referencing: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/library/referencing and subject specialist help via your Liaison Librarian.


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course learning outcomes.

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for review online: Assessment

ASSESSMENT TASKS

More detailed guidelines are available on Canvas

1. Report  30%

You will write a report on a recent election, which will demonstrate both an understanding of the political process in the country being written about as well as the nation’s communication channels and topics of public interest.

This assessment will cover the following course learning outcome:

  • Describe and interpret the role of communication in governance and citizenship in liberal democracies domestically and internationally

 

2. Feature article 30%

You will write a feature article for an allocated publication outlet. This will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between politics and media in the country of choice.

This assessment will cover the following course learning outcomes:

  • Describe and interpret the role of communication in governance and citizenship in liberal democracies domestically and internationally
  • Critically analyse the effects of political communication on civic engagement, political participation and voter turnout.

 

3. Essay 40%

Write a 1,500-word essay on a political communication topic. Essay questions will be handed out in class. 

This assessment will cover the following course learning outcomes:

  • Identify and analyse the influence of globalisation, mass media and new technologies in transforming political communications around the globe
  • Describe and interpret the role of communication in governance and citizenship in liberal democracies domestically and internationally