Course Title: Print in the Media Spectrum

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Print in the Media Spectrum

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Coordinator: John Magnik

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9462

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

Course Coordinator Location: Bldg 515, Room 515.1.02B, 25 Dawson Street, Brunswick


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

Print has traditionally been the most significant technology used in the media spectrum, and continues to play a major role. However the convergence of other technologies has made more complex the relationship between competing media and communication methodologies.
Print and other dimensions of the graphic technology industry are examined so that students understand fundamentals such as technical, social, political and economic contexts, definitions of the media spectrum, and the social and cultural role of books and newspapers.
Developing an elementary understanding of the process for building future scenarios, from aspects of technical, political and social change, will be a feature of the course. This feature will be further developed throughout other courses in the program.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Capabilities developed by this course include, but are not limited to:
• Contextual capabilities
- Industry in geographic, economic and competitive context
- Newspapers and books in historic cultural context
- Current industry status in the context of industry change
• Adaptive capability
- Historic change related to forecast change based on perception of future scenarios
• Ability to research, analyse and interpret
- Competitive environment and likely impact
- Global versus local market
- Market and supply chain structures
• Cooperation in joint (team) research project
- Teamwork skills
- Interpersonal communication skills


By undertaking this Course, you can expect to:
• Understand the Australian media spectrum, its size and structure, in a global context.
• Understand the competing parts of the media spectrum, of which print is but one methodology.
• Understand linkages between spectrum segments and the social/political contexts in Australia.
• Anticipate competitive threats to the printed (conventional) word, with particular emphasis on the role of books and newspapers.
• Understand how to build possible future industry scenarios to allow students to anticipate likely changes to participating organisations.


Overview of Learning Activities

Proposed learning activities may include:
• Lectures (formal)
• Discussion groups (informal)
• Research
• International and domestic
• Internet
• Joint (team-based) projects
• Class presentation
• Peer assessment and feedback (informal)


Overview of Learning Resources

There is no prescribed text for this course however, reading material is given in early Topic Guides and further reading will be developed as the semester progresses via lecturer and student participation on Blackboard.


Overview of Assessment

Theory Assessment – Assignment 1
This will test an understanding of the course material. Assessment criteria will be provided on the first day of the course.
Collaborative major research team presentation – Assignment 2
The ability of students to work in teams yet to provide significant individual input to research/presentation through the semester. Evaluation will be based on:-
Peer Review by other students of a students involvement with and contribution to, the project – 7.5% individual assessment.
Collaborative review of the project presentation by an industry expert, in collaboration with the lecturer – 12.5% collaborative assessment.
Collaborative review of the project report and presentation by the lecturer – 10% collaborative assessment.
Individual assessment by the lecturer of each student’s involvement with and contribution to, the project – 10% individual assessment.
Examination
Assessment criteria will be provided at least 3 weeks before the exam.