Module SPRT2311: Media, Sport and Society

Department: Sociology (Sport)

SPRT2311: Media, Sport and Society

Prerequisites

• Sport, Culture and Society (SPRT1271) or Introduction to Research (SOCI1321)

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To provide a critical analysis and critique of the relationship between the media, sport and society;
• To provide a critical understanding of the production and consumption of media-sport texts;
• To build on knowledge and understanding gained in the Level 1 module 'Sport Culture and Society' or 'Introduction to Research', with particular reference to the relationship between the media, sport and society and the construction and representation of social issues by the media;
• To complement (where relevant) methodological and theoretical work undertaken in the Level 2 modules (e.g., Sports Policy & Sports Development, Sport, Crime and Deviance).

Content

• The curriculum is delivered as a rolling programme of lectures, practicals, workshops and seminars which together are designed to complement each other.
• The indicative content of the module can be summarised as follows: the relationship between the media, sport and society; the political economy and the production issues, processes and techniques involved in the making of media texts; the content and messages of media texts and theories concerning the audience reception of these texts, with particular reference to how contemporary issues and problems in sport are constructed and represented; theories concerning the reception and consumption of media texts, with particular consideration as to how the media influence and reflect sport and society more broadly.

Learning Outcomes

• On completion of the module, students should be able to:
• Critically evaluate the relationship between the media, sport and society.
• Critically analyse and critique the role and influence of media-sport in society.
• Critically analyse and critique the production and consumption of media texts, as well as the media texts themselves.
• Critically understand and evaluate the political, economic, technical and professional forces that shape the production of media-sport and sport more broadly.
• Understand the theoretical issues raised by the media as a key contemporary area in the social sciences.

• On Completion of the module, students should be able to:
• Critically analyse how a range of social issues in sport are constructed and represented by the media, in writing and verbally.
• Apply both theoretical and methodological concepts and expertise to the analysis and critique of media production, media texts and media audiences.
• Evaluate, analyse and interpret information and media texts, in writing and verbally.
• Apply sociological theories and perspectives to media and sport.
• Employ social research methodologies to analyse media content.

• On completion of the module, students should be able to:
• Demonstrate proficient and creative IT and photographic skills relating to the production of their Formative and Summative Essays and their Summative Film Assignment.
• Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills (describing; debating; analysing; presenting).
• Demonstrate creative and engaging audio-visual skills.
• Demonstrate an ability to source, manage and synthesise a diverse range of literature, media texts and other information resources.
• Demonstrate efficient time-management skills and an ability to plan and organise workload, work independently and work collaboratively in small groups.
• Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues relating to media production and fulfil ethical approval protocol where appropriate.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching and learning will be centred round lectures, practicals, workshops and seminars. The different modes of study will allow opportunities for students to acquire, rehearse and reflect upon all main curriculum areas.
• Lectures: weekly lectures will be used to map out the main contours of this module. They will introduce students to key concepts, debates and issues concerning the relationship between media, sport and society and the production and consumption of media texts.
• Seminars: small group seminars allow students to explore in more detail themes, issues and concepts arising from lectures and associated reading through verbal discussions, debates, media analysis work and informal presentations, so deepening their understanding of key topic areas.
• Practicals: the practicals will give students a 'hands on' opportunity to acquire and develop filmmaking and editing skills to help them prepare for their Summative Film Project.
• Workshops: workshops will give students groups working on the filming and production of their Summative Film Project the opportunity to discuss Summative Film Project ideas and progress with the module tutor.
• Assessment will take the form of a Summative Film Project and one Summative Essay.
• Summative Film Project: working in small groups, students will produce a short documentary film representing a social issue in sport. This will help them understand some of the issues, processes and techniques involved in media production.
• Summative Essay: the summative essay enables students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of a specific topic in depth and to research and construct a systematic discussion within word-limited constraints.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Optional (Group) Briefing Paper on Summative Film Project 500 words.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University