Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE ACA2007

 
TITLE Media Literacy and Political Literacy for Adults

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Arts, Open Communities and Adult Education

 
DESCRIPTION The first part of the study-unit will give a general outline that helps define the nature of political and media discourses immersed in historical context, intended to show developments and continuities in both.
The course will depart from an analysis of the outlines and purposes of the classic Latin text “De Bello Gallico” by Julius Ceasar, which will serve as an introduction to what constitutes political discourse, its constructs, and its subordination to the need to drive home the message to a wide audience.

Following will be an explanation of the role that printing played in the Lutheran revolution and how the emergence of newspapers played an essential role in the creation of a ‘public’ discourse that eventually led to revolution in America and Europe.
The discussion will progress on the role played by the media following September 11th attack and the run-up towards the War on Iraq in 2001 and end with the role played by social media during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the process, students will become acquainted with key concepts that dominate current discourse about politics and the media.

In the second part of the study-unit, the students will explore how to approach the main themes in political and media literacy within the context of adult education; how to draw examples from current affairs and lay a critical analysis that relies on a mix of theory and experience; and, how to create out of such analysis a constructive debate with adults.

Study-Unit Aims:

This study-unit aims to to provide students with knowledge and skills required to:
1. Understand the nature of political and media discourses;
2. Discern the role played by the media in major historical and concurrent events (e.g,, September 11th attack, War on Iraq, COVID-19 pandemic, etc.);
3. Contribute to adult media and political literacy initiatives through a constructive debate with adult learners.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. Discuss key concepts and tenets that can inform the analysis of political and media discourses;
2. Identify agendas and stakeholders at play in political and media discourses; and
3. List key elements of adult media and political literacy initiatives.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. Critically analyze news agendas, production and dissemination;
2. Constructively debate historical and concurrent events and issues; and
3. Formulate adult learning initiatives in political and media literacy.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Lazere. D. (2013). Thinking Critically about Media and Politics. Routledge.
- Potter W. J. (2021). Media Literacy (10th edition). SAGE. (2011 edition available; suggested 2013 edition for acquisition on 10.02.22)

Supplementary Readings:

- Sommerwille, C.J. (1999). How the News Us Dumb: The Death of Wisdom in an Information Society. IVP Books.
- Thiele L.P. (2003). Thinking Politics: Perspectives in Ancient, Modern and Postmodern Political Theory (2nd edition). Chatham House Publishers.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation SEM2 Yes 40%
Oral and Written Exercises SEM2 Yes 60%

 
LECTURER/S Maria M. Brown (Co-ord.)
Alexander Joseph Farrugia

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit