Accredited Level 3 diploma in Media Studies

This course is designed to provide an sound theoretical and practical introduction to the complex and wide ranging subject of Media Studies. It will prepare the student for continuing studies at a higher level in Media Studies and also range of other subjects. It will be of interest to students who aim for a career in traditional media as journalist or in the marketing arena. A particular feature of the subject is the wide range of influences and techniques it draws upon. From Art to Anthropology and from Economics to Psychology, this subject borrows from them all and makes sense of the world around us.

There are ten modules within this course. They combined to cover the broad range of subjects which comprises Media Studies today. The recommended time of study for each unit is 20 hours.

Unit 01: Media History

This unit examines the changes in the media from the birth of Media Studies as an academic discipline in the ’60s to the immediate and overwhelming newsfeeds of present day. We will look at how businesses, politicians, pressure groups and technology has shaped the media we see around us. From the McCarthy anti-communist propaganda of the US and the stand against permissiveness in 70s UK to Twitter and 24 hour News. We will define how and what we will study throughout the rest of the course and look to the future of media and how it may grow and develop.

Unit 02: Media Ethics

We now examine the ethical issues relating to the media. Looking at ownership of large swathes of popular media by a few individuals, censorship (or lack of it), regulation and deregulation. “In the public interest” is a term widely used in the UK to justify practices which some may see as unethical – but who chooses?

Unit 03: Media and Television

Despite the rise of online and mobile communication, the television is still by far the largest media platform in the developed world. Its influence on individuals, families and communities is tremendous. Revenues from marketing and advertising run into billions. We look in this unit at television in the US, UK and other countries. Paying particular interest on the young viewers as they become a major source of revenue for the future.

Unit 04: Audio Production

A famous anecdote quotes someone as answering why they preferred Radio to Television “Because the pictures are better”. The power of audio production cannot be underestimated; not just radio but film and animation, commercial production, software, games and more. We will look at the influence new technological developments are having on the sounds that accompany and describe the world around us.

Unit 05: Photography and Typography

We now turn to verbal and non-verbal communication. The specifics and history of typography, designing to get the message across. Using photographic images to inform and misinform. We will look at the popular tools of Infographics and data presentation.

Unit 06: Mass Communication

This unit deals focuses on the process of mass communication. Specifically it introduces students to the theoretical components of the mass communication process. It also addresses the social and cultural role of mass media, as well as the influence of economics and government on the media.

Unit 07: Journalism

This unit looks at the process of being a Journalist. This can be thought of as a set of discrete steps: Planning, Research, Processing and Presenting information. This process is tempered by external influences: the employer may have deadlines or legal processes themselves. There may be issues of reliability of sources, ethical issues surrounding accountability and harm to others. Journalists find themselves in difficult situations and often face dilemmas ordinary bystanders do not.

Unit 08: New Media Development

The emergence of the personal computer in the 80s and 90s has led to a branch called “New Media”. This is primarily, but not solely digital. It is not necessarily internet based, but has at its core the idea of the immediacy and sharing that this expansion opened up. We will look at important researchers and experimental artists and creators and consider the future of media with new technologies.

Unit 09: Media and Web Design

Sitting firmly between “New Media” and “Global Media”, Media and Web Design this unit looks at the importance of the World Wide Web in changing the way messages, news and information in general are communicated. We will look at design of web pages and how this has effected media growth in recent years.

Unit 10: Global Media

In this module we will examine how the spread of information and the ease in which it can be communicated around the globe has created a dichotomy. The power of businesses and governments spreading out throughout the globe, sending their economic and cultural messages far and wide. In opposition, individuals and small local groups now have a voice which can be heard far and wide.

Accreditation

The course is affiliated from ABC Awards by Oxford Distance Learning College and means that the contents and quality of the course meets the standards endorsed by Ofqual for Level 3 courses. Upon successful completion the student will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from ABC awards, together with a learner unit summary which has details and information about the assessment and course.

There are two written assignments totalling approximately 3000 words. One to be completed after Unit 05 and the other to be completed at the end of the course. Students need to pass both these assignments to complete the course successfully.

There are three criteria for assessment:

• Theoretical Knowledge/Understanding
• Practical Implications
• Integration of Theory and Practice