There are four ‘Short Papers’ assigned for this course, you should choose three of them. Please do not submit all four, this will not gain you extra marks. The target length for these paper is 800-1000 words (references are not included in the total word count).
Deadline: 5 Nov
Prompt: Answer section A and one question from section B.
Section A.
What are the features we look for when trying to distinguish ‘mass media’ from other types of media and communication?
Section B.
Answer one of the following:
Notes: Based on three readings covered in sessions 3~6.
Deadline: 26 Nov
Prompt:
Notes: Based on two readings covered in sessions 7,8 and 9
Deadline: 17 Dec
Prompt:
Choose a television station in your home country.
Investigate and explain:
Who (or what) owns the company you have chosen? What other media outlets (tv channels, websites, radio stations etc) do they control/own (if any) ?
What laws in your country regulate the ownership and control of television broadcasting companies? Briefly explain what requirements and restrictions exist for those who own and control such companies?
Note: Media ownership laws can be fairly complicated, please don’t go into great detail. Try to summarise the main provisions of the law(s) and to explain their overall ‘intent’ (i.e. why does this law exist and what is its aim?)
Notes: Based on two readings covered in sessions 10, 11 and 12
Deadline: 21 Jan
Prompt: How has the growth of the internet changed ‘politics’? Write briefly about two of the following aspects:
Notes: Based on three readings covered in sessions 13 and 14.