COMMS 303 : Sports Media
Arts
2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
The course is designed to provide students with a theoretical base from which to understand the media sport nexus as well as to create an opportunity to undertake independent research, write a sport media article, engage in an online press conference with sports journalists and gain an understanding of how live sport is broadcast. The course activities and assessment tasks are closely tied to refining student's academic and employability skills based on their research and sports related interests across a variety of media sport platforms and delivery systems. You will be able to craft a research project on an area of sports media, broadcasting, social media, or sports communication you already have experience with or feel passionate about. However, you do not have to be a keen sports fan or have specific sports knowledge to do the course as it engages with wider social, professional and political debates such as national identity, gender, celebrity and representation within the media sport field. Lectures and tutorials will be on-campus only. Lectures will be recorded but tutorials will not. The tutorials focus on student-led debate about current media sport issues and workshop different aspects of the sports column and the major research project. Students interested in a career in sports journalism, sports communication, marketing or sports broadcasting can use this course to secure a COMMS 307 internship in a media sport organisation.
Course Requirements
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Describe how media respresentation is influenced by cultural discourses (Capability 1.3, 2.1 and 4.1)
- Research and propose appropriate responses to a current issue in mediated sport (Capability 1.2, 2.3, 3.1 and 4.2)
- Demonstrate the ability to produce a range of effective media communications (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 4.2 and 6.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Quizzes | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Sports Column | 35% | Individual Coursework |
| Research Project | 45% | Individual Coursework |
| 3 types | 100% |
Module
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect face to face interaction involving 36 hours of lectures, tutorials and potentially TV studio time, plus 100-150 hours outside class involving reading and thinking about the content and working on assignments and tutorial preparation.
You are encouraged to attend live sports events to better understand how live sports are broadcast and produced.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience or Online
This course is offered in two delivery modes:
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials, where we will focus on understanding and workshopping aspects of the two major assignments.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Tutorials will not be recorded.
The course is internally assessed and there is no final test/exam which requires attendance on campus.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable delivery.
Online
The weekly quizzes can be completed online. Offshore students will be encouraged to complete tutorial activities in online groups.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.