Media and Public Relations

Module title FM5605: MA Media and Public Relations Major Project
Credits 60
For academic year 2019-20
Contact and private study time Lectures + Tutorials 25

Private Study 575 Total 600
Assessment Method Proportion of marks
Coursework 1 (Plan) 10%
Coursework 2 (Project) 90%

Introduction/aims/background

The aims of this module are:

• To produce a substantial piece of research on a topic agreed with a supervisor in the area of Media and Public Relations.

• To enable students to plan, design, and set targets for a substantive research project.

• To culminate the students’ study with a dissertation that combines advanced critical skills, a systematic understanding of appropriate research techniques and a comprehensive understanding of relevant approaches and debates.

• To produce written dissertations that are supported by evidence, are scholarly, that present a high level of independent learning and constitute a contribution to knowledge in the field of Media and Public Relations.

The Main Learning Outcomes are:

• Students will be able to demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of theoretical and research skills appropriate to M level dissertation work.
• Students will be able to demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of leading research and methods in the field of Media and Public Relations.
• Students will be able to demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of sustained consideration of the debates, theories and PR practices raised by taught modules of the MA programme.
• Students will be able to demonstrate advanced knowledge of the processes involved in proposing a piece of research.
• Students will be able to combine independent thought, self-reflection, initiative, creativity, research skills and critical understanding in a sustained piece of research.
• Students will be able to demonstrate good self-management and initiative skills evidenced in the organisation and implementation of a substantive research

Methods of Teaching
• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Seminars

This Module Runs in terms 2 and 3 (2020)

Module Content

Lecture: Introduction to the Major Project.
This lecture introduces you to the dissertation module, what is expected of a dissertation, what the schedule will be and prepares you for the proposal plan that is due in March.

Lecture: Methods and Methodologies I
This lecture revisits key questions around PR tools, media, branding and cultural values and how that shapes PR messaging.

This lecture and seminar looks at some key questions around methods (which generate data) and methodologies (which are the conceptual frames that analyse data).
We look at the process of doing a literature review and the structure of the thesis.

Lecture/Seminar: Methods and Methodologies II
This lecture and seminar looks at the question of theory, why we need it as well as the difference between gathering data (methods) and interpreting data (methodologies). It also explores the literature review necessary for your thesis and its structure.

Lecture/Seminar: Methods and Methodologies III
This lecture and seminar takes your through getting research ethics approval (if necessary, depending on whether you are gathering original data from identifiable people – e.g. doing interviews) and using the Nexis tool for archive analysis of newspaper reports

In addition to these lectures you will have one-to-one tutorials with both supervisors in terms 2 and 3.

Assessments

1. Project Proposal
Approximately 4 page project proposal.
Deadline:

2. Dissertation in Two Parts:
Theoretical Analysis (14000) words
Deadline: