Media, Journalism: Christian Perspectives

Objectivity is a basic media value. Is it dead in our post-modern era?
Using a framework derived from knowledge of the media and from the Christain tradition, this unit looks at the themes of truth and persuasion in the context of contemporary media, examining specific practical and ethical issues faced by media parctitioners such as democratization of the media, blogging, objectivity vs subjectivity, accusations of media bias, and the impact of reality TV.

When & Where Offered:

Summer 2008, Maccquarie University Campus.
Classes will be held in February 2008 as follows: February 11-14 & 19-22 February, 9am - 1:30pm each day.  Plus one day in March/April to be negotiated.

Lecturers

Toni Hassan, B.A. Comm., Dip.Int. Development
Toni Hassan is the Media and Advocacy Manager for Anglicare Canberra and Goulburn. She lives in Canberra with her husband and their two children. Toni is a former producer and reporter for ABC Radio Current Affairs (the flagship programs AM, The World Today and PM), journalist for the International Herald Tribune and Reuters, and former presenter of Radio National's The Religion Report. She is passionate about using media to give the disenfrachised a voice. In 2001 she won a Walkley Award for her radio feature on the health of asylum seekers in Australian detention. In her spare time Toni works as a volunteer guide at the National Gallery of Australia.  

Dr Greg Clarke, B.A. Hons, PhD

Greg is Director of Macquarie Christian Studies Institute and a founding director of the Centre for Public Christianity in Sydney. His doctorate is in literature (University of Sydney) and his area of research interest is the intersections between literature and theology. Greg has lectured at the University of New South Wales, Macquarie University and Moore Theological College. He lives in Botany with his wife Amelia and their three children

A number of guest speakers will also be presenting sessions in this unit.

Unit Code & Details

IN431 MCSI 250) Media & Journalism: Christian Perspectives
This unit is equivalent to a standard semester unit at 2nd year level.  For example it is worth:
3 credit points at 200 level towards Maccquarie University undergraduate degrees
4 credit points at 400 level towards Australian College of Theology undergraduate degrees.
For advice on how to credit this subject to other institutions please contact our advisor.

Prerequisites: the equivalent of one semester full time study (4 subjects) of university level study should be completed before enrolling in this subject.  (Students not meeting this prerequisite can request permission from MCSI Dean to enrol)

Unit Content /Lecture Topics

Part 1: What is Truth? The Possibilities and Limits of Truth in the Postmodern Era

1. The Postmodern Epistemological Context

2. Theological and Contemporary Perspectives on Truth and Interpretation

3. Contemporary Issues for the Media:

􀂾 Objectivity vs Subjectivity

􀂾 Reality vs Construction

􀂾 Privacy vs Public Interest

􀂾 Relevance vs Substance

􀂾 Accusations of Media Bias

􀂾 The Influence of Powerful Stakeholders (Media owners,

governments etc)

􀂾 The Ethics of Information Gathering

􀂾 Shaping Opinion vs Propaganda and Polemics

􀂾 The Medium is the Message

Part 2: T he Possibilities and Limits of Truthful Media Communication in an

Information Age

Case Study 1: News Reporting

Case Study 2: Advertising

Case Study 3: Reality Television

Case Study 4: Current issue

Assessment:

1. Media Text Analysis (1500 words) (30%)

2. Reflective Paper on a contemporary issue in the media (2000 words) (40%)
3. 45 minute seminar presentation on one of the case study topics [equivalent of 1,000 words] and submission of Powerpoint pack that includes at least 500 word summary) (30%) 

Textbooks & Reading 

A Book of Readings will be available for purchase by students for use in this subject

Suggested Additional Reading:

Gordon, David, et al. 1996. Controversies in Media Ethics. New York: Longman.

Grossberg, Laurence, et al. 1998. Mediamaking. Mass Media in a Popular Culture. Thousand Oaks, Cal: Sage.
Hendershot, Heather. 2004. Shaking the World for Jesus: Media and Conservative Evangelical Culture. Chicago: University of Chicago Press

Horsfield, Peter 2002. The Mediated Spirit. CD-ROM, Melbourne: The Commission forr Mission, Uniting Church of Australia.

Kintz, L. & Lesage, J. 1998 Media, Culture, and the Religious Right. University of Minnesota Press.

Lumby, Catherine. 1999. Gotcha! Life in a Tabloid World. St Leonard's, NSW: Allen & Unwin.

Messaris, Paul. 1997. Visual Persuasion: the Role of Images in Advertising. Thousand Oaks, Cal: Sage.

Olasky, Marvin. 1996. Telling the Truth. How to Revitalize Christian Journalism. Wheaton: Crossway.
Postman, Neil. 1986. Amusing Ourselves to Death. Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. London: Methuen.
Rivers, Caryl. 1996. Slick Spins and Fractured Facts: How Cultural Myths Distort the News. New York: Columbia University Press.
Stevenson, N. 1995. Understanding Media Cultures. Social Theory and Mass Communication. London: Sage.

Wark, McKenzie. 1994. Virtual Geography. Living with Global Media Events. Bloomington, Ind. Indiana University Press.