Course Outline

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JM4022 Introduction to Social Media

Class hashtag: #jm4022

Module Coordinator: Tom Felle

e: [email protected] | Office: BM029, main building | Office hours Monday 11am-‐2pm

Other lecturers teaching on this module: Anthony Quinn ([email protected])

Tutors: Sharon le Gear ([email protected]) and Leo Stiles

ECTS Credits: 6 | Grading system G1 (A1 = 75; C3 = 40)

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Plagiarism

Incidents of plagiarism, misrepresentation of sources or cheating in assessments will be

awarded zero marks and can lead to the award of an F for the whole module. SO DON’T

DO IT!!! See the University Code of Conduct for further details.

Rationale and Purpose Of The Module:

This module aims to equip students with the web -‐based research, organisational and value

judgement skills necessary to examine and understand critically the power of social media in

a globalised world. It aims to enable students to become better critical thinkers and

researchers by giving them the skills to understand social media, to question its relevance,

its accuracy and its legitimacy; and to construct news in a social media format. It will equip

students with communication skills that are appropriate to a first -‐year level and which will

enable them to participate effectively in their university degree.

Syllabus:

This module is a foundation for new university students that will introduce them to thinking

critically about social media. Taught elements will include concepts drawn from theoretical

communications, social and media studies, as well as practical approaches including

hierarchical news writing and information construction. The module will examine the

changing nature of how news is disseminated through social media and investigate citizen

engagement with news. It will give a practical introduction to the use of social media for the

purposes of information gathering, as a source for news and as a potential agent of

democratisation of media and society. Practical cases will be understood through recent

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theoretical perspectives on human collaboration and communication. The changing dynamic

of news from the traditional (linear) model to the new media (circular) model will be

explored. The course has a strong focus on both the use of social media for practical

exercises and on evidence -‐based critical thinking.

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis,

Evaluation, Synthesis)

• Demonstrate an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages associated with

social media

• Explain features of social networks as an emergent consequence of adaptation to the

capabilities of social technologies

• Describe and classify the kinds of technologies that have been developed to make

social media possible.

Affective (Attitudes and Values)

• Evaluate the news values of information placed on YouTube, Wikipedia, Twitter,

Facebook and other social media.

• Appreciate the difference between rumour; unverified reporting, and verified news

in global contemporary news flow.

• Use the inverted pyramid to report a news story in traditional form. Use social media

to follow an event in non -‐linear manner.

Prime Text

Holmes, Tim et al (2013) 21st Century Journalism Handbook. London: Pearson

-‐ available in the library as an e-‐book

Newspaper articles and other media as mentioned in weekly plans

A book you should read

Ryfe, David M (2012) Can Journalism Survive? An Inside Look at American Newsrooms. Polity

Press.

Important Texts:

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Bull, Andy (2010) Multimedia Journalism , London: Sage

Biagi, Shirley (2011) Media Impact , London: Wadsworth

Couldry Nick and Curran, James (eds) Contesting Media Power: Alternative Media in a

Networked World, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield

Manovich, Lev (2002) The Language of New Media. Cambridge , Massachusetts: MIT Press

Wardrip -‐Fruin, Noah and Montfort, Nick (2003) The New Media Reader, Cambridge,

Massachusetts: MIT Press

Other Relevant Texts:

Hicks, Wynford (1998) English for Journalists , London: Routledge

McKane, Anna (2006) News Writing , London: Sage

Plotnik, Arthur (2007) Spunk and Bite: A Writers Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style , New

York: Random House.

Truss, Lynne (2003) Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. ,

London: Profile Books

Chomsky, Noam and Herman, Edward () Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of

the Mass Media , New York: Pantheon Books.

O Reilly, Tim and Milstein, S. (2009) The Twitter Book, Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media

Class content and structure

Lectures will take place weekly. Labs will take place in computer rooms and attendance is

required, and will begin in week two. Tutorials will be discussion lead and will also begin in

week two. Attendance is required. Full details of lecture / lab content is detailed below.

Re-‐sits

Please refer to School of Languages, Literature, Cultural and Communication policy for

information on re-‐sits.

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Assessment

Part 1: 45 per cent

Working in groups of up to four (choose your own groups but group must be from your lab

class and should contain at least one student from different programme/and/or

Erasmus/Study Abroad person) conduct the following social media project:

1. Follow a hashtag using Tweetdeck on a current issue for a one-‐day period. Use

sound editorial judgement to pick an issue that will lend itself to being followed.

a. Analyse what news has been shared (under appropriate headings) and

distinguish from fact and unverified comment / statements.

b. List all media shared and analyse the veracity of the shared media.

c. Analyse the intensity of sharing (ie what is being shared;

i. what is being shared?

ii. when is it most likely to be shared; and by whom?

iii. whom are the likely leaders (posters); and whom are the likely

followers (re-‐tweeters)?

iv. why in information being shared?

d. Analyse, with reference to findings, the results. Include screen grabs and

other evidence to support your conclusions, ensuring you contextualise

the work in a broader theoretical framework (20).

2. Begin a Twitter list using twitter accounts, adding appropriate accounts to monitor

posts on a current issue (use editorial judgement to define the issue) for a period of

seven days.

a. Defend the addition of all members of the list.

b. Verify beyond all reasonable doubt one Twitter user on that list who is an

active and regular tweeter.

c. Analyse what news has been shared (under appropriate headings) and

distinguish from fact and unverified comment / statements.

d. List all media shared and analyse the veracity of the shared media.

e. Analyse, with reference to findings, the results.

f. Include screen grabs and other evidence to support your conclusions and

contextualise the work in a broader theoretical framework (20 marks).

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3. If a YouTube video has been shared as part of your hashtag follow (or list follow)

take appropriate steps to verify the video. If not, choose an appropriate video and

a. verify it.

b. Outline the steps you took in the verification process,

c. the degree of certainty this affords;

d. and what further steps (if any) would need to be taken to verify the

content. (5 marks).

Combine your work (including screenshots) into an appropriate narrative. While there is no

word count, as a guide 2,000 words to 3,000 words is adequate. Submit in hard copy to Tom

Felle in Lab classes during week 6. The deadline is Thurs/Friday week 6 (depending on which

lab class you are in). Feedback will be provided via SULIS and small group meetings if

required.

Part 2: 45 per cent

Work in groups of four (choose your own groups but group must be from your lab class and

should contain at least one student from different programme/and/or Erasmus/Study

Abroad person) conduct the following social media project:

1. Using social media tools, design and put online a website (wordpress or similar) that

incorporates (but not limited to): YouTube clips; SoundCloud clips; WordCloud clips;

Tumbler; Social media sharing; Twitter feed – and other media as appropriate.

2. Reflect on what you have learned in this module (individual; 400 words)

Depending on which lab class you are in, the deadline is Thurs/Friday week 12 (April 25/26).

Part 3: Tutorial assessment (10 per cent)

Working in small groups (3-‐4, chose your own groups within your tutorial class) prepare a

presentation on a topic of your choice relevant to social media. The presentation should be

made using Powerpoint and all member of the group should prepare part of the

presentation, and must be in class to present on it. Marking as follows:

• Evidence of original research/depth of analysis -‐ 3

• Clarity of points/question answered -‐ 3

• Communication and presentation skills -‐ 2

• Insight and creativity in relation to chosen topic -‐ 2

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Submit your Powerpoint slides to the tutor on the date of tutorial in hard copy. Students will

be graded based on grading criteria and receive feedback via SULIS. Worth 10 per cent.

Note re assessments: Submission must be made on the due date otherwise penalties will

apply. A 3 per cent per day penalty applies for late submission.

Class lectures

Week 1 Lecture: Introduction to Social Media

Reading: See ‘Week One’ folder of PDFs for other suggested readings. Watch

TED talk by Markham Nolan (link in SULIS folder)

Week 2 Lecture: The Changing Media Landscape (journalism and social media)

Reading: See ‘Week Two’ resources folder for suggested readings

Listening: ‘Digital of Deadwood’ podcast (link in ‘Week One’ resources folder)

Lab: Facebook; Internet basic, intermediate and advanced searching (text,

files and images). See lab handout in SULIS resources

Tutorial: Discussion of reading. Please come prepared.

Week 3 Lecture: Social Networks and Communication

(Note: This lecture will be delivered via electronic means.)

Reading: See ‘Week Three’ resources folder for other suggested readings

Lab: Twitter and Tweetdeck – basic functions


Week 4 lecture: Privacy and Social Media

Reading: See ‘Week Four’ resources folder for other suggested readings

Lab: Twitter and Tweetdeck -‐ Lists; hashtags advanced search using twitter


Week 5 Lecture: Citizen Journalism and UGC

Reading: See ‘Week Five’ resources folder for other suggested readings

Lab: Media (photo and video) verification; Youtube


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Week 6 Lecture Social Media and Democracy

Reading: See ‘Week Six’ resources folder for other suggested readings

Lab: Social media tools – Soundcloud and Documentcloud

Tutorial: Discussion of reading

ASSESSMENT 1 DUE Thurs/Friday Week 6 – (March 7/8)

Week 7 Lecture: Philosophy of technology 1

Reading: See ‘Week Seven’ resources folder for other suggested readings

Lab: Social media tools – Soundcloud and Documentcloud


Week 8 Lecture: Philosophy of technology 2

Reading: See ‘Week Eight’ resources folder

Lab: Social media tools – content management systems


Week 9 Lecture: Ownership, control and social media

Reading: See ‘Week Nine' resources folder

Lab: Social media tools – content management systems


Week 10 Lecture: Geolocation and social media

Reading: See ‘Week Ten’ resources folder

Lab: Social media tools – going geographical


Week 11 Lecture: Visualising social data and coding using HTML and Ruby

Reading: See ‘Week Eleven’ resources folder for other suggested readings

Lab: HTML


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Week 12 Lecture: Conclusions

Reading: See ‘Week Twelve’ resources folder for other suggested readings

Lab: Website management


ASSESSMENT 2 DUE 6pm Friday Week 12 – (April 25/26)

Note: 3 per cent per day penalty applies for late submission. Submission must be into box

in Millstream building by 5pm on date due.

Course Outline

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