School Of Communication ArtsMedia Contexts: CommunityWestern Sydney University Unit Code: 101421.1
Discipline: COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES NEC
Student Contribution Band: 1
Level: 7
Credit Points: 10
About this Unit
In 2010 this unit replaced by 101744 - Theory and Practice of Convergent Media. In the field of media and communication studies citizens have been largely ignored as producers of media. This unit provides an introduction to community media practices and contexts and provides an in-depth examination of contemporary community media production. In the last ten years there has been an exponential growth in research and interest on 'community media', 'alternative media', 'radical communication', 'small media', 'autonomous media', 'participatory media' and 'tactical media' and therefore this unit looks at a range of representational exemplars of community media from public access television to blogging. Case studies are chosen from Australian and international contexts leading to a better understanding of best practices in community media content production. It investigates the traditional and new media interventions of some communities, identifying how they have used the media and media production strategies to challenge dominant media structures, foster social change and cultural revitalization, preserve and re-invent values, attitudes and stories and ultimately, provide spaces for alternative media production and community building.