1996 Swinburne Higher Education Handbook

the arts and the media; Australian film, television and
literature into the '90s.
Recommended reading
Dittmar, L. and Michaud, G. (eds) From Hanoi to Hollywood: The
Vietnam War in Ama'can Film. U.S.A., Rutgers University Press,
1990
Hartley, J. The Politics of Pictures. London, Routledge, 1992
Parrinder, P. Science Fiction, Its Criticism and Teaching. London,
Methuen, 1980
Selden, R. Practising Theory and Reading Literature. New York,
Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1989
Turner, G. National Fictions: Literature, Film and the Construction
of Australian Narrative. 2nd edn, Sydney, Allen & Unwin, 1993
AM504 Professional Production
3 hours per week Hawthorn W Prerequisite: nil
W Assessment: production of a radio program or short film or
television script
A subject in the Master of Communications
Objectives and Content
This subject is aimed at students including those working in
the industry who have above average radio and print media
cn skills. It has three areas of focus - radio, writing for the
& print media, and writing for film and television.
(D -
2 The radio stream consists of a series of seminars dealing with
key management issues including station operations,
D). audience research and analysis, marketing, human resources,
t;
the impact of new technology, and broadcast policy issues.
Students taking the radio stream may produce broadcast
quality programs during the semester. This could be, for
example, a major documentary or drama, or a multi-track
production which draws on the student's production,
research and writing skills, and creative ability.
The print stream will focus on advanced investigative
reporting and feature writing skills. Students taking the film
and television stream will develop a script proposal, and a
script for a short film or television program.
Students taking either the print or the film and television
writing streams will also attend seminars which address
different forms of writing.
Recommended reading
Ong, W. Orality and Literacy: the Technologizing of the Word.
London, Methuen, 1982
Swinburne Radio Production Notes, 1990, Hawthorn, Vic.,
Swinburne Press, 1990
White, S.A. Reporting in Australia. South Melbourne, Macmillan,
1991
Windschuttle, K. and E. Writing, Researching, Communicating,
Communication Skillsfor the Information Age. 2nd edn, Sydney,
McGraw Hill, 1994
AM505 Workplace Practice
3 hours per week Hawthorn Prerequisite: nil
W Assessment: presentation of workplace proposal 40%, final
report 60%
A subject in the Master of Communications
Objectives and Content
This subject aims to give students in the final stages of the
Masters the opportunity to undertake a detailed analysis of
the institutional and professional processes of a media
organisation. Students can nominate which organisation
they wish to be placed in, and they will be required to
consult with management when working out the details of
the study. It would be expected that students will produce a
detailed case study which addresses issues such as the media
model under which the organisation operates, management
structures, staffing and human resources, training,
technology, target audiences and programming.
Students can also negotiate with the media organisation to
undertake a consultancy: for example, to research the
feasibility of a particular project such as the conversion of
radio equipment from analogue to digital, the
implementation of a program to increase Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander employment, or to examine the
impact of new broadcast regulations on the organisation.
Possible participating organisations: ABV-2,3LO, 3RN,
3CR, 3RRR-FM, 3PBS-FM, 3AW, SBS-TV.
AM506 Thesis
Hawthorn Prerequisite: AMSOI, AM502, AM504 and
AMSO5 Assessment: to be advised
A subject in the Master of Communications
Objectives and Content
Students are required to write a minor thesis, of
approximately 20,000 words, as a mandatory course
requirement. The conceptual and methodological
underpinning for the thesis will centre on the two core
subjects. AM500 -Globalisation -Media and
Telecommunications and AM503 Interrogating texts:
Cultural Dreaming, though thesis topics may also emerge
from AM501, AM502, AM504 and AM505. International
students will have the opportunity to pursue topics related
to their country of origin or explore comparative research
subjects. There may be the possibility of electronic access to
national and international databases for research.
Supervision of these may be conducted with electronic
means to support the supervisory-student interaction.
AM507 Information Society 2000
3 hoursper week Hawthorn Prerequisite: nil
Assessment: seminar paper 40%, final paper 60%
A subject in the Master of Communications
Objectives and Content
This subject is an examination of media and
communications in the context of a post-industrial or
information society.
Key questions about the contemporary technological
revolution are addressed, such as who decides about new
technologies, and how, whose interests are served, how
national policies are fashioned, and whose information needs
will be met by these technologies of abundance. Crucial here